February 2011
Bill O'Reilly: You're not gonna persuade [Islamic extremist terrorists], because, by their very nature, they're nuts. They're crazy.
Sam Harris: They're actually not crazy.
Bill O'Reilly: Anybody who would kill themselves and think they're gonna get seventy-two virgins, um, you know, I gotta say, is insane.
Sam Harris: But it's actually no crazier than believing that a cracker literally turns into the body of Jesus. It has terrible behavioural outcomes, but it is equally unsupported by evidence.
Bill O'Reilly: No, no, no, no, I have to challenge you there. A cracker that people believe is the embodiment of Jesus hurts no one. It's a matter of faith. It's a positive thing for those who believe it, in the sense they try to love their neighbour as themselves. These people are going out killing--
Sam Harris: Right, different behavioural consequences.
Bill O'Reilly: There's a very big difference in that kind of faith.
Sam Harris: There's a very big difference in the outcome. There's no difference at the level of rationality.
