Christopher Hitchens God: Big Questions... Bigger Questions

[@ASkepticalHumanOnYouTube]

I find it very offensive and condescending when people claim that in order to break an addiction, you must first accept that a higher power exists. That is complete nonsense.

[@zeljjko70766]

true

[@halwarner3326]

A higher power of your own understanding?

[@commanderpipi1youknowfromp730]

Agree

[@luisapena5162]

When your life is at a disarray and out of control, yes, you need a higher power. The problem is, when you're incapable of making right decisions and religion comes to the rescue and tells you their god is the only cure to whatever ails you. I was in that situation: Non-believer to drug addict to Christian. Ten years in the sect before I was able to get out, after being able to think critically on the absurdities I was being fed.

[@haase1301]

Agreed...and I’m in Recovery. So, in order to be restored to sanity I have to believe something totally insane? My sponsor defines Faith as wishful thinking. My higher power is Christopher Hitchens!!

[@apathyguy8338]

20 years sober with no imaginary help thank you very much. Sober and sane without god.

[@Stratahoovius]

Good job, I'm trying to quit drinking, every one just assumes I'm going to go to AA....nope. I have to do this myself.

[@apathyguy8338]

Some locations have something called rational recovery. May be worth checking out. First few years can be hard if your alone. You can hang out in the rooms without drinking the koolaid. You'd be surprised how many of us are in there.

[@lennonpierce1607]

That's awesome and can say from a family of addicts, impressive as well!! Now, if only everyone realized that ALMOST everything in their life can be changed with some will power & diligence too...

[@alexmarshall4725]

Proud of you .. three years for me off opiates and crack cocaine ❤️❤️ life really gets so much better .. completely agreed with mr hitchcens Here..

[@kawasakiwhiptwo5821]

Make that 22 years A.G. Stay strong brother. ✌

[@Aja-Christian]

That phenomenon of missing someone terribly that you've never met in your life? I feel the same way about Hitchens. I only found out about him two months ago, and when I read that he had already passed on, to say I was upset is putting it lightly. I would've loved to invite Hitch out for coffee and just pick his brain for hours and not just because of his personal opinions; I don't think I've ever heard anyone with such a beautiful grasp of the English language. I'm grateful for his existence.

[@styreful]

Beautifully written.

[@nateellenberger6043]

Hitchens is definitely missed!! I wish I would have had the chance to meet him in person. There's no one else who can explain "the God problem" as he did (don't get me wrong though, there are some good ones out there like Dan Barker and Richard Dawkins), but Chris H was "one of a kind"! Maybe one day we will have a philosopher, who could put things into perspective as Chris Hitchens could do. ......my favorite line from Chris H was always where he would be on stage while presenting his pre-introduction speech on the topic and he would say "Why does God care if you cut off skin on your dick or clitorus" 🤣😂. The way he would say it was EPIC (like in a "matter of fact" attitude), and he is definitely missed! Chris Hitchens, "R.I.P. comrade"!!!

[@KeyurRohit]

😢😢😢

[@Mary-wf6ko]

Same feelings here I just find out and I’m in love with him more than god😂❤

[@katarinahinsey3931]

I used to live in fear of my atheism. Thank you Dawkins, Hitchens, Dennett and Harris for giving me courage.

[@jvincent6548]

I used to live in fear of my breathing until i realised that it wasn't abnormal....and that it was a perfectly normal part of living.

[@2fast2block]

It's not your atheism you need to fear, it's the result of accepting it. You go by what losers teach and still think you are smart for doing that. Hitch who pretends to know the bible as he screws up on it over and over again including what faith means biblically. --"Faith is the surrender of the mind, it's the surrender of reason, it's the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other animals. It's our need to believe and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. ... Out of all the virtues, all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated”-- Christopher Hitchens Now, look at what biblical faith really means that Hitch the liar didn't even look at: Biblically, faith means trust. It's a trust by evidence seen. God asks that we prove things. To reason. To get knowledge. To study. God has nothing to hide. We develop trust from what is seen, and that which is not seen yet is trusted also because of the trust built up from what is seen. It's much like a human relationship. We don't trust much until a person has gained that trust from what is observed. The difference is though, God is not limited to human powers. He created us. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. crossexamined.org/biblical-faith-vs-blind-faith/ www.truthortradition.com/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-faith www.revisedenglishversion.com/Appendix/16/Faith_is_Trust www.truthortradition.com/articles/faith-a-confident-expectation-of-gods-promises-coming-to-pass www.truthortradition.com/articles/hebrews-1-11-and-faith Hitchens always went into evasive word antics to avoid key questions like how we got the creation of the universe. Real science says nothing does nothing. Real science says if there was something there already it must fit with the evidence of what we know. We know the 1LT says there's a conservation of energy. It can change forms and neither can be created or destroyed. Creation cannot happen by natural means. The 2LT has various aspects, one being the universe is winding down, entropy. Usable energy is becoming less usable, so at one point usable energy was at its max. This all points to a supernatural creation, by a supernatural creator at a certain point in which matter, space, and time were created. When I read how it can happen otherwise, ALL the fools resort to science-fiction. Once a supernatural creation is accepted, then the next step is finding proof of what supernatural power did it. We can't even get science without God. The laws of nature only can come from a Lawgiver, God. Life only comes from life. Law of biogenesis. God is the reason for us and all we have. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJqwoq2ElL6Gjrc The odds are NOT there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWLCfHiMlqisl6M kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4icmJStr79_qc0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpXEooarqdlol9k

