>> ^SDGundamX:

Hitchens is a sharp orator, but I can't understand why people think his arguments are either "rational" or "logical." The following author and his Hitchens' own brother pretty much explain more clearly than I ever could why I can't take Hitchens' arguments (or Dawkins' or Harris' for that matter) seriously.
What Christopher Hitchens and the New Atheists Can Learn from Malcom X
Atheism Aside: Peter Hitchens Journey to Faith
I find it ironic that those such as Hitchens, Dawkins, and Harris, in their zeal to exterminate religion, have become such zealots unwilling to admit evidence contrary to their position that they now rival the fundamentalists they profess to be fighting against. The cynical part of me thinks its because they get paid a lot of money to write books and appear on TV acting that way. The more hopeful part of me is that they are just over-enthusiastic and will one day realize that the best way to accomplish your goals is probably not to make an enemy out of everybody who doesn't think the same as you.


Rather than 'guessing' at where Hitchens stance on religion came from you could read his autobiography. He has several very personal reasons for hating religion. He opens talking about his mother, who fell for a guy that was a bit of a cultist which eventually led to the double suicide of his mother and the nutter. Then upon going to bury his mother, the local church was reluctant to perform the funeral services because of the stigma around suicide. He found that money was able to smooth over those 'reservations'.

I'm by no means agreeing with Hitchens position on painting all religion that same shade of black, but he hasn't exactly just adopted that stance for no reason.

>> ^kir_mokum:

um, that's not a dichotomy.
>> ^bcglorf:
I can't help but be fascinated at the dichotomy of people's responses to Hitchens. I'd estimate that better than half those who praise his stance on religion, abhor his identical aggressively rational stance in favor of both the Iraq and Aghan wars. Similarly probably better than half those who cheer his stance on Iraq and Afghanistan reject his stance on religion.



By and large people love Hitchens when they agree with his conclusions and loath him when they don't with equal passion. I think it quite interesting how much praise there is for his impeccable logic and reasoning for one, and sudden loathing and hatred when he turns that same logic and reasoning to reach a conclusion an audience dislikes. The underlying truth is people just like/hate him based on the conclusion he reaches and not his methods or reasoning. His methods and reasoning just make people's love/hate more passionate. It is the most jarring among those who love him for one argument, and loath him for another.

um, that's not a dichotomy.
>> ^bcglorf:

I can't help but be fascinated at the dichotomy of people's responses to Hitchens. I'd estimate that better than half those who praise his stance on religion, abhor his identical aggressively rational stance in favor of both the Iraq and Aghan wars. Similarly probably better than half those who cheer his stance on Iraq and Afghanistan reject his stance on religion.

He's already got a couple kids.
He's also got esophageal cancer.

>> ^rabidness:

This man needs to start having children for the sake of our future.

http://videosift.com/video/Hitch-Vs-Sharpton-God-is-NOT-Great-yesnocancel

^ My favorite Hitchslap

Your video, Hitchslapped - The best of Christopher Hitchens, has made it into the Top 15 New Videos listing. Congratulations on your achievement. For your contribution you have been awarded 1 Power Point.

I believe this is it http://videosift.com/video/Turek-vs-Hitchens-Debate-Does-God-Exist

Upvoted for use of my new favorite term, Hitchslap.