Christopher Hitchens ~ The Morals of an Atheist

Christopher Hitchens talks about the morals of an Atheist from his book 'God is NOT Great'.
Sorry for any audio sync issues.

[@marcstone60]

I miss Hitchens. So intelligent and always polite. He was always the smartest person in the discussion. Brilliant man.

[@SeekerGoOn2013]

Always Polite? Are you kidding? I miss him too, but he had a giant ego.

[@fabriziocamisani5477]

No, come on, let's not idealize him, he would hate that. I miss him too, he was a brilliant, brilliant man, able to dwarf many with his mind, eloquence and the strength of his arguments. He's very well behaved in THIS interview but he was often rude, condescending and I suspect very difficult to be around. I happen to agree with him wholeheartedly on religion but I found some his positions on other topics puzzling, and I suspect he enjoyed being a contrarian just to spite what he surely considered people with lesser intellect.

[@jamespayter6948]

I agree with SeekerGo. I love the bloke, mostly spot-on and a massive shithouse which I always love, but was he polite? Fuck no...

[@thenaturalmidsouth9536]

Lol, I think you're confusing urbanity with politeness. He could be polite, and he could also be incredibly condescending and blunt.

[@hadara69]

“You give me the awful impression of someone who hasn't read any of the arguments against your position, ever.” ~Christopher Hitchens

[@russell62790]

However much a brilliant intellect, apparently Christopher also does not realise his own contradiction. The moral of an atheist is there is no God. So why would one make statements of consideration that there is God, qualifying whether is great or not? One's tenacity is often more about intellectual one-up-manship, because it has to be to keep a contradiction alive. Rather than the next level of humility for self introspection and correction, that is of the human conscience a spiritual or godly exercise, as many say, soul searching. No God or anti-god?

[@hadara69]

@@russell62790 Christian apologists often use this odd “argument”. As if the mere MENTION of your god or your belief in an omnipotent entity that “controls humanity” like a puppet master, is somehow negating all our valid points. You’re gonna have to explain that better. I’ve found that Christians usually can’t, they just HATE that we are talking about something we don’t believe in like we know more about it than those who do: I.E: You. The issue is that BELIEF in a god (the Judeo-Christian god, in this case….though it works for the Muslim one as well) is “not great” or "virtuous" in any way, not weather or not something we don’t believe is REAL can be “great”. The Christian hears this and says, “Well, you don’t KNOW God, so who are you to say anything about it?” But you forget that many of us are former believers, and others know more about your religion than you do….most likely. That means we’re often even MORE qualified than the believer to make those sort of judgements. Think of it this way: If you grew up with a horrible, abusive, alcoholic parent and at a young age, some GOOD friend told you that THEY “are not great”, would you use the same argument? How do YOU know if that’s all you’ve ever known? IF you never dared to imagine a kind & loving parent, why wouldn’t you just defend this abusive parent? Perhaps you’d even feel INSULTED by this dear friend who cared about you, and hated seeing you abused or misled so… Hope that helps. As for the other point, again you presume we “need God” in order to find any sense of humility or self-introspection. Why? If anything the theist, ESPECIALLY RW Christians here in the U.S., shut down any/all humility in favor of self-righteousness and prejudgment of others who don’t believe the same bs they do. I see it again and again. Humility requires HONESTY, something the theist is incapable of when they’re so attached to the idea that they must be right about their god’s existence. Atheists and especially anti-theists like me are OPEN to this possibility, but we’re also well aware of how easily cult status can warp one’s mind and short-circuit critical thinking. Theists must always work backward from their conclusion, where as the atheist does the opposite. As with science, we let the evidence guide our beliefs, not our flawed childhood indoctrination. This is why Creationism is anti-science, btw. Because they already know their beliefs can’t stand one ounce of scientific scrutiny. And just to be clear, I am not ‘anti-god’ at all….I’m anti-SUPERSTITION. Big difference. So are you with every other world wide religion that isn’t your own.

[@scottzvidzo5564]

@@russell62790 So before dismissing the whole idea of God's existence he came one step down to your level inorder to just first establish that he/it isn't great so after losing that argument one would at least now become skeptical and say to thyself , wait a minute so if God isn't great then is he even possibly there in the first place.

[@Lupinicus1664]

@@russell62790 I think you'll find that Christopher Hitchens used to think that there was no god and he found the concept of god as believed by the established religions to be abhorrent as well for all the reasons he outlines both in his book and the many public speaking engagements and debates he undertook.

[@starfishsystems]

​@@russell62790 "The moral of an atheist is there is no god." Is that meant to be a coherent statement? One way or another, there is a simple matter of fact: either there are gods of some kind or there are not. It's not a MORAL matter, it's a FACTUAL one. All atheists have exactly one attribute in common: they are NOT CONVINCED that there are gods of one kind or another. That's the etymology of the term "a-theos." This is a factual matter, not a moral one. How can you be so profoundly confused? Anything else lies outside the strict definition of atheism. Some atheists are skeptics. Some atheists are convinced that there are no gods. Some atheists like the taste of cilantro. Some think it tastes like soap. And so on. No doubt atheists likewise have a wide range of views on moral questions, just as all people do. But the existence of deities is not a moral matter, it's a factual one. It seems to me that you're barking up the wrong tree without a paddle.

[@oldcougar65]

When my son was 8, he had an incredible singing voice. We had him join an Episcopal Boys Choir and it was really wonderful. After a while, I asked him how he liked being in the boys choir. He said, "It's great, except for that god thing."

[@holmesc2409]

Smart kid!

