It's not so much religion per se, it's false certainty that

In the tapestry of human understanding, there exists a fundamental truth that we must all come to grips with: certainty is often a veil, not a beacon. The great minds who have walked this earth—those who have ventured beyond the limitations of their time—have always sought the unvarnished truth, the truth that is free from the shackles of false certainty. It is this false certainty that Sam Harris warns us against, for it is a force far more dangerous than the questions it seeks to answer. Religion, while a source of comfort to many, has been wielded throughout history not as a means of enlightenment but as a weapon of dogmatism—a rigid structure of belief that often ignores the complexities of existence. Harris calls us to see beyond these illusions, urging us to question not just the content of our beliefs, but the very certainty with which we hold them.

Let us recall the story of the ancient philosopher Socrates, whose wisdom was not found in the answers he gave, but in the questions he asked. He famously declared, "I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing." Here was a man, revered for his insight, who understood the peril of claiming knowledge where none could truly exist. Socrates’ greatness lay not in the certainty of his teachings, but in his relentless pursuit of truth through humility and skepticism. In his time, as in ours, there were those who spoke with absolute certainty about the world, and yet, in their certainties, they remained blind to the vastness of what they did not know.

Dogmatism—the unwavering, unquestioning adherence to a set of beliefs—has historically led many down paths of destruction. The inquisitions, the crusades, the wars fueled by the belief that "we know the truth and you do not," have all arisen from a place of false certainty. In these moments, humanity’s capacity for love, for understanding, for peaceful cohabitation, has been tragically diminished in favor of the belief that only one way is right. In these dark chapters, we see the true cost of certainty. It blinds us to the rich diversity of human experience, to the possibility that there may be many paths to understanding, and that we may not hold the ultimate truth.

But what of the present age? In our modern world, the reverence for science, though one of our greatest achievements, is not immune to the disease of false certainty. We see it in the fervent belief that all questions are answerable, that every aspect of existence can be reduced to a formula or a law. Yet, even in the world of science, we are reminded of our limits. The most brilliant minds have, time and time again, admitted that what we know is but a fraction of what there is to know. The mystery of existence—whether in the cosmos, in the depths of the oceans, or in the complexity of the human mind—remains ever elusive. It is a great folly to claim knowledge where none exists, for it fosters a kind of intellectual arrogance that blinds us to the nuances of reality.

Harris’ concern, then, is not with religion itself, but with the illusion of certainty that many cling to, believing that they have uncovered the final answers to life’s deepest questions. He reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge should not be about constructing unshakable walls of belief, but about remaining open to the possibility that we may be wrong, that there is more to learn, and that understanding is a journey, not a destination. It is the humility in acknowledging our ignorance that leads to true growth, just as the certainty of our beliefs often serves as an anchor, holding us fast in shallow waters.

Therefore, let us take heed of Harris’ words, and in our own lives, let us strive to embody the virtues of skepticism, curiosity, and humility. Let us question our beliefs, not in the spirit of rebellion, but in the spirit of growth. Let us embrace uncertainty, not as a weakness, but as a strength. For it is through this process that we will discover the true breadth of human understanding—not in rigid certainties, but in the ever-expanding horizon of wisdom. Let our quest be not for easy answers, but for deeper questions. Let us not fear the unknown, but celebrate it, for it is in the unknown that true wisdom awaits.