[@jvincent6548]

@@2fast2block What utter drivel you talk. The bible...in English, from an early modern English translation of The Latin Vulgate or the Greek bibles which in turn are translated from Aramaic. So full of errors, mis-translations etc. In any case all hearsay stories. So... -Full of errors and contradictions -Probably some historical truths in the stories especially in the OT. -But as the word of a god? Bollocks. -Jesus the son of a god? Bollocks The bible has no real relevance for life today anymore than a book of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales. A belief in god is an abrogation of oneself.

[@casyatbat]

@@2fast2block I agree that _"I used to live in fear of my atheism."_ It is more like she was still afraid of not believing in a god, which is part of the brainwashing from birth through childhood by well meaning parents. It really is this simple. If there was any evidence of any of the gods invented by man, then there would be. 1 god 1 religion 1 denomination no atheists of agnostics and no more need of faith, it would be fact.

[@kappla]

@@2fast2block dumb, silly; return to your swamp, por favor 👋

[@weizenobstmusli8232]

I laughed when the reverend said, if there were no religion, he whould not have to work so hard for his living. He is sitting there in his comfortable chair, administering people, collecting money just for an elaborate conviction. That's a dream job right there. The wealth of higher ranked religious leaders was allways something that pssed me of.

[@MarjorainMD]

I love Christopher Hitchens because he freed me from the shackles and chains of religion, for that I am indebted to that beautiful English gorgeous bastard, may his mellifluous voice keep educating wherever free-thinkers congregate, the world is indeed a poorer place without the Hitch.

[@johndecicco]

53:31 "I want the privilege to believe the absurd..." Then expect to be ridiculed.

[@SunsetStarship]

This has to be my fav Hitch yet because his opposition has dignity. Excellent discussion.

[@coffeetalk924]

Miss you Hitch

[@TheDurden84]

Thank you for posting this! Hitchens always brightens my day

[@Iverath]

I think this video proves that no matter if you're 2v1 and have a god on your side, Hitchens will prevail and win the debate.

[@r0bbyinchins]

A very lopsided set up.. the christians were outnumbered , outclassed & outwitted

[@eleganzaitself6115]

I never knew him either, and I miss him dreadfully, every day. KZbin and newsprint is unbelievably impoverished without him.

[@styreful]

I share with you the cavity that has been left behind. Miss him every single day. From someone who never met him. But his messages will go on. Let’s work on them.

[@anton1949]

A wordsmith with few peers.

[@mapzilla]

My testimony is similiar. I wanted to be a reborn Christian in the worst way, but I never felt changed no matter how hard I prayed or praised God. Atheism has ironically made me reborn. To the freedom and self respect I always had but was never allowed the feel.

[@nateellenberger6043]

Thank you Chris Hitchens (R.I.P. comrade) for devoting your life for reason and secularism! No matter if you like or dislike Hitchens, he never bored you with the things he said. RIP brother!

[@no-oneman.4140]

...topher.

[@2fast2block]

He devoted his life to being a loser. Hitch who pretends to know the bible as he screws up on it over and over again including what faith means biblically. --"Faith is the surrender of the mind, it's the surrender of reason, it's the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other animals. It's our need to believe and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. ... Out of all the virtues, all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated”-- Christopher Hitchens Now, look at what biblical faith really means that Hitch the liar didn't even look at: Biblically, faith means trust. It's a trust by evidence seen. God asks that we prove things. To reason. To get knowledge. To study. God has nothing to hide. We develop trust from what is seen, and that which is not seen yet is trusted also because of the trust built up from what is seen. It's much like a human relationship. We don't trust much until a person has gained that trust from what is observed. The difference is though, God is not limited to human powers. He created us. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. crossexamined.org/biblical-faith-vs-blind-faith/ www.truthortradition.com/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-faith www.revisedenglishversion.com/Appendix/16/Faith_is_Trust www.truthortradition.com/articles/faith-a-confident-expectation-of-gods-promises-coming-to-pass www.truthortradition.com/articles/hebrews-1-11-and-faith Hitchens always went into evasive word antics to avoid key questions like how we got the creation of the universe. Real science says nothing does nothing. Real science says if there was something there already it must fit with the evidence of what we know. We know the 1LT says there's a conservation of energy. It can change forms and neither can be created or destroyed. Creation cannot happen by natural means. The 2LT has various aspects, one being the universe is winding down, entropy. Usable energy is becoming less usable, so at one point usable energy was at its max. This all points to a supernatural creation, by a supernatural creator at a certain point in which matter, space, and time were created. When I read how it can happen otherwise, ALL the fools resort to science-fiction. Once a supernatural creation is accepted, then the next step is finding proof of what supernatural power did it. We can't even get science without God. The laws of nature only can come from a Lawgiver, God. Life only comes from life. Law of biogenesis. God is the reason for us and all we have. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJqwoq2ElL6Gjrc The odds are NOT there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWLCfHiMlqisl6M kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4icmJStr79_qc0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpXEooarqdlol9k

[@divinewon73]

@@2fast2block 🤮RELIGION: THE ORIGINAL FAKE NEWS!!🤣 A 5000-year-old Ancient Egyptian religion… copied from older frauds: Religions explained: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3KoZpR5bqxgb8U kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpiVn3VroteNmKc George Carlin ~ religion 32:41 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aKXTYYiEmM-topo Dave Allen ~ religion 5:47 kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKnSaWSFoJ6IqM0

[@jonathanrussell1140]

​@@2fast2block your god man here just said religion is man-made. Go figure...