[@alanwilson4860]

Outstanding

[@oldcougar65]

@C Cato You are full of shit. You listen to too many right wing religious nuts. Hitler was a catholic. His soldiers -the ones that did the killing - were catholics and lutherans. Stalinism was a religion unto itself. Aethists have no reason to kill. Unlike religous people, who can think of a multitude of reasons to kill.Just like god killed everyone in the world except Noah and family. I think god has an anger management problem.

[@jackthebassman1]

C Cato Religious idiot.

[@danielzunigagutierrez6300]

I had the same thought at 9.

[@michaeljones1802]

It's really hard when one side's argument is "but, magic"

[@arawiri]

It's really hard 😂

[@publius1252]

No, one side's argument is evidence based faith.

[@jnielson1121]

@@publius1252 "evidence based faith" ...there are a number of other words/ phrases for this, one of which is "superstition".

[@fordhamdonnington2738]

Hitchens has always been a lot of psycho babble though.

[@peterclarke7240]

"Evidence based faith" 😂 what fucking evidence?!

[@FHBStudio]

"Religion gets it's morals from humanity" That's an awesome way to phrase it. I'll be using that.

[@SHAULYISRAEL]

***** Foolish and wicked soul the morality that an atheist can only subscribe to is a relative morality rather than an absolute morality.

[@SHAULYISRAEL]

Wicked fool there is absolute morality from Allah

[@jaysuseffinkrist]

Truthknower "there is absolute morality from Allah" This is from a book where a father can murder his daughter for going out with a man the father does not approve of, but lets said father to prostitute out his daughter without fear of punishment or even threat of sin... Some fucking morlas you have the gall to quote!

[@SHAULYISRAEL]

Wicked fool follow the truth of Allah or be eternally damned.

[@jaysuseffinkrist]

Truthknower You damned yourself for the short little time that you do have here on this earth. There is nothing beyond. Stop living like a slave, open your eyes!

[@jackkoffin1]

A lot of people didn't and still don't like Hitchens, his attitude, tone, political stances, or his habitual smoking drinking. I maintain there is no greater pleasure or inspiration than watching Hitchens bring his deep literary knowlege and wit to bear in debates. I have rarely (if ever) seen such an event where he wasn't by leaps and bounds the smartest person in the room.

[@benjarongprojects]

jackkoffin1 except it’s a close call when he was debating alongside Stephen Fry or Richard Dawkins. Then he’s still the best, but in very good company.

[@candeffect]

You like unwise people who force concentrated air pollution into their lungs and consume 'copious' amounts of toxic yeast excrement sewage juice (alcohol products) with their cancer treatments as long as they support your lifestyle of ensuring your trashed eternity.

[@joblakelisbon]

He's the best orator I've ever seen by some margin.

[@imstucc]

@@candeffect everyone is unwise in an infinite number of scenarios, at least he was brutally honest and didn’t care about sparing feelings. I’d much rather listen to someone who drinks and smokes than read the writings of dead schizophrenics, pedophiles, murderers, and cultists.

[@tomben6180]

Professor John Lennox had him on toast.

[@paullambert9192]

I wish i could articulate myself like the hitch, Miss him everyday.

[@chriswaters926]

I do try and I am getting better but this man,Hitch, Is the professor to my kindergartener.

[@pippipster6767]

Paul Lambert To me same way feel init tho my main bro homey

[@Irishmule169]

Jazzkeyboardist1 He’s in the ground dead...no need for delusional shit ...

[@chrisbennett606]

Paul Lambert you worship him Get a life And work on improving your articulation

[@MOGGS1942]

@Jazzkeyboardist1 Jazzy still stalking the great man, even though he has been dead for several years.

[@jag1963]

I can litterally watch this man all day long. I miss him

[@MelindaGreen]

I too miss Hitch something terrible

[@Rundstedt2001]

Is he dead?

[@MelindaGreen]

@@Rundstedt2001 Yes I'm afraid he died a few years ago from cancer. He knew it was from smoking and drinking so much but he was OK with that bargain.

[@joeanonymous1834]

Absolutely. Didn't agree with him on everything. But I'm not sure that I've ever loved and adored anyone I've never met the way I did Hitchens.

[@mickeyrat3369]

We're not gonna move forward until we leave religion behind.

[@Gregoryt700]

We left religion behind, in terms of any real influence on secular gov't, in the 20th century. Gee, WWI and II, Communism killing 100 million -- that turned out real well

[@Gregoryt700]

I've argued with Hitchen's points on communism before. Militantly atheistic Marxist--Leninism, in the name of an explicitly atheistic ideology (Marx was a but nuanced, but Lenin is explicit that atheism is the basis of the ideology, and his interpretation obtained) killed at least 100 million in 20 the cent. Hitchens actually concedes this larger point, but, through logical gymnastics and attempts and intellectual prestidigitation, tries to present this militant atheism as somehow religious! As often, he confuses totalitarianism with religion. Religion by definition believes in a higher Being; Marxist-Leninism vehemently eejects that. And ironically, the totalitarianism that Hitchens mistakes for mimicry of religion is a very different animal that religion in the sense that only in a few historical instances have we ever seen totalitarian theocracies. Finally, it's true that outside Eurooe religion in some form is believed in by many. But the larger point is that by end of the Moddke Ages it ceased having any real direct influence on any secular government

[@Gregoryt700]

Yikes -- iPhone autocorrect nonsense. At end should be Middle Ages. The other typos are I think discernable

[@ytcarol]

+mickey rat (maqnchs) Really hard to "leave behind" something that humans have considered since the beginning of time: a creator, an intelligence, a purpose, meaning, etc. Where is it that you are headed without a consideration of a Deity? Somewhere none of us could possibly go? Make your case, please.

