Finally, the a-theist (hyphen deliberate) crowd is responding to all the religious claptrap with a vengeance. I've read Dawkins, Dennett and now Harris (I think this book should also be read with Letter to a Christian Nation which was his response to all the hate mail he received.) Harris makes a very good case, perhaps less shrilly than Dawkins, for why religious belief perpetuates evil and hatred. I've seen him interviewed in debates on several occasions and find his responses to be quite well thought out and delivered calmly.That being said, my only criticism of this book would be his over-emphasis, I think, on Islam. I think that lessens the impact of his general critique of faith in general. Clearly the faith-based foreign policy engaged in by the Bush administration is evidence enough of the moral bankruptcy of religious policy wonks.
I have to admit that I was one of those Harris castigates, i.e., those who fail to criticize religious moderates. He makes a strong case for not tolerating religious faiths, regardless of how moderate or fundamental they might be. I have come to adopt his rationale.
I think his book could have been stronger had he discussed in more depth that idea that atheists can commit evil acts just as can religious fanatics; that political ideologies can lead to atrocities just as much as can religious true believers. The point that must not be lost is that a rational, reasoned discussion of what constitutes good and evil based on factual evidence will result in a much sharper definition than one that simply relies on faith and a supernatural entity.