[@2fast2block]

@@jonathanrussell1140 wow, that was supposed to somehow show all I gave is not correct. Amazing.

[@nickp5524]

The reverend and the rabbi are surprisingly honest. Granted I'm only around 30 minutes in, but it's unusual to see. However, their arguments seem to be suggesting that they don't care whether their religion is true, because it's comforting, aspiring, reassuring, and gives them some contentment...much like an opiate. Even going as far as consciously choosing what they consider truth, to have that contentment. While I certainly understand this, and there's almost certainly not a human alive that is immune to this indulgence, I cant say I respect it. Personally I feel we should aspire to remove the responsibilities we've placed on religion, and remove the illusion that they were ever anywhere other than on our shoulders. The act of removing this illusion while keeping its objective is a form of enlightenment.

[@fairfour2852]

that's what i was thinking about the Rev, but also just seems like he's been repressed from thinking otherwise.. i'm not a religious person myself so i wont say i KNOW, but in my opinion all religion comes down to is a psychobiological condition built or molded or forced in us from an early age.. people just look for quick answers and don't understand how long it can take for evolution take place and how VASTLY complicated the human mind is.. but as always you are bound to get pseudo-philosopher and religious people finding some argument in there..

[@jamesraymondsmith]

that was pretty good.

[@theodorebugsby3045]

Then, I encourage you to watch the rest. It gets better in the sense that Mr Hitchens exposes some of the nastiest beliefs this two religions (Judaism & Christian Baptist) have.

[@Kooper05]

7:05 "I'm not smart enough without god and I like it this way." I find this the default, unspoken position of the majority of theists I meet. Then they teach others how they too aren't smart enough or strong enough to do anything in their lives without their superhero in the sky giving them the power to do it. And you wonder why people think you're morons, needing some deity's power channeled through you do get anything good done... How about digging a well instead of praying for rain?

[@styreful]

Love your writing on this.

[@conradbulos6164]

How about doing both and leave nothing to chance?

[@Benjaminsp2004]

I miss Hitchens so much, I take comfort in knowing his knowledge and insight has helped me and many others give up their silly superstitions. Nobody could ever replace him but I'd like to see Michael Shermer continue the argument in his place alongside Dawkins, Dennett, and Harris

[@ipsizm9265]

Shermer turned out to be a real disappointment. Matt Dillahunty is great.

[@apathyguy8338]

@@ipsizm9265 I find Dillahunty an extremely knowledgeable man. Most of the time he truly impresses me. Sadly he does come across as a bit narcissistic I don't think he's the kind of person that ever admits he's wrong.

[@wholeplanteater5792]

I just discovered chirstopher 2 weeks ago I feel sad he isn't alive but his talks have made me free of religions

[@Nat88123]

Atheism is really silly. I think your projecting

[@Benjaminsp2004]

@@Nat88123 Thanks, now we know what you think

[@MugRuith]

I felt badly for the Rabbi who after baring his soul to the audience, was greeted by laughter and humor (even if not directed at him or in direct response to his expressed pain). Well, perhaps the book of Job would have something to say on that also. Still, overall the remorselessness of Hitchens adds to his effectiveness in these debates. He feels that he is combating a large and insidious threat to humanity and that this is his venue to make a difference. Gotta respect that.

[@reynardcole2043]

Never get fed up listening to Hitch, honest, forthright and too the point, sadly missed, will mix with him when the sun goes nova and swallows this planet, and we all go back to where we started in the stars ✨.

[@trumanhw]

All three of these people are brilliant. This is an brimming with wit. I could refer this unapologetically to any theist or atheist alike. It's so entertaining that despite Hitchens sharpness of persuasion, the faithed person may still watch in it's entirety. Spectacular. My favorite after a good 50 hours of Hitchens I've watched. I regret being unable to thank him, let alone reciprocate.

[@2fast2block]