[@Yourmomazz]

Ytcarol: Easy. Humans havent considered this since the beginning of time you fool. Modern humans are between 100k-250k years old. Just our planet is 4,5billion years old. We are a specie evolved from other primates. As our thinking tools evolved, ie our brains, our urge to understand allso followed suit. So yes, we have allways since the dawn of man, been trying to answer the unknown. For thousands of years that would be thunder, lightning, disease etc etc. Just reasently, like 5k years ago, your god entered the picture. And is still in the infancy regarding the beginning of time. Some has rid themselves of this nonsense. Since its not anwering anything, and is allways surpassed by scientific discoveries. Only the illiterate, uneducated who think they need this faith, keep their delusion.

[@SoumilSahu]

I'm usually baffled and outraged by the stupidity of the people Hitchens talks to, but this guy seems really good. He patiently listens before making his point and doesn't get offended unnecessarily. This was the most civil discussion I've seen from Hitchens.

[@jorgekahelruizvisfocrivirg9361]

Soumil Sahu that guy hosted some sort of devil’s advocate talk show. He was a real profesional, we need more like that

[@wizardsuth]

Her keeps presenting appeals to authority, along the lines of "Famous person X said this, and you should agree with him, so why don't you?".

[@tom2659]

Peter Robinson (interviewer) and Hitchens were friends. Robinson is a religious conservative. They have great conversations.

[@CompelledUsername]

He's a genuinely clever man in his own right.

[@elhior23]

He is an moron. He asks the dumbest questions possible and his tone makes it seems he thinks he is smart. This is a dumb monkey debating with a scholar.

[@jupitersnoot4915]

If only religious people were as good at listening as they are at talking

[@cleehomes]

What ya say again???

[@inkblot131]

@@cleehomes Not so hot comprehending what it is they do hear, either.

[@santodominico7235]

What profound statement are you making that Christians should listen?

[@ThermaL-ty7bw]

if you don't need a god , you're better then any god those religious people can throw at you , from all over the world i like you , good comments , all of them

[@salamjihad3449]

WTF? LOL THEY TALK THE WORD OF GOD !! MORALS AND KINDNESS.

[@Ashoerchen]

A civilized exchange of views, on a high level of erudition and precision, in crisp, clear language, sometimes in razorblade sharpness. Both proponents unforgiving, but always respectful and letting the other guy finish his sentence, and never shouting. Inspirational, I think, for adherents of both sides, and in more than one respect. We should have more of that.

[@Gintonious]

Well put.

[@NEprimo]

Ashoerchen that's exactly the reason why I, as a liberal, often watch this program uncommon knowledge on NPR

[@waltmagic]

+Ashoerchen Damn straight...couldn't agree more

[@andyhall9069]

Ashoerchen very well put! was thinking the same, though the occasional "Springer-esk" clips are entertaining as well.

[@sunniva5335]

Exactlly, this is how a debate should be.... I watched the most uncivilized debate ever between Finkelstein and Dershowitz kzbin.info/www/bejne/epa3oX53iMabd8U

[@aidanmagill6769]

The guy doesn't even know how much mercy Hitch is showing towards him.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

:D

[@chtomlin]

Funny, I thought the guy was easy on Hitch's weak positions.

[@cronistamundano8189]

I have seen this interviewer do some excelent work not only with Hitchens but with other subjects as well. He really deserves a lot of credit for being sensible, clear and very very intelligent

[@johnmead9012]

You can see him holding it back @3:43 😂

[@chtomlin]

@C Bowling ok, then lets take the 1st point. Hitch's support for many having good morals people without the idea of God is that he says, "I would just choose not to believe you" to a strawman of his making.. Yes, I oversimplified it a bit, but first he suggested a strawman for the interviewer ....then he dismissed it with that lazy comment. Really? His denial of God is very similar to people who believe in God...Generally they believe what they believe because it suits them, or gives them comfort. Hitchen's obvious need to avoid standard religious morals and make up his own set is very likely to suit is immoral lifestyle of 2 wives and gay experiences. Rather than admit he is wrong by accepted standards, he can avoid that by creating his own standards, .....but that is what religion seeks to avoid....everyone making their own standard. At least with some standardization you can have a chance with a Jury if it comes to that...

[@gazzpazzer]

I so miss this man's intellect and wit. what a loss for the world, especially, now.

[@stupreme]

"Why do we degrade this feeling by saying it's a heavenly gift accompanied by heavenly punishment?" He's the man

[@fordhamdonnington2738]

You're in the minority of the last 2000 years and humanity before that.

[@callme2times]

@@fordhamdonnington2738 but the majority are sheep 🤔

[@suyini734]

@@callme2times says who? Hitchens didn't really give a definitive answer to where morality comes from. Why do we have morality in the first place? If it truly is for the reason for survival? Then why do we die? Surly evolution, would've found a way to make us love forever. Why do we age? Why can't we just stay the same age?

[@FlyingSpaghettiMonster2000]

​@@suyini734who says we're the pinnacle of evolution? Evolution doesn't care that we're here. When the sun finally dies, human beings wont be there to witness it, as we will have long since disappeared from the planet.

[@suyini734]

@@FlyingSpaghettiMonster2000 "evolution doesn't care". So evolution is an entity? And you know all of this how?

[@danbaumann8273]

I love Bill Burr's comedy sketch of when he became an atheist. Its so simple, straightforward, serious and hilarious all at the same time. I think Hitchens would've loved it. The mans wit and knowledge is astounding. Really miss him.

[@kenpierard5161]

Hitchens is absolutely brilliant he never fails to politely expose the flaws of his opponents argument .

[@simay4977]

The world needs more like Hitch

[@michaeleverest7631]

Whether you love or disagree with the Hitch..What a lovely voice he had!!

[@rockeee]

What a genius. I'll never get tired of Hitchens destroying the supernatural.

