Sam Harris: Trump would be our first atheist president
Well, he does believe in a god, if the god is Donald Trump.
“The one thing that is surprising and actually hopeful in Trump’s candidacy is the fact that he has dissected out the religious, social conservative component of the Republican Party,” Harris said on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
“Evangelicals, for the most part, were going for Trump over Cruz when it was pretty clear to them that Trump was just pretending to be religious…
“It is clear to them that he is just miming the language or impersonating a person of faith, but they don’t care really, as long as he does it,” he explained. “And that — if you look for a silver lining to this – it shows they just want a space where their religious convictions are not under attack. They don’t really care that the person in charged share them. If you pretend to share them, that’s good enough.”
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30 responses to Sam Harris: Trump would be our first atheist president
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Carla Akins June 3rd, 2016 at 16:43
Nah, he’s not an atheist just a narcissist. He’s never considered life in the larger sense – one outside of his bubble.
clemans June 4th, 2016 at 04:29
he sure is in a bubble too.
Larry Schmitt June 3rd, 2016 at 16:43
If he’s an atheist, why doesn’t he admit it? He’s a “Christian” who is completely ignorant of Christianity, the bible, and anything having to do with religion. If he were really an atheist he wouldn’t be afraid to admit it. As in everything else, in religion, Drumpf is a complete phony.
Carla Akins June 3rd, 2016 at 16:47
and atheists have actual knowledge of religions in general and specifically the bible.
Larry Schmitt June 3rd, 2016 at 16:48
That’s so they can prove the “believers” wrong.
clemans June 3rd, 2016 at 18:07
I don’t feel the need to show them they are wrong, good enough for me to know, I got here on my own and I have to let others pick for themselves….I still believe I might win the lottery and suddenly grow 7″…..I never buy but 2-4 lottery tickets per year, often I forget to buy any.
Larry Schmitt June 3rd, 2016 at 18:12
But sometimes it’s fun to rub their noses in it, especially the sanctimonious ones.
clemans June 4th, 2016 at 04:28
not sure about that one.
Carla Akins June 3rd, 2016 at 18:45
Well, yes, you’re right. Somebody posted this on my FB page earlier and I think it could have been directed at me. *snort https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/508f75ab66e8d95281364f53a4989286b99f177751163142a1a6ddefba61a6b5.png
clemans June 3rd, 2016 at 18:05
I grew up a believer. I went to Sunday school, was brainwashed, and a good little girl. Never questioned anybody about it right up until I realized that my Sunday school teacher was shaming me because I was crying about my parents getting a divorce, losing my paternal side of the family, and….as it turned out my Sunday school. “Good girls don’t get angry” you know. So it was my fault.
I read and studied the Bible and asked questions, and when no religious leader could tell me anything but believe crap on faith and not fact. I couldn’t suspend my sense of disbelieve over talking snakes and people with wings.
I could clearly see the value in believing Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny though.
Larry Schmitt June 3rd, 2016 at 18:11
People who have actually decided they are atheists, like you, have either grown up with a religion and decided they no longer believed, or learned something about one or more religions so they could make up their minds. Often they know more about those who were raised with it and never questioned it. My whole very large family grew up Catholic, and we weren’t allowed to question it (very common attitude in the 50’s and 60’s). But now, most of us either dropped out from apathy, or actively chose no religion. The few hew stayed have probably never thought about whether it makes sense, it’s just their faith, so they believe. I couldn’t do that.
clemans June 3rd, 2016 at 18:23
I did my DNA and found out I am Jewish. But my father’s family was Catholic who converted to Methodist on one side, and diehard Lutheran’s on another. One grandma was Baptist. I studied with Jehovah Witnesses and with Mormons…..went to one of those scary churches where they scream and roll in the isles and shout Amen…..probably tried a few others…..I wanted to believe, really I did. But I feel safer dealing with facts.
Carla Akins June 3rd, 2016 at 18:43
Me too, it took me to 40 before I could comes to terms and realize it wasn’t my fault that faith brought me no peace, no contentment and it wasn’t because I wasn’t trying hard enough. I was angry for several years.
I still think Santa and his buddies have great value, believe good and evil exist in the world and that the Charmed Ones brought more joy and goodness into my life than four decades in the church. I don’t know about god, but religion is debilitating.
Larry Schmitt June 3rd, 2016 at 18:45
Because religion, and the ones (usually men) in charge of them, want to control their flocks. They usually don’t encourage free thinking.
clemans June 3rd, 2016 at 17:59
Larry I don’t believe that is accurate. I just kept my mouth shut for years and let people assumed I was Christian, without ever saying so.
Trump isn’t interested in religion. That is obvious. I doubt he has spent any time trying to decide if he believes or doesn’t believe, he is too busy looking into a mirror maybe or sending tweets out about how great he is. I don’t think he cares in the least if there is a god or not.
He is a phony, you are right about that. I just see him preferring sex with himself and not caring one way of another about religion. Thinking about religion would take too much time away from thinking about how great he is and who he can bully next.
DogsRgoodpeople June 3rd, 2016 at 18:31
What this says about evangelicals is more insulting than saying Trumps only god is trump/money.
Mike June 3rd, 2016 at 18:33
Conservative Christians go for Trump because he’s really as religious as they are…anyone read two Corinthians lately….
robert June 4th, 2016 at 05:09
No gods No masters…care to try again Sam?
Mensa Member June 4th, 2016 at 19:02
Don’t we all have our gods? Even if it is our own egos?
robert June 4th, 2016 at 21:08
It’s your choice but don’t place definitions where they don’t belong
Bunya June 4th, 2016 at 18:29
I resent the fact that the right is trying to dump Trump onto the Atheists. Like Hitler, he proclaimed he was a Christian, now the evangelicals should own him.
Mensa Member June 4th, 2016 at 19:01
I’m an Evangelical Christian and I find Trump abhorrent.
But, I’m embarrassed to admit that so-many of my Evangelical brothers and sisters have proven themselves to be total hypocrites in their support for Trump.
robert June 5th, 2016 at 14:12
You would be very surprised what a network offers to people who are willing to say they are religious
Mensa Member June 4th, 2016 at 18:51
Trump thinks he’s God and believes in himself.
Does that make him an atheist?
Bunya June 4th, 2016 at 19:07
That’s a tough one. Atheists don’t believe in a god, so if Trump were a god, he wouldn’t believe in himself. On the other hand, maybe he’ll become a brand new god. He can be called “Drumph Almighty”.
Mensa Member June 4th, 2016 at 19:17
I am a Biblicist by training and and it’s easier for me to think of Trump as a cult leader rather than any sort of deity.
Also, the New Testament predicts many latter-day “antichrists” who lead Christians astray and Trump fits that archetype as well.
Bunya June 4th, 2016 at 20:05
The problem with Trump is he doesn’t make a very good Christian. In order to be a successful antichrist, one must be very convincing and be able to persuade millions to follow him. A good antichrist would be someone like Pat Robertson and Oral Roberts (Jimmy Swaggart was a good one, until he was caught having sex with prostitutes and farm animals).
whatthe46 June 4th, 2016 at 20:23
and none of the mentioned names have followers who are “christians.”
robert June 5th, 2016 at 14:16
How about Dump I will say anything for your vote ?
robert June 5th, 2016 at 14:19
?. NOPE