Shut up, you're a loser like they are. Hitch who pretends to know the bible as he screws up on it over and over again including what faith means biblically. --"Faith is the surrender of the mind, it's the surrender of reason, it's the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other animals. It's our need to believe and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. ... Out of all the virtues, all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated”-- Christopher Hitchens Now, look at what biblical faith really means that Hitch the liar didn't even look at: Biblically, faith means trust. It's a trust by evidence seen. God asks that we prove things. To reason. To get knowledge. To study. God has nothing to hide. We develop trust from what is seen, and that which is not seen yet is trusted also because of the trust built up from what is seen. It's much like a human relationship. We don't trust much until a person has gained that trust from what is observed. The difference is though, God is not limited to human powers. He created us. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. crossexamined.org/biblical-faith-vs-blind-faith/ www.truthortradition.com/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-faith www.revisedenglishversion.com/Appendix/16/Faith_is_Trust www.truthortradition.com/articles/faith-a-confident-expectation-of-gods-promises-coming-to-pass www.truthortradition.com/articles/hebrews-1-11-and-faith Hitchens always went into evasive word antics to avoid key questions like how we got the creation of the universe. Real science says nothing does nothing. Real science says if there was something there already it must fit with the evidence of what we know. We know the 1LT says there's a conservation of energy. It can change forms and neither can be created or destroyed. Creation cannot happen by natural means. The 2LT has various aspects, one being the universe is winding down, entropy. Usable energy is becoming less usable, so at one point usable energy was at its max. This all points to a supernatural creation, by a supernatural creator at a certain point in which matter, space, and time were created. When I read how it can happen otherwise, ALL the fools resort to science-fiction. Once a supernatural creation is accepted, then the next step is finding proof of what supernatural power did it. We can't even get science without God. The laws of nature only can come from a Lawgiver, God. Life only comes from life. Law of biogenesis. God is the reason for us and all we have. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJqwoq2ElL6Gjrc The odds are NOT there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWLCfHiMlqisl6M kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4icmJStr79_qc0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpXEooarqdlol9k

[@Remnants100]

100% agree on all counts.

[@1984isnotamanual]

Read his books

[@rallfrey1]

Hitchens clearly here has developed the art of public performance in a state of being right on the brink of being so drunk he can no longer speak. Even so he makes more sense than the two sober professors.

[@chrisklecka1787]

I've gotta say, even though I'm in total agreement with Hitch, I really dig the easy demeanor and humor of Rev Gomes here, he even got a real chuckle out of Hitchens. That's fairly rare

[@Hollis_has_questions]

“In the long run it’ll turn out fine” - but FOR WHOM? (~1:35:00ish) What an ominously self-centered, self-congratulatory statement by Rev. Peter Gomes; the epitome of self-centeredness.

[@kcaston]

Hitch at his best. The reverend and the rabbi, although both articulate and charming, profoundly deluded.

[@mneeser872]

How telling is it that only Christopher Hitchens provides substantive arguments? The reverend and the rabbi are just cute and innocuous. The religious always seem to avoid the hard questions like the plague.

[@markcreitzman8728]

To quote a great man, the Rev is so nice he is hardly religious at all

[@HeyDude93gt]

The most casual, polite, entertaining and humorous debate I've watched, So far. Hitchens is my favorite go to Pitbull of debates and to see him like this, In a way, Is refreshing.

[@chokin78]

"religion is in many ways a male racket" Hitch.... Wow

[@reisekeller6859]

I will say, that I appreciate the good natured humor between the debaters. Had more than one laugh during this occasion.

[@Falcrist]

1:18:40 Brutal and eloquent and *_extremely_* well said. The practice of male genital mutilation is much tamer than the female variety, but it also seems to be nearly universally accepted. It's easy to condemn the atrocity that is FGM, but at least that is practiced almost entirely by religious fundamentalists. I'll never understand how so many people (especially those who are otherwise not particularly religious) think MGM is ok.

[@ramgoatliver6180]

As a Hitch fan, I must complement the Rev and the Rab on their good humour.

[@nightlydrugs6927]

Me too, though I wish the Rabbi wouldn’t have been hacking violently into his mic.

[@Azrael76667]

Yeah ahahaaha baby genital mutilation go brrr

[@gary031183]

No matter what! This was a great discussion (not a debate). They were all funny at times. RIP Hitch! I think of you often and will always cherish your writings and books.

[@lorzeraj5477]

Respect for Hichens. Thank you Chritofer for existing and STANDING.

[@jvincent6548]

Peter Gomes has one of those wonderful American accents of old. Clipped, musical and lovely to listen to.

[@magicpigfpv6989]

16:40 Is where the rev casually admits that religion is man made. Thankfully Christopher has sharpened his critical thinking skills and noticed the admission later.

[@BullittMcQueen1]

The reverend said that religion is man-made. The rabbi said that religion is more about community. That wraps it up pretty well. Religion is man-made and a way to control a community of people.

[@WildPhotoShooter]

After listening to Rabbi Kushners comment, Christophers fire and momentum was being stoked from within and from 1:29:20 he quickly gets hard on the accelerator. Religions trying to be understanding with each other simply does not wash with Mr Hitchens.........and rightly so, because they all say outside of their religion there is nothing.

[@patrickparker8417]

Yes , eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we are going to die .

[@Arron413]

My God! I wish I had the brilliancy that emanates from Christopher's prodigious mind.

[@jordanvanderkuyl6729]

I'm an atheist, but I really did enjoy all three speakers. Quite enjoyable regardless of my position.

[@GoFuckYourself123345]

***** i'm sorry but the 2 religious dudes did get smashed... they literally had no argument... it felt like they were presenting pre-rehearsed lines that didn't always have anything to do with the question or at least logically answer the question

[@R3troSim]

I'm sorry, but I disagree completely, as much as I'd like to say otherwise. The late Rev. Peter Gomes in this debate seemed to me far too arrogant and concerned with his show of intellect than actually taking any sort of care on the issues. It felt more like a casual comedy show on his side. As for Rabbi Harold Kushner - that argument between him and Hitchens over the whether the bris is genital mutilation or not (see 1:18:00 onwards) told me all I needed to hear. Really does push Hitchens' point about needing religion to make a good person do bad things - and not know any better (or at the very least consider why such an action is seen as unethical). I believe they were all sincere, and at the core they appear to be good, morally reasonable people. But I'm afraid I only saw one person at the table with a clear head out of the three, and that was Hitch.