[@mikeygarcia8271]

God is real. I used to be an agnostic..but I still prayed to Him..but one day..while I was praying in my room... I saw a vision of Christ on top of a hill while seated praying and was fully awake..I never looked back..Im here to tell you..Jesus is real..I saw Him with a woman who was also clad in a white garment and with a white veil on her head. She died the next day..I already knew of her impending death because her face beamed as she was standing face to face with Jesus. You can't declare with 100% certainty that there is no God.. You have no proof..while I and many others..even atheists themselves saw visions of God and the after life...and were transformed because of those spritual experiences. Will it not be reasonable to seek God..knowing that you're one and only soul is at stake? We don't have a lot of time in our hands..we are living in the last days..actually the last days started in the first world war..and it has accelerated since the Jews return to their homeland in 1948 aftr two thousand years of exile aftr their expulsion from Israel in 70 A.D during the Roman invasion of Jerusalem.

[@rockeee]

@@mikeygarcia8271 Cool story bro. 👏🏻👏🏻

[@mikeygarcia8271]

@@rockeee The last days are here..wait for the gog and magog war..Russia, Iran and Turkey will invade Israel and no country will intervene. That is in the prophecy..when that happens..you know who to go to..God is your only hope. Because shortly aftr that the anti-christ will come..you dnt want to be here when that happens..

[@rockeee]

@@mikeygarcia8271 Cool, and where exactly is your evidence? I suppose in 1991 you'd have told me the Iraq War was the end of the world too. 😂 Even if it is, there is still zero proof of your God..but have fun!

[@mikeygarcia8271]

@@rockeee There are biblical prophecies that have to take place before the end of all things..If you want to know how the world will end..read the Book of the Revelations and you will understand why things are happening the way they are now..Russia, Iran and Turkey will one day invade Israel..and no countries in the world will intervene..that is in the prophecy..when it happens remember what i told you..you know who to go to..God is your only hope when the invasion happens.

[@paullambert5192]

this is hitch at his greatest, miss you bro.

[@mikeygarcia8271]

The last days are here..wait for the gog and magog war..Russia, Iran and Turkey will invade Israel and no country will intervene. That is in the prophecy..when that happens..you know who to go to..God is your only hope. Because shortly aftr that the anti-christ will come..you dnt want to be here when that happens..

[@prezidenttrump5171]

The fact is Christians don't think they're smart enough to live their lives without some sort of divine intervention.

[@B2BCreditandCollection]

Andrew Good point. Who is the hosebag interviewing Mr. Hitchens

[@Jackmono1]

Michael Dennis Peter Robinson is a good interviewer. He plays Devil's Advocate in almost all of his interviews, and he wouldn't bring Hitchens on to pimp the book if it wasn't worth reading.

[@Astronaughty03]

Michael Dennis What are you talking about? He did a fantastic job of opposing Hitchens positions enough to get him to elaborate on them. That's exactly what a good interviewer does.

[@needicecream100]

That's not the fact

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

No, the dominators on top of the church want to be the only authority who decides what's what and everybody else is a slave sheep that produces whool, milk, babies or sacrificial meat for the corporate church. Everything else is less than human and is doomed forever therefore can be heroically killed for the glory of the corporate church. Boring socio-economic and political domination of psychopaths really.

[@JamesRichardWiley]

I am a moral person that does not believe an invisible man with three personalities is watching me from his hiding place among the clouds.

[@pj4092]

@C Cato Morality is just common sense about how to live at peace with the people around you.

[@pj4092]

@C Cato As an individual atom, probably not much. As an amalgamation of atoms however, I have awareness of things around me, and I can see how to do things in a way that leads to harmony.

[@salvagedetails9011]

C Cato how do you pick which parts of which Bible (new/old testament) to follow, and which to take as methaphorical? Do you wear mixed fabrics or eat shellfish? The Bible says not to, for example.

[@ZlaRah]

C Cato Wow, let me guess, American?

[@chokobirdwatsmyname]

C Cato it’s the belief of your imaginary friend that’s has held back human progress for centuries so of course we are still addressing it? What an incredibly stupid thing to say lmao

[@SchizoScottie]

I am a relatively new survivor of religious opression in Tennessee. I hate that Hitch has left us but I am thankful for youtube and the atheists of Silicon Valley, CA, who have invented and created the websites, software and hardware, that will allow us and future generations to watch and witness this revolution of reason. -Scott Long - Thanks for the awesome videos Tom!

[@salamjihad3449]

GOD GOT YOU OUT !!! BELIEVE ME !!

[@CynthiaArtist]

Hang in there. You are freeing yourself from horrible bondage!

[@salamjihad3449]

@@CynthiaArtist JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY !! SATAN HAS GOT YOU TO END THAT MESSAGE !!

[@salamjihad3449]

@@CynthiaArtist lol jesus know you

[@salamjihad3449]

@@CynthiaArtist JESUS IS THE ONLY ANSWER !! WITHOUT GOD WE HAVE LYING. CHEATING, MURDER, HOMOSEXUALITY, PEDOPHILIA. ETC !!

[@stevecox7075]

A brilliant mind… greatly missed. Christopher, once again proving the fatuous fallacy of religiosity. ❤

[@hunterluxton5976]

Hitchens was a man of towering intellectual, philosophical and political acuity. He was so well read, he could quote anybody of note and was ahead of his interviewers by some distance. His calm relaxed manner attest to his self confidence.

[@fordhamdonnington2738]

But for all that, he had no control of his soul.

[@hunterluxton5976]

@@fordhamdonnington2738 I detect a degree of resentment in that inane comment. You're referring to the slave morality of Christianity, another religious prick that takes pleasure in the demise of someone who opposes religious dogma. You are frightened by his logic, so attack with a banal idiotic remark. Update: I see you replied, but quickly removed the post you lost your nerve. By my calculation, you have NO ball bag.

