Join us October 14th at 8:30PM at The Kennedy Room to discuss “Waking Up” by Sam Harris.
Sam Harris is what might be called a “spiritual atheist”, which basically means he has a big ego and is extremely sure of himself. Ha! (My apologies, I interjected my own ego there.) Perhaps “skeptic” is a fairer term to describe Sam Harris, and I too consider myself a skeptic (initially at least), but my experience leads me to believe that attitude is untenable over the long run. That being said, this was an engaging read even if he irks me with his cockiness sometimes. I can’t say he’s wrong, (though sometimes I wish I could), but I can argue he can’t for sure know he’s right either. Where does that leave us? Let’s talk about it.
Whatever my personal thoughts on the book are, The Helping Friendly Book Club is all about vivid discussion. Please join us to hash out some ideas about what we know, what we don’t know, what may be beneficial to convince ourselves we know even if we don’t really know, and what we shouldn’t lie to ourselves about knowing at all costs.
Can a rational human being be a champion of science and still consult the I Ching? Can a rational human being have an experience so powerful it shatters and transforms their original conception of linear time and cause and effect reality? Are some spiritual practices less “religious” and more beneficial than others? How sharp is your analytical knife? What’s it made of?
The Audiobook for “Waking Up” by Sam Harris can be found on Youtube and there is still plenty of time of get the gist of it. Sam Harris also has an active Podcast and Facebook page to get you thinking. Does he really know the #SEJNES? Why or why not? Join us October 14th at The Kennedy Room to catch up with the Questers and discuss.
Whatever your thoughts on Sam Harris may be, “Waking Up” is a terrific primer for what’s to come. Up next The Helping Friendly Book Club is reading “The Doors of Perception” by Aldous Huxley (author of “Brave New World’).
“‘The Doors of Perception’ is a short book by Aldous Huxley, first published in 1954, detailing his experiences when taking mescaline. The book takes the form of Huxley's recollection of a mescaline trip that took place over the course of an afternoon, and takes its title from a phrase in William Blake's 1793 poem The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Huxley recalls the insights he experienced, which range from the "purely aesthetic" to "sacramental vision". He also incorporates later reflections on the experience and its meaning for art and religion.” - Wiki