[@Benjaminsp2004]

I usually feel the same way, I've also noticed that when Hitch debates the Jews, they seem to be the only ones that don't speak in ignorant arrogant certitudes that they "absolutely know" anything..I guess they're the most agnostic of the big religions in that sense, that if u ask a rabbi what happens when you die their answer is usually "i don't know"

[@brandenfarbanger3935]

A good conversation amongst individuals with different views is refreshing these days

[@Gabryal77]

It's a strategy of those who organize these debate to seem to find the most atypical, liberal, educated representatives of theist belief as possible, the very sort who if they were typical would not even consider the abuses the religious in this world continually heap upon the lay person. I think most educated people realize how atypical these people are, and how unwelcome they would be in the religious houses of those who share their religious beliefs.

[@markiacomini956]

C.H. ...My personal Star of Bethlehem!

[@andyfirthclarinetvirtuoso]

All three were lovely people but I wish Hitch had been given more worthy debaters.

[@goodshootingtex1295]

it hurts my ears, when Christopher stops talking....!!

[@captur69]

And the pain is excruciating when the other two speak....ha...

[@TeraByteify]

I like this rabbi, he makes me laugh in a good way. He's still wrong, but he's good at it.

[@MrLordarioch40]

Both were funny and enjoyable. The pastor has a voice that soothed Me to sleep though

[@chokin78]

Yeah, it's like he is wrong gracefully...

[@rowdy3837]

@@chokin78 I would say brilliantly and eloquently so…

[@michaelfreund]

i'm a HUGE hitchens fan, having watched countless hours of videos in the past months. it's my single favorite pastime now. i keep an open doc on my computer where i jot down his quotes and fascinatingly eloquent, meta-level, absolutely destructive arguments, repartees, rhetoric, his wit that confound his opponents and leaves them exposed and helpless. but i must say, despite my awe for him, peter gomes is extremely sharp, just in a slower, "older" way. very classy and in no way inferior to hitchens. great debate, on a very mature level.

[@amankaur7270]

Do you mind sharing his quotes with me?

[@rajaseelan6934]

This is how a discussion should be. Hitchens reasoning is stand out. Thanks to internet, we are able to witness the culmination of human intelligence... in Hitchens. Fantastic. Long live the free human mind.

[@LockSteady]

Our prophets are far more rare than theirs. All praises be unto the great Carl Sagan, may his wisdom forever chastise us.

[@MissAPierce]

I do love Hitch, and good on him for not letting the Rabbi get away with defending a bris and whatnot, but I have to say, the Rabbi's obviously such an amiable, good-hearted guy... I don't think I could do the same. Or maybe I could, but not as stridently.

[@ScinLaeca358]

We see from debates like this that "religious" people are people who like to hear cutesy, folksy, syrupy nonsense that makes them go "Oh, neat!" But this part at roughly 53:00 is just too much. Gomes is basically saying he wants to be able to be stupid and not be thought of as stupid - well, you can have the first, but you can't have the second. Sorry.

[@Comp1337e]

Thank you for the screen capture and upload!

[@chokin78]

Hitch in no mercy mode... Nice

[@robinalexander5558]

I agree. It's one of the best discussions. All intelligent men. Good points all around, but Hitchens is awesome as always.

[@CrustyNightSock]

This was awesome.

[@adropofgoldensun27]

I say people who feel they must have a faith or religion in order to face life are showing a kind of cowardice, which in any other sphere would be considered contemptible. But when it is in the religious sphere it is thought admirable, and I cannot admire cowardice whatever sphere it is in. When you hear people in church debasing themselves and saying that they are miserable sinners, and all the rest of it, it seems contemptible and not worthy of self-respecting human beings. We ought to stand up and look the world frankly in the face. We ought to make the best we can of the world, and if it is not so good as we wish, after all it will still be better than what these others have made of it in all these ages. A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by words uttered long ago by ignorant men. It needs a fearless outlook and free intelligence. It needs hope for the future, not looking back all the time toward a past that is dead, which we trust will be far surpassed by the future that our intelligence can create. Bertrand Russell

[@theklaus7436]

Remember Hitchens fight is not over. USA , Iran etc.

[@philipmcguire5039]

I miss him so much

[@pbamma]

This is the first time I've heard a reverend say that religion is a man made construct. That was one of the major realizations I had during my transformation of becoming an Atheist.

[@wolfreyet]

Yeh but what a pompous pious piss weak debater. Great use of language but man he sounds pompous.

[@MrCfkthadani]

Christopher Hitchens. By far. The most intellectual, ,,,,,, ,,, >>>>>>>> Intelectual ! !!!!

[@martyduke3139]

I think that this Moderator did an excellent job & was probably the Best I've ever seen! Wish I knew her name.