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

MOST OF WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HIM IS TRUE . BUT HIS INABILITY TO UNDERSTAND A GREATER POWER THAN HIMSELF IS HIS DOWNFALL.. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK ONLY GOD STOPS CHRISTIANS FROM MURDER AND RAPE? BECAUSE 2 OF THE COMMANDMENTS SAY THEY ARE WRONG? OR MAYBE CHRISTIANS DO KNOW IT IS WRONG? AMERICA SAYS IT'S OK TO MURDER IF THEY PUT YOU ON A PLANE AND DROP YOU INTO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND TELL YOU ITS OK TO KILL THESE PEOPLE! BUT IS IT. ACCORDING TO THE MILLIONS OF MILITARY PEOPLE IN THE USA, THE ANSWER IS YES !! SO THE US GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S OK TO KILL AND PEOPLE SOMEHOW JERRYRIG THEIR MORALS TO AGREE !! THERE IS SOMETHING GREATER TO LIFE THAN WHAT WE SEE. MOST OF THE LEADING SCIENTIST NOW THINK THE UNIVERSE AND ALSO DNA WAS INTELLIGENTLY DESIGNED. THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY DO NOT KNOW.I THINK HITCHENS WAS JUST TOO UNBENDING IN HIS THINKING OF WHAT GOD IS. BUT YES I UNDERSTAND HE WAS TALKING MORE ABOUT RELIGION THAN GOD IN MANY WAYS..MAYBE IF HE WAS ALIVE TODAY AND KNEW THE CURRENT SCIENCE OF INTELLIGENT DESIGN, QUANTUM PHYSICS, SIMULATION THEORY ETC HE MIGHT BE MORE OPEN ABOUT A "GOD" FOR A LESSER GRASP OF THE WORD. PEACE

[@vhawk1951kl]

In short:One mouse (nothing and nobody) agrees with another-now dead mouse.

[@lapland123]

My doughter is 8 years old. I'm an atheist my parents are atheist. She said dad i can be a good babysitter because i know when something is right or wrong. No bible ever!

[@TalladegaTom]

Post of the day!

[@justonetime6179]

You taught her those morals. Who taught the first humans?

[@camcorl7921]

@@justonetime6179 no one. they knew because they are social animals. if you annoy a dog it first warns you and for more developed animals it is similar.

[@justonetime6179]

Mikey Curl under atheism morality is irrelevant. We have no obligation to help any human or animal. Morality isn't scientific, so good luck trying to prove your moral *opinion* as facts.

[@camcorl7921]

​@@justonetime6179 Bro. Morality is a social trait. We can observe it in other animals. Vampire bats for example lend blood to other bats and if they don't pay back no one lends them blood again. To say that morality isn't scientific is an insult to biology, psychology and sociology. Good or bad are things we came up with and morality is a social trait therefor scientific. Dudebro take this L as even godless animals with brains as big as pingpong balls have some sense of fair play.

[@FroggieTheR0gue]

That poem by Shelley at 18:30, is epic, that's exactly how I view things. No invisible guy in the sky, just reality in this dimension and others as well.

[@cleehomes]

2:10 "so far so good", oh Mr. Hitchens you had me crying mate, I wish you were still here!

[@sciencefirst7032]

Knowledge is the enemy of god.

[@Conorp77]

@C Cato religious violence has killed so many the true number will never be known

[@voxomnes9537]

@C Cato Did you even bother watching the video? Hitchens refutes your point, rather soundly.

[@justaguy2365]

@C Cato Murderous Dictators that just happened to be Atheist. They didn't do what they did in the name of skepticism. There have been countless wars fought in the name of God. The Crusades, during which, millions were killed for not converting to Christianity, were all sponsored by the church. Same with the Inquisitions. The Witch Trials, Colonialism of the Americas, Africa and other Continents. Nothing but a massive ethnic cleanse in the name of Christianity

[@Conorp77]

@@justaguy2365 also the thirty years war and by extension the wider European wars of religion, records dont go back far enoughor are accurate enough to count the dead from religious infighting. And you compare this with political movements that emerged within the last century? The communists were evil too, but they did what they did in the name of politics, not sceptisism and reason. Ar least they knew God wasnt on their side

[@salamjihad3449]

NEVER REPEAT A QUOTE . IT MAKES YOU LOOK STUPID !!..Albert Einstein.

[@thedad7828]

I had a Christian girl help me find this book and she has a look of complete disgust on her face. It would be suffice to say I was very entertained by her discontent.

[@georgedoyle7971]

“I was very entertained by her discontent” This quote by the eminent atheist philosopher and scientist Noam Chomsky speaks volumes regarding religion, “scientism” and the cult of Hitchens and “new atheism”. “I haven’t been thrilled by the atheist movement. First, who is the audience? Is it religious extremists? Say right-wing evangelical Christians like George Bush (as you rightly point out)? Or is it very prominent Rabbis in Israel who call for visiting the judgment of Amalek on all Palestinians (total destruction, down to their animals)? Or is it the radical Islamic fundamentalists who have been Washington’s most valued allies in the Middle East for 75 years (note that Bush’s current trip to the Middle East celebrates two events: the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel, and the 75th anniversary of establishment of US-Saudi relations, each of which merits more comment)? If those are the intended audiences, the effort is plainly a waste of time. Is the audience atheists? Again a waste of time. Is it the grieving mother who consoles herself by thinking that she will see her dying child again in heaven? If so, only the most morally depraved will deliver solemn lectures to her about the falsity of her beliefs” (Noam Chomsky). Maybe this young girl you were “entertained” by had lost a relative or even a child and her only consolation was her cherished belief that she would see them again. All the best to you and keep safe during this Corona virus crisis. “Then there are the fanatical atheists whose intolerance is of the same kind as the intolerance of the religious fanatics and comes from the same source” (Albert Einstein).

