Alternative Culture: Sam Harris and the corpses of children quote

 

A quote from Sam Harris during his interview on Triggernometry

In a 2022 August interview, atheist philosopher Sam Harris made an appalling statement about the 2020 American Presidential Election. He claimed that even if Hunter Biden (President Biden's son) had "corpses of children in his basement", former President Trump was worse in his "Trump University Scam". Therefore (in the same interview), he suggested that any conspiracy (if it had existed) to keep Trump from being president was justified.

The shifting of a philosopher's mind
When I first heard the comments, I was stunned. Here was a philosopher who in my younger days advocated for a truth without religion. While I disagree with him on many issues, I did follow his dialogues and blogs a little. I read two of his works, Letters to a Christian Nation and End of Faith, and liked that he popularised the idea of steel-manning an argument, (i.e. to debate an idea in its strongest form) rather than to strawman it. I enjoyed that he advocated free speech and freedom of expression.

Yet here I was shocked that now he was advocating for the censorship of the New York Post (a right-wing tabloid) and accepting any method to rig an election (although he would deny this in his tweets post-interview).

What does the Bible say about truth?
But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?  - Romans 3:5-7

In his letters to the Romans, Apostle Paul clearly denounced the deliberate use of falsehood to enhance the outcomes (in this case, Christ righteousness.)

We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left - 2 Corinthians 6: 3-7

Apostle Paul also highlights the importance of truth to prevent the discrediting of Christian ministry.

In fact truth is so important that Jesus himself described himself as that:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” - John 14: 6-7

As Christians, we have an obigilation to discuss issues honestly and with grace. Anything less is a compromise on the truth of Jesus.

Peace if possible, truth at all costs. -- Martin Luther

For more information:

Theology 1.0: 26 Martyrs of Japan

 

Martyrdom of Paul Miki and Companions in Nagasaki, unknown Japanese artist, c.1635

In terms of proportion, Japan has one of the lowest Christian population in developed countries. As of 2015, only 2% of its population are Christians. This is in contrast with South Korea (29.2%), Singapore (18.9%) and Hong Kong (11.7%). This is considered unusual because in such places, religious freedom is allowed.

However, one must remember that Japan was not always tolerant to the Christian faith.

The first missionaries
In 1543, the Portuguese came into contact with the Japanese. As part of their cultural norms, they brought along Roman Catholic missionaries with them. 

The Japanese authorities initially were supportive of the missionaries and Jesuits (religious order of Roman Catholic monks). After all, they took power away from the Shinto Buddhist monks, and were essential to trade with the Europeans. By 1573, Japan had about 130 000 Christian converts.

The banning of Christianity
However, the Christian converts began to disrupt the social fabric of Japan. Not only did they challenge the feudal system, the more violent factions sacked Buddhist provinces and temples. In response, the the second great unifier of Japan, Hideyoshi issued a ban on Christianity in 1587.

The reputation of Christianity took a further hit when the Spanish ship San Felipe wrecked itself in Japan in 1596. The captain of the San Felipe poorly communicated the purpose of the Spanish missionaries, and this caused the Japanese authorities to think that the missionaries were here to subvert Japan, and colonise Japan for Spain.

26 Martyrs
For refusing to leave the country, the Japanese rounded up 26 Roman Catholics and forced marched them for 30 days. 24 of them had their ears cut off. Finally, they were executed in Feburary 1597 via crucifixion and spearing.

Among them was a Japanese Jesuit called Paul Miki. According to certain accounts he said, 

"All of you who are here, please, listen to me... I have committed no crime, and the only reason why I am put to death is that I have been teaching the doctrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I am very happy to die for such a cause, and see my death as a great blessing from the Lord. At this critical time when, you can rest assured that I will not try to deceive you, I want to stress and make it unmistakably clear that man can find no way to salvation other than the Christian way. The Christian religion tells us to forgive our enemies and those who do harm us, and so I say that I forgive the emperor and those responsible for my death. I have no hatred for the emperor; indeed, I wish that he and all the Japanese would become Christians."

This was the first execution ordered by the highest authority in Japan because of religious belief.

Aftermath
The martyrs were canonized as Saints in 1862, while Japan eventually allowed freedom of religion again in 1889. The feast day is on February 6.