[@NatureNymph46]

She was introduced in great detail at the beginning of the video

[@joeclaby2818]

Fun conversation, nice when the religious are not infinitely close minded as with William Lane Craig etc

[@YeahThrashMaster]

I love how this was more of a friendly conversation (with one exception being the old man in the process of dying) and that turned into a good conversational theme, a good, non-violent debate which I bet most people enjoyed.

[@boxer12350]

Yeheah i agree. I got the impression that all three enjoyed each others company and conversation

[@RobbieJack78]

“...the old man in the process of dying.” LMAO

[@NatureNymph46]

Hitchens couldn't get too aggressive because the dying old man already had one foot out the door, and one sharp word could've been the end of him altogether.

[@edwardpolenzani1039]

Lol, Hitch’s reaction to the rabbi’s comment about Hell 🤣🤣

[@GoodAvatar]

You forget to note that the Hitch has the educated background, the charm, the wit, and the clarity of vision to hand these people their own vision back to them. Usually in a nightmarish, reality based format, but that doesn't seem to dissuade them. It's certainly encouraged the hell out of US, hasn't it?

[@trainerd1]

Christopher Hitchens, the James Bond of religious and political discourse.

[@christiananderson4909]

Look up the term "insipid." The reverend and the rabbi embody this word. . .

[@IvysPoison1987]

I actually find it really sad that reverend gomes said he doesn't think he's smart enough or brave enough to live without the God construct

[@2fast2block]

Hey loser, why do you live? Like Hitch, you losers don't give things such thought. Hitch who pretends to know the bible as he screws up on it over and over again including what faith means biblically. --"Faith is the surrender of the mind, it's the surrender of reason, it's the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other animals. It's our need to believe and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. ... Out of all the virtues, all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated”-- Christopher Hitchens Now, look at what biblical faith really means that Hitch the liar didn't even look at: Biblically, faith means trust. It's a trust by evidence seen. God asks that we prove things. To reason. To get knowledge. To study. God has nothing to hide. We develop trust from what is seen, and that which is not seen yet is trusted also because of the trust built up from what is seen. It's much like a human relationship. We don't trust much until a person has gained that trust from what is observed. The difference is though, God is not limited to human powers. He created us. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. crossexamined.org/biblical-faith-vs-blind-faith/ www.truthortradition.com/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-faith www.revisedenglishversion.com/Appendix/16/Faith_is_Trust www.truthortradition.com/articles/faith-a-confident-expectation-of-gods-promises-coming-to-pass www.truthortradition.com/articles/hebrews-1-11-and-faith Hitchens always went into evasive word antics to avoid key questions like how we got the creation of the universe. Real science says nothing does nothing. Real science says if there was something there already it must fit with the evidence of what we know. We know the 1LT says there's a conservation of energy. It can change forms and neither can be created or destroyed. Creation cannot happen by natural means. The 2LT has various aspects, one being the universe is winding down, entropy. Usable energy is becoming less usable, so at one point usable energy was at its max. This all points to a supernatural creation, by a supernatural creator at a certain point in which matter, space, and time were created. When I read how it can happen otherwise, ALL the fools resort to science-fiction. Once a supernatural creation is accepted, then the next step is finding proof of what supernatural power did it. We can't even get science without God. The laws of nature only can come from a Lawgiver, God. Life only comes from life. Law of biogenesis. God is the reason for us and all we have. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJqwoq2ElL6Gjrc The odds are NOT there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWLCfHiMlqisl6M kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4icmJStr79_qc0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpXEooarqdlol9k

[@liz9147]

6:00 Hitchen’s opening statement. Game over.

[@bobblue_west]

Thanks for uploading.

[@michaeltreu4152]

lol this was the most amusing debate i have seen Hitchens in . Loved it.

[@joealias2594]

+michael treu I think it's largely because Rev. Gomes has given him some really great wit in response to his own, which he doesn't usually get. I don't know that the Reverend has or could do much against Hitch's arguments, but an entertaining debate is perhaps as worth watching as an informative one.

[@RastaRider]

+michael treu Haha true. The Christian speaker was funny. I especially like the anecdote at the 35:10 mark.

[@acerbicatheist2893]

+michael treu I hope you're right 'cos I'm getting sick of tedious non-debates with fanatics who are specifically trained how to NOT debate...And I will confess to a tiny bias on the side of Hitchy! :)

[@TomFynn]

@Rpagsis1 You know that Hitchens had a deathbed conversion? The priest is now an atheist.

[@Kailoa36]

I'm curious why some atheists say, "Rest in peace." Christopher Hitchens is not resting. He's dead. How about just saying, "Thanks for the memories," or, "Thanks for fighting the good fight for reason," or just, "I'm glad I got to share the planet with you."

[@MarjorainMD]

@ Kailoa, That is a very good question, my take on it is; it is difficult for us Atheists to completely rid ourselves from the old essays of yesteryear, so it is very possible that comments from non-believers are written in haste and subconsciously subjective to interpretation, although we all know the great Hitchens has entered the void of non-existence and extinction by saying RIP may implied wishful thinking on our part that his essence is still present somewhere…remember; it’s only wishful thinking; I say unto you with much chagrin…the man is extinct forever.

[@8698gil]

I completely agree with you. I was raised in a strict protectant home, but at an early age I was bothered by so many contradictions. I was told as a child that the catholics next door were going to hell, but I played with those kids. I asked their mother when I was 5 years old whether they believed in god, and she said yes. I said, my parents say you don't. She looked shocked at first, then said,"your parents lied to you". I think it was then my atheism took hold.

[@GlowingMpd]

What were they strictly trying to protect you from??🤣

[@chad-wyck]

I had seen clips of this when Hitchens comments on genital mutilation and speaks of how religion does make good people do wicked and evil things, I couldn't agree more. Especially after listening to this Rabbi speak, an atheist myself, found him to be very intelligent and suggest some very nice ideas (I like his bit about cheating on your spouse). I often wonder what people like him would be like if not for their religion requiring them to do and believe evil things. This thought further sparks my curiosity when I consider that this man is on the more liberal side of Judaism!

[@thesc0tsm4n9]

I like how two religious persons didn't answer a single question directly and instead shifted the question. yet Christopher like normal can just outright answer them immediately and accurately.

[@robinchun1]

He would have hated being called, or referred to as Chris, and would have let you know in his inimitable style!

[@christopherdesimone206]

@@robinchun1 For sure.

[@MarjorainMD]

I’ve would have given you thumb up ⬆️ but then you call him Chris…no Sir!…Christopher.

[@thesc0tsm4n9]

@@MarjorainMD So i can assume then that he preferred being referred to by his full first name then. cheers for the heads up.

[@MarjorainMD]

@@thesc0tsm4n9 Alright there’s the thumb up 👍 Cheers 🍻 to enlightenment.

[@DJTEHE01]

THANK U SOOO MUCH!!!

[@mcmeister89]

Forget the Rabbi, I could listen to Hitch and the Reverend talk all day. They're hilarious.

[@robertdyer8322]

Wow. Two theists versus one atheist. Its really unfair and rather biased. I mean, I would think that Christopher could trounce at least 5 theists at any debate!!

[@emmahicks6588]

It doesn't matter if u stack 100 theists against him. Christopher hitchens is the only one who will make sense

[@66Phaedrus]

Wow! I do miss Hitch! Amazing man!

[@chairde]

For Black people the church is entertainment. For the Jews it is their separation from the rest of humanity and being chosen above all the rest.

[@finowa]

Peter Gomes was entertaining at first, but an hour and twenty minutes into this debate his smugness is unbearable.

[@Musicswagg86]

i agree

[@ricksflicks-]

Also agree. If you are going to be that smug you should be able to say something of substance. His greatest trick is saying a lot of words without actually saying or committing to anything.

[@lennonpierce1607]

I had that exact thought about halfway throug. At least the Rabbi tried to make sense and made some self deprecating humor quips...

[@jasonu3741]

He entered the debate without much substance and put up great effort to appear "not wrong" without ever arguing his points or debating his belief system. his body language even gives this away sub consciously as he would never look at his adversary unless Kushner was talking to hitchens than he would point his attention more as a spectator than actual participant. This is what bothers hitchens the most as expressed when he debated Deepak Chopra who also did this same spiel, because these guys (if you pull up videos on them) have much more fire and fury when in the comfortable confines of there own congregations yet when faced with someone actually able call there belief systems out they argue as if they were a Deist. much like an abusive parent or significant other who puts on a facade while in public. you cant hold court with someone whos not willing to actually hold up there end of the debate. Might as well come there with a collage of there various comments from other speaking engagments and debate them in that manner "you said this at the baptist church in 2015 care to explain?" because if you dont do that Gomes came prepared to collect a cheque debate absolutely nothing and leave. On the other hand i can respect Kushner BECAUSE he atleast had the courage to argue his convictions regardless of how ethically bankrupt it made him look at one point.

[@captur69]

Yes..he was practicing for the role of nutty professor 🙄

[@rsr789]

That's an understatement... he's in another galaxy, located clear across the universe.

[@NAvison1112]

At least 2? Search "Christopher Hitchens vs. William Lane Craig, Douglas Wilson, Lee Strobel, and Jim Denison " in that debate he takes on 4 theists AND the "moderator" and barely breaks a sweat. He has inspired many and even though he is gone, he lives on in the only afterlife I know; In the memories of those he left behind. RIP Hitch!

[@MarjorainMD]

Indeed, Cheers 🍻 to Hitch, this tumbler 🥃of JWB is in his honour.

[@1994Crokey]

Do you mean when he quoted Horace Mann's injunction "Until you have done something for humanity you should be ashamed to die" in Hitch-22? Fantastic book and I agree with your sentiment. I read his articles and watched him debate from the age of 12 until his death in my 17th year. He inspired me as well. What a truly great man.

[@grazzellian]

I would've enjoyed it more, if the rabbi had not been coughing so much. He said so many intelligent things which got swallowed in the cough. Brilliant debate.

[@alligatordundee4983]

Reverend Gomes is actually rather fascinating. As an atheist, I would have loved to have spent some time conversing with him.

[@zztop3137]

Hitchens NEVER lost a debate

[@joycolville3438]

In this both guys are having two bob each way an easier stance up against Hitch. Since his passing in 2007 have to call in to You Tube to hear his voice again a voice of reason and eloquence. 💐

[@MarjorainMD]

Joy if you are referring to Christopher Hitchens? he passed away in December 15 2011 not 2007, many thanks my fellow free-thinker.