[@marcdecock7946]

If you needed help finding it, it was probably in the basement covered in spiderwebs, explaining the disgust... should have said... you'll probably have to go once more in there because I also would like to buy your copy of 'beyond good and evil' by F.Nietsche.

[@bethh.9647]

I have been pleased by the number of books by CH found in my local public library.

[@wassilykandinsky4616]

Some of the highest plants of hypocrisy grow in religious gardens.

[@shipwright6122]

Profound statement from a closed mind. We are all sinners so you’re going to definitely see hypocrisy. Those who follow Christ are forgiven. I’ll choose everlasting life any day.

[@loganleatherman7647]

+Shipwright, I believe "thou shalt not commit murder" is one of the commandments, right? Then what is the, if any, valid justification for God commanding that the Canaanites be murdered? The men and women could be understandable because they can be aware of their moral errors, but children as well? That's a few steps too far. Especially considering that "by the grace of God" these children could have been shown the way and not have needed to be murdered. And this is but one example of the supposedly loving God your ilk blindly worships. God proves himself time and again in the Old Testament to be a capricious, biased, tyrannical authoritarian who magically becomes benevolent and comforting in the New Testament. But according to Christians God doesn't, and indeed by definition can't, change over time. So What accounts for this patently obvious change in attitude as it is explicitly represented in God's own inspired word between the OT and the NT?

[@sarahann530]

Shipwright How do you know you are forgiven for following Christ ,where is your evidence of that ? If you are forgiven then what keeps you from behaving badly when you are going to be forgiven . ? Are you saying you would be a murderer and a rapist if you did not believe in god ?

[@shipwright6122]

A Conneely I don’t know. I believe I’m forgiven. That’s why they call it faith. When I repent it’s easier for me to behave in a more Christ like manner. I can’t do it on my own. I need his help. I’m still very fallible so I ask for his guidance every morning and thank him every night.

[@sarahann530]

Shipwright So you are saying you don't give yourself enough credit to know the difference between right and wrong ! Answer me this if you saw an old lady walking down the road and she dropped her wallet . You pick it up and see it contains money, credit cards etc what do you do ?

[@niconestra]

"Why make mysteries where none exist". Exactly.

[@FECtetra1918]

Morality is a human construct. It evolves over time. That is why we don’t use fairy tales to guide our lives anynore.

[@salamjihad3449]

THOSE WHO DONT UNDERSTAND SCIENCE THINK ITS A FAIRY TALE !!

[@mike62mcmanus]

fairy tales dont have a country or a people...

[@mike62mcmanus]

How come there is only 15 Million Jews now and since Christ? Because God scattered them among the nations where few would survive.... how did the win 22.5% of all Nobel prizes being only 0.02% of the population? How did they remain a people and get their Nation back as Fairytale God said he would do.... You don't do your homework...

[@salamjihad3449]

@@mike62mcmanus BECAUSE OF GOD !!

[@staffankarlsson1428]

Moral (instincts/intuition) is derived and evolved from other species that lived LOOOONG before humans.

[@JWS1968]

Not doing a bad thing (rape, murder, stealing etc..) because you know it's wrong is morality. Not doing something bad only because you think it will get you into heaven is selfish and immoral. It isn't the act that counts towards personal morality, it's the intention. If you concede that only GOD stops you from doing bad things, then you are a bad person who is only kept in check by their own cowardice.

[@salamjihad3449]

YOU MUST KNOW GOD IF YOU THINK THAT.

[@wizardsuth]

I've heard that sentiment expressed as, "A person who is only moral because they fear punishment or expect a reward is no better than rabid dog restrained by a muzzle." If your motivation for good behaviour is a reward or a punishment, you are not moral, and not acting as a moral agent. You are merely obedient.

[@salamjihad3449]

@@wizardsuth do you actually think religious people get their morals from religion? wrong ! there are rules in certain religions made by people who went through what we are going through today. wise words from long-gone civilizations. and they leave these wise words in books we found long ago we now call religious books. its not morals that people get from these books but rules on how to live a good life.

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK ONLY GOD STOPS CHRISTIANS FROM MURDER AND RAPE? BECAUSE 2 OF THE COMMANDMENTS SAY THEY ARE WRONG? OR MAYBE CHRISTIANS DO KNOW IT IS WRONG? AMERICA SAYS IT'S OK TO MURDER IF THEY PUT YOU ON A PLANE AND DROP YOU INTO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND TELL YOU ITS OK TO KILL THESE PEOPLE! BUT IS IT. ACCORDING TO THE MILLIONS OF MILITARY PEOPLE IN THE USA, THE ANSWER IS YES !!

[@salamjihad3449]

WRONG!!!

[@glutinousmaximus]

The late, great Hitchens - Much missed!

[@ushoys]

The less likely something is to be true, the greater the faith required to believe it.

[@Titil3223]

"It is no stranger for an atheist to live virtuously than it is strange for a Christian to live criminally. We see the latter sort of monster all the time, so why should we think the former is impossible?" Pierre Bayle.

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

EXACTLY !! GOD EXISTS

[@salamjihad3449]

REAL CHRISTIANS DONT LIVE CRIMINALLY !!

[@BookofGates]

Believe in God, not religion. Nobody can take away from your own belief and experience. Atheists have missed a trick not talking about Frankl and Jung, the power of faith without religion. Jung came closest with Frankl a close second I think.

[@oneendofthailand]

We need Christopher Hitchens in 2023

[@imnotavingthat6813]

I miss Mr Hitchens daily, what would he have made of todays world, would have been the best podcast ever

[@fordhamdonnington2738]

Nothing has changed, really, but it will soon, and unfortunately not for the atheists. Some of you will believe, though, with the proof.

