My concern with religion is that it allows us by the millions to believe what only lunatics or idiots could believe on their own. That's not to say that all religious people are lunatics or idiots. It's anything but that.

In this quote, Sam Harris expresses a concern about religion and its influence on people's beliefs. He argues that religion enables individuals to accept ideas that, in isolation, might seem irrational or unreasonable—ideas that, without the structure of religious belief, would only be embraced by "lunatics or idiots." Harris is critical of how faith can lead large numbers of people to hold beliefs that might be deemed irrational in other contexts, highlighting the powerful role of social influence in shaping beliefs.

However, Harris is careful to clarify that he doesn't mean to label all religious people as lunatics or idiots. He acknowledges that many individuals who adhere to religious faith are rational, compassionate, and intelligent. The quote doesn't target religious individuals but instead critiques the institution of religion itself and the way it can lead people to embrace ideas without sufficient evidence or reasoning. His aim is to show how belief systems, particularly those with ancient roots, can sometimes encourage dogmatic thinking that resists critical examination.

The origin of this quote lies within Harris's broader philosophy, often articulated in his works such as The End of Faith. Harris, a prominent atheist and neuroscientist, is well-known for his critiques of religion and the role it plays in modern society. His work frequently focuses on the tension between reason and faith, arguing for a world in which decisions are based on evidence and rationality, rather than the acceptance of unproven or outdated dogmas.

At the heart of the quote, Harris challenges the way religious belief can bypass reason, drawing attention to how faith sometimes encourages adherence to claims that would otherwise be subject to skepticism. In essence, his concern is not with religious people themselves, but with the societal systems that can lead individuals to embrace potentially harmful or unsubstantiated beliefs.