I have an article in the January issue of Portland Monthly--it's a conversation with Christopher Hitchens, the well-known British atheist whose big book is God Is Not Great. (Someone quipped that his book title is just one word too long.) If you want to check it out, go to their web site, and then go to "Current Issue." Or try the following link: www.portlandmonthlymag.com/arts-and-entertainment/category/book-and-talks/articles/religion-god-0110/
I also had dinner with Hitchens and around a dozen others on Tuesday evening after his talk at Portland Arts and Lectures. He must be one of the most articulate people on the planet, and there is great pleasure in watching his mind play with words and entertain with turns of irony. However, Hitchens is as well known for his drinking as he is for his wit, and as the evening wore on, I found he became more and more acerbic and insulting. The man is brilliant, but not wise; clever, but not deep; and a fundamentalist, in regard to religion, rejecting any form of liberal Christianity as bogus religion, not to be respected.
Hitchens clearly has never studied theology, and most of the comments he made concerning the Bible, Jesus, salvation, etc., were shockingly naive. Where he has something to offer, of course, is his critique of religion and society, and all of the horrors and nonsense done in the name of religion, which I have no argument with. It's not exactly news that the Inquisition was a bad thing. And that Catholic priests shouldn't abuse altar boys. And (his particular nemesis) jihadists shouldn't blow up innocent civilians.
Hitchens is the ultimate intellectual "bad boy." He performs. He "debates." He entertains. All of which he does very well. But this should not be confused with thoughtful discourse.
Share this
I enjoyed reading the interview, thank you. However, I don't take your comments here very well. Just because you claim his (implied excessive) drinking is well known doesn't mean you should use it against him. Why is he not wise and not deep? The interview says otherwise to me.
He rejects any supernatural claims of religion. You seem to agree with this. What exactly is wrong with his rejection?
As for theology, I think it is spot on for him to say "God is the ground of being" has no meaning at all. Do you agree?
Finally, I'm tired of people accusing Hitchens and other atheists of being theologically naive. First, they know that there are more sophisticated believers such as yourself, but their naive critiques address what the vast majority of believers actually believe. You can't fault them for directly addressing what is standard Christian theology. Second, studying theology has no bearing on whether someone is correct or not. In fact, it more likely causes error than not. Even if you limit the field to only certain theologians, it is still an argument from authority. What is your case against him?
Your interview has lots of examples of his thoughtful discourse. What would you say is the opposite?
I find it astonishing that Hitchens knows more about what it means to be Christian than you. He is most certainly correct that you are not a "Christian in any meaningful sense", and I have much greater respect for him, as he clearly knows what he believes and why he believes it. Shamefully, you apparently do not, and yet you are arrogantly critical of those who do and who can clearly communicate their own beliefs without appealing to esoteric wording in order to mask clearly outrageous ignorance of a book they hold to be the foundation of their belief.
His question to you bear repeating. "Faith in what?"
"Someone quipped that his book title is just one word too long."
The extra word being "Great."
In my mind Utilitarian Universalism is not a bogus religion in a different sense than other religions are since it has a dogma: that fundamentalist and moderate Christianity are wrong. It's dogma is small and true, so it is less bogus than most.
However, it is not Christianity, even though it accepts liberal Christianity (Classical Utilitarianism, etc.) along with liberal Islam and liberal Buddhism, etc.. Its claims to be Christian are uniquely bogus.
"...as the evening wore on, I found he became more and more acerbic and insulting."
Funny you should mention it, that reminds me of your post.
I think you were brave to take him on, Marilyn. Being UU, I was incensed at his characterization of your religion, but I remember our experience at All Souls NYC when in 2002 or 3 he spoke in support of invading Iraq. When the person who invited him was unable to escort him, it fell to me, and he was all sweetness and light with me and the minister who was presiding.
But then he mounted the pulpit (I'm not sure who arranged that; usually political speakers are given a podium downstairs) and started bloviating. A French TV crew showed up, and he was really speaking to them over our heads. I'll never forget his pointing an angry finger at the camera and proclaiming, "Jacques Chirac is a pimp for Saddam Hussein!" I think it's the only time I've ever heard the p word from our pulpit. I hope it's the last.
Marilyn... You are no Christian. As a matter of fact, please go ahead and return your Christian card.
If you don't believe in Biblical truth, how do you know anything you believe is true?
I would have thought that as an educated woman you would realize that one cannot think Jesus was a "good man" if you thought he wasn't God. Mary... He CLAIMED he was God.
And you even questions if God even EXISTS in the interview... Who's the atheist here?
Ma'am, you're no Christian but you have succeeded in convincing me you are a postmodern heretic.