[@imnotavingthat6813]

@@fordhamdonnington2738 There is no proof bro.

[@digitalventuresltd]

You do not need to believe in god to be good.

[@digitalventuresltd]

What are you talking about? Jesus and rational cannot be in one sentence. PREY for me? Are you insane? Go find a mountain somewhere to pray. While you're at it please bring your science and history homework so you can study some more. Do you know why the bible is not part of the mainstream curriculum? It is not a proven subject. Lol.

[@digitalventuresltd]

+brainmastif You are really the epitome of a person who is religious. You are the guiding light. Someone who loves God but at the same time has hatred in his heart. Is that what God teaching is all about?

[@digitalventuresltd]

+brainmastif Of course you are. I heard it's a full time job. Don't work too hard.

[@digitalventuresltd]

+brainmastif That's why your God loves you for being like him. He is probably doing the same job (10 minutes ) as you. The next comment other than yours will be from your God. I did not become an atheist over night. I probably have read the Bible more than you and had spread the word. Suddenly I look around and woke up. I do not need God. All my decisions in life are mind. So far so good. If not, things happen. I will not blame anybody.

[@digitalventuresltd]

+brainmastif I could not care less whether you are trolling or selling smelly fish in a supermarket. I will say anything I want my imbecile friend. Your 10 minute of trolling should be done for the month. Did I rattle something?

[@shelbygtm9]

It was a sharp and precise remark made for Mr. Hitchens about the already existing ancient conditions that gave opportunists like lenin and stalin the perfect place for establishing their narrow-minded project of dictatorship. Certainly few societies would've been so suitable for absolute power and coercive governments as twentieth century Russia.

[@salamjihad3449]

NOW WITH THIS GOVERNMENT, WE ARE OUT OF THE FIRE !! LOL

[@sabatheus]

Christopher Hitchens was one of the greatest among us. If I could create an artificially intelligent computer and give it a personality, it would be Christopher Hitchens. He was, to me, a living example of a Mentat from Frank Herbert's Dune books.

[@need2burn]

+Dary Matera Just like the guy who knocked up mother Mary.

[@need2burn]

Prove it. Protip: you can't. It shows your stupidity to speak for your god. Please tell me more of the demands that your invisible deity makes. Lots of press agents running around making statements for a celebrity they represent who never makes a public appearance. You also can't prove that Mary was a virgin. Which is more believable: That god suspended the natural order, or that a little Jewish girl from Nazareth would tell a lie?

[@need2burn]

"The basic atheist/evolutionist belief is that Earth humans are on top of the universal evolutionary scale and no advance creature exists anywhere else." That statement is potentially weapons grade idiocy. We are the most advanced species that we know of. Surely in the billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars an alien race might exist that could be more advanced intellectually. Still wouldn't be considered a god, still wouldn't be *your god,* and would actually refute the Bible, unless of course Jesus visited them too to spread his word. Superior being =/= god or our creator. Who's to say the "superior being" can't die like the rest of us. Some god if you can die. You talk for your invisible god. You claim to know that something happens after death. You claim to know about evolution, yet continually make up nonsense about it. You have as much evidence for your god as people who believed in Zeus. The evidence does not point to your celestial dictator in the sky. Believe it if you want, but it's as rational, with as much evidence for, believing in the Easter Bunny.

[@need2burn]

There you go again, putting words in my mouth (fingers). Never did I say that this more advanced species had super hero powers. Could another species be smarter than us? Yes. Could another species be stronger than us? Yes, those exist already. Could another species be faster than us? Yes, those exist. Protip: those aren't gods. Could a supernatural species blink us into existence, tell we are born sick, it has the cure, and command us to worship it while saving us by a human sacrifice in ancient desert communities? Not likely. Your superior genius god must be so intelligent to create this utopia for man, yet make it 70% water. The main source of light is also a main source of cancer. Gives us free will, then commands us on how to use it. How intelligent to create rules for everyone, yet it only passes along the info to a bronze age tribe. It's also interesting that it decided to preform spectacular miracles but stopped once mankind is able to document and record events.

[@need2burn]

When did I ever say a supernatural species? If we went to an alien world where nothing had the sense of sound, hearing wouldn't now be supernatural. It isn't magic, it has evidence, it's observable, it's able to be demonstrated and explainable. None of which your god has. I said "a main source" not "the main source." I'm not dissing water, but currently we aren't sea creatures, and the majority of that water is undrinkable, especially to primitive man. I'm failing to see why your god would place so much of it here if it was by his design. Jesus came at the right time? Let's ask this, what had a greater effect on the spreading of your gospel - the truth found in the books themselves, or emperor Constantine making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire?

[@karlrschneider]

Morality is doing what is right no matter what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told no matter what is right.

[@ianactually]

Christopher will go down, nay go up in history as one of the most measured, well researched and most eloquent of debators ever to have graced the pages of the web. Much missed and indeed much needed still in these times.

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

HE MAY HAVE BEN WRONG BUT YES I AGREE ONE OF THE BEST DEBATERS !! EVER

[@vhawk1951kl]

A tendentious pipsqueak is now fortunately a dead tendentious pipsqueak. Egoism is egoism however you dress it up; ego jolly important but it does not need to be worshiped as if it were a god.

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

@@vhawk1951kl WHO WORSHIPS THE EGO?

[@vhawk1951kl]

@@bindaredundat-uv6wz Whoever has no choice; you for example

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

@@vhawk1951kl I AM NOT SURE "WORSHIP" IS THE RIGHT WORD. ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE NO CHOICE. TO WORSHIP SOMETHING( to honor or show reverence) YOU MUST CHOOSE TO DO SO.. THE EGO IS AN UNDERLYING PART OF THE MIND THAT MEDIATES BETWEEN THE CONSCIOUS AND THE UNCONSCIOUS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REALITY TESTING AND A SENSE OF PERSONAL IDENTITY. I AM PRETTY SURE WE CANT " WORSHIP" IT !! GO BACK AND FIND A BETTER WORD AND THEN I MIGHT TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY.SON !!