[@alexisjuillard4816]

1:19:10 i hope he enjoyed the chuckle he got for that little joke, poor man, if he knew what was coming he would have either faked a heart attack to escape or had one from sheer terror. i find this is the most brutal hichslaps of all by a wide margin, too brutal actually i'm 100% with hich on this have a long held and deep hatred and disgust for these deeply immoral affects of religion and would have reacte as hich here but obviously could never have been as eloquent, in fact hich is so brutal and merciless i can't enjoy this one. i can only pity this old guy and feel as if i m looking at a sick nice weak grandpa being assaulted and beaten by a thug

[@andreadiamond7115]

1:23 …Hitch’s facial reaction 😂😂😂❤️

[@jungjalapeno]

1:06:20 onwards, a very interesting take on why he thinks a lot of women take comfort in religious rituals and observances. Never heard that before.

[@ASkepticalHumanOnYouTube]

1:23:05 - Hitchens body language is priceless.

[@onlygknows7793]

SO I suppose it is decided. The good books were written by men for men. Thank you reverend for being honest and good luck next Sunday at church explaining it the church goers.

[@Pawlit360]

He is quick and incredibly witty. I was very impressed =]

[@schelsullivan]

Why do most of these talks have a terrible audio engineer at the mixing board? There is obvious and annoying feedback at 260 hertz.

[@no-oneman.4140]

15th December 2011, the day the world became a much dumber place. RIP The Hitch.

[@2fast2block]

No, it was dumb with him and dumb now with you. Hitch who pretends to know the bible as he screws up on it over and over again including what faith means biblically. --"Faith is the surrender of the mind, it's the surrender of reason, it's the surrender of the only thing that makes us different from other animals. It's our need to believe and to surrender our skepticism and our reason, our yearning to discard that and put all our trust or faith in someone or something, that is the sinister thing to me. ... Out of all the virtues, all the supposed virtues, faith must be the most overrated”-- Christopher Hitchens Now, look at what biblical faith really means that Hitch the liar didn't even look at: Biblically, faith means trust. It's a trust by evidence seen. God asks that we prove things. To reason. To get knowledge. To study. God has nothing to hide. We develop trust from what is seen, and that which is not seen yet is trusted also because of the trust built up from what is seen. It's much like a human relationship. We don't trust much until a person has gained that trust from what is observed. The difference is though, God is not limited to human powers. He created us. Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. crossexamined.org/biblical-faith-vs-blind-faith/ www.truthortradition.com/articles/what-does-the-bible-say-about-faith www.revisedenglishversion.com/Appendix/16/Faith_is_Trust www.truthortradition.com/articles/faith-a-confident-expectation-of-gods-promises-coming-to-pass www.truthortradition.com/articles/hebrews-1-11-and-faith Hitchens always went into evasive word antics to avoid key questions like how we got the creation of the universe. Real science says nothing does nothing. Real science says if there was something there already it must fit with the evidence of what we know. We know the 1LT says there's a conservation of energy. It can change forms and neither can be created or destroyed. Creation cannot happen by natural means. The 2LT has various aspects, one being the universe is winding down, entropy. Usable energy is becoming less usable, so at one point usable energy was at its max. This all points to a supernatural creation, by a supernatural creator at a certain point in which matter, space, and time were created. When I read how it can happen otherwise, ALL the fools resort to science-fiction. Once a supernatural creation is accepted, then the next step is finding proof of what supernatural power did it. We can't even get science without God. The laws of nature only can come from a Lawgiver, God. Life only comes from life. Law of biogenesis. God is the reason for us and all we have. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJqwoq2ElL6Gjrc The odds are NOT there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWLCfHiMlqisl6M kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4icmJStr79_qc0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpXEooarqdlol9k

[@no-oneman.4140]

@@2fast2block Odearodearodear - try thinking for yourself.

[@MarjorainMD]

@@2fast2block Wow! your obsession for pasting, copying and regurgitating the same wasteful garbage in every Hitchens video is out of this world now, you must be overwhelmed with boredom, I salute your resolute nervous disorder.

[@franitafranita]

@@2fast2block take some ,, CHEESE,, 🧀🧀🧀🧀🧀 and than take your toy's and go play

[@Rpagsis1]

Rev. Gomes didn't feel the need to debate with Hitch, and his wit even had him amused. It was productive- and each made interesting points throughout the discussion.

[@joep6017]

Oh, ham sandwich 48:40 I'm reminded that I'm hungry. The most inspiring thing Kushner said all night.

[@havoc35]

This is one of my favorite videos for so many reasons. One being just how stereotypically Jewish Kushner is. Makes me laugh.

[@Capt.Schlieffen]

hitchens is so spot on here, lifting to watch

[@andrehanderson]

"I would say...we've enjoyed your company this evening..." perfect line, perfectly delivered

[@glynndraper437]

Your easily pleased. Well done you.

[@andrehanderson]

@@glynndraper437 you as well. Making inane comments seems to please you just fine.

[@MrLordarioch40]

Enjoyable as hell. Gotta say, the pastor has a voice second only to James Earl Jones.