I have read Hitchens’s book and was pretty much impressed by it. This does not mean that I totally believe on every word of him. But his book is the reflection of what he believes and what he might have experienced in his life. After all every ones life is totally different from another. It is easy to put remarks on other’s work but it would be wiser if you would have tried to find out the reason as to why he has developed such thoughts at the time of dinner. Term Paper
bank levy
I could tell how great you are in your field of interest. You could relate in each detail very well. Thank you for spending a time on sharing such informative writings to us. I will bookmark your page and looking forward to read some more of your writings soon.
I admit, I have not been on this web page in a long time... however it was another joy to see It is such an important topic and ignored by so many, even professionals. I thank you to help making people more aware of possible issues.
-van insurance comparison
Woody Allen~ I dont want to achieve immortality through my work... I want to achieve it through not dying.
I truly like your posting as well as the webpage all in all arthritis advice! The article is incredibly clearly written and also without difficulty understandable.arthritis treatments
I truly like your posting as well as the webpage all in all arthritis advice! The article is incredibly clearly written and also without difficulty understandable.arthritis treatments
Nice post. I really like your style of writing. Thanks for posting. Cash payday loans
I want to express my admiration of your writing skill and ability to make readers read from the beginning to the end. I would like to read newer posts and to share my thoughts with you.
http://www.emanprinting.com/folder-printing/Custom-Presentation-Folders.php || customized stickers
I think its worth recalling that in 1968 -- at the height of what they thought of as, pass4sure CISA as well as I still do think of as, the dreadful aggression accompanied through chemical destruction of its surroundings and people and other dreadful things in Vietnam in the United States, pass4sure JN0-343 the Democrats were in power. In some ways, liberal Democrats. In Great Britain, the Labour Party was in power. In what was then still Western Federal Germany, pass4sure 650-251 there was a grand coalition of social democrats.
This blog happened to indicate up in my searches and I couldn’t aid clicking on it. I am glad I did mainly because it was a really fulfilling read.Kenny Chesney Tickets
A quick survey of the prevailing market price of Viagra tablets will suggest that at this rate, only the elitist few will be afford a constant use of the little blue pills, an especially worrying trend.==
Very interesting post - Might be old news, but it was news to me. Big thanks for the useful info i found on Language of "Performance". viagra online kaufen
I find it astonishing that Hitchens knows more about what it means to be Christian than you. He is most certainly correct that you are not a "Christian in any meaningful sense", and I have much greater respect for him, as he clearly knows what he believes and why he believes it. Shamefully, you apparently do not, and yet you are arrogantly critical of those who do and who can clearly communicate their own beliefs without appealing to esoteric wording in order to mask clearly outrageous ignorance of a book they hold to be the foundation of their belief.billige computer go healthy weight loss tips
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.It is a appreciable that you are too good to manage your blog because actual meaning of blog dies if irrelevant comments remain for long time.For good post knowledge based comments should be written so that people can learn from this blog.70-523 | 70-526 | 70-528 | 70-536 | 70-542 | 70-547 | 70-562 | 70-564
Hey there this indicates you’re jogging this site in drupal. Our blog site employs drupal way too nevertheless My spouse and i can’t look for a design. Could you remember to identify that you acquired this specific design? It could be loved. mesothelioma lawyers
This is a great post ! it was very informative. I look forward in reading more of your work. Also, I made sure to bookmark your website so I can come back later. I enjoyed every moment of reading it. tinnitus treatment
This is a great post ! it was very informative. I look forward in reading more of your work. Also, I made sure to bookmark your website so I can come back later. I enjoyed every moment of reading it. tinnitus treatment
I look forward in reading more of your work. Also, I made sure to bookmark your website so I can come back later. I enjoyed every moment of reading it.
press release pendidikan karakter
pendidikan karakter artikel direktori
indonesia press release berita press media
artikel press release indonesia press
artikel direktori submit artikel
cerdas Web Id bisnis online belajar
SEO Artikel Direktori Blog cerdas
seo article directory Yudinet
id blog Edublogs.org Blog.com mbah yudinet Blank Book
Cupu Book Wah YudiNet Twitt Feed Yudinet
Feed Personalisblog press feed press
rss press yudinet Com yudinet
press id press press id press id
feeds cupu cupu press id yudi net com
i just happened to find it doing a google search. anyway, great post. ……..
dream vacation network
Oldsmobile Intrigue Alternator
Your site is good Actually, i have seen your post and That was very informative and very entertaining for me. Thanks for posting Really Such Things. I should recommend your site to my friends. Cheers.
I enjoyed reading the interview, thank you. However, I don't take your comments here very well. Just because you claim his (implied excessive) drinking is well known doesn't mean you should use it against him. Why is he not wise and not deep? The interview says otherwise to me.
He rejects any supernatural claims of religion. You seem to agree with this. What exactly is wrong with his rejection?
As for theology, I think it is spot on for him to say "God is the ground of being" has no meaning at all. Do you agree?
He rejects any supernatural claims of religion. You seem to agree with this. What exactly is wrong with his rejection?
The post is very impressive and provides lots of useful information to us.
http://www.mycarrental.com.sg/