[@byron2521]

I am an atheist. I would bet most atheist have a higher moral compass than most Christians. I believe I do. When I was a Christian I was motivated by doing what was right because it was my duty. Or I felt like it was my duty. I know Christians that are only concerned with doing good for getting "brownie points" to get into heaven. I even know Christians that will use the excuse for doing something morally questionable "well, the bible doesn't say anything against that". They cannot make decisions about morality base on their own consciousness. That little voice in my head that tells me something is wrong is my voice! As an atheist, I am also a humanist. I try to do good toward my fellow man because it is the right thing to do and not expecting some sort of reward.

[@whocares3591]

Well said...

[@mikeygarcia8271]

God is real. I used to be an agnostic..but I still prayed to Him..but one day..while I was praying in my room... I saw a vision of Christ on top of a hill while seated praying and was fully awake..I never looked back..Im here to tell you..Jesus is real..I saw Him with a woman who was also clad in a white garment and with a white veil on her head. She died the next day..I already knew of her impending death because her face beamed as she was standing face to face with Jesus. You can't declare with 100% certainty that there is no God.. You have no proof..while I and many others..even atheists themselves saw visions of God and the after life...and were transformed because of those spritual experiences. Will it not be reasonable to seek God..knowing that you're one and only soul is at stake? We don't have a lot of time in our hands..we are living in the last days..actually the last days started in the first world war..and it has accelerated since the Jews return to their homeland in 1948 aftr two thousand years of exile aftr their expulsion from Israel in 70 A.D during the Roman invasion of Jerusalem.

[@sirrevzalot]

@@mikeygarcia8271 1988 has come and gone. You can put the apocalyptic BS to rest 😂

[@salamjihad3449]

THATS NOT HOW CHRISTIANS LIVE ! LOL CHRISTIANS BELIEVE TO LOVE EVERYONE. THEY HAVE ATTAINED THE MEANING OF REAL LOVE. !

[@jovanjanjic9029]

Thanks for the video! Fantastic conversation.

[@AFMMarcelD]

Miss him, his intelligence and his great courage to defend the underdogs, there will never be another Christopher, he was incomparable.

[@themanfromerf]

Chris nailed it with the bit about solipsism. 20 minutes of "I can't accept a universe in which I'm not special".

[@mj8495]

We are all "special" in our own weird way, but in the grand scheme of things most people are pretty ordinary once you take a long-term, systems level view of humanity ❤

[@19ghost73]

It was Kant who stated (as a way of how to act morally right without being religious): "Act in such a way that the underlying principle of your own action could be used as a general rule for everybody". If theft, murder, rape etc. would be the generally accepted rule, no long-term stable society could exist...and THAT's the indicator if an action is right or wrong aka good or bad.

[@TalladegaTom]

Well said.

[@TalladegaTom]

Welcome aboard Scott! So glad you found reason. Love the Smokies by the way. What beauty!

[@freedomofspeech2238]

I could listen to discussions like this ALL DAY LONG. Thank you Mr Hitchens and Mr Robinson

[@mikeygarcia8271]

The last days are here..wait for the gog and magog war..Russia, Iran and Turkey will invade Israel and no country will intervene. That is in the prophecy..when that happens..you know who to go to..God is your only hope. Because shortly aftr that the anti-christ will come..you dnt want to be here when that happens..

[@MakeSomeNoiseAgencyPlaylists]

Its a massacre, dude !

[@derekperkins8568]

I think it would be a waste not to mention the vast gap in technology between the Crusades and Stalin. Ignoring the religious aspects of either side, modern arms and armor will always kill more than medieval blades.

[@babyhuey6342]

Agreed. I was surprised that Hitch didn't point out that the difference in death toll has a lot more to do with advances in the ability to kill people than it does the will to do so.

[@BarbaraManor]

... and also with the number of people "available" in Europe around the year 1100 (about 40 millions) to the year 1300 about (75 million)... :-)

[@salamjihad3449]

YOU DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS !! GOD ISNT A BEING HIDING !! GOD IS YOUR HIGHER BEING !! WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD THEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOURSELF !! YOU ARE HAPPY AND AT PEACE !! WHY DO YOU THINK REAL CHRISTIANS ARE HAPPY AND DONT NEED MANY MATERIAL THINGS ? AND MORALS COME WITH KNOWING YOURSELF !! FIND JESUS ! AND FIND YOURSELF !!

[@mikeygarcia8271]

The last days are here..wait for the gog and magog war..Russia, Iran and Turkey will invade Israel and no country will intervene. That is in the prophecy..when that happens..you know who to go to..God is your only hope. Because shortly aftr that the anti-christ will come..you dnt want to be here when that happens..

[@Ironhandjohn]

As soon as the interviewer mentioned 20th century totalitarian governments, I saw Hitch's big bear trap getting ready to slam shut on the man's leg. He got off easy...

[@stylekat]

Lovely, both Christoper & the interviewer. A master class from both.

[@LOLERXP]

Fun fact: The moderator wrote Reagan's "Tear down that wall!"-speech.

[@michiganaperider8577]

I am not an atheist but I certainly would never believe that the average atheist is less moral than the average theist.

[@vhawk1951kl]

"Moral" really exactly what? - You are about to demonstrate that you have absolutely no idea whatsoever.

[@philrabe910]

I sure miss this guy!

[@TheRexbassist]

Very cool dudes, an excellent exchange and confrontