Atrocities Quote by Sam Harris
“The men who committed the atrocities of September 11 were certainly not "cowards," as they were repeatedly described in the Western media, nor were they lunatics in any ordinary sense. They were men of faith—perfect faith, as it turns out—and this, it must finally be acknowledged, is a terrible thing to be.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Moral Landscape, 2010, unknown origin
The perpetrators of 9/11 were driven by extreme religious conviction, not mere cowardice or insanity.
In simple terms: Their faith made them capable of terrible acts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how belief systems can motivate both good and evil.
Themes
faith
extremism
motivation
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
philosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- counterterrorism policy
- community dialogue
- education on radicalization
Key Concepts
religious zeal
psychology of terrorism
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does belief play in violent actions?
- How can societies address extremist faith without alienating believers?
A Different Perspective
Faith can be weaponized, complicating simple moral judgments.
![“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern world. [...] The first thing to observe about the moderate’s retreat from scriptural literalism is that it draws its inspiration not from scripture but from…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b44/sam-harris-457_bible_moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to_6967.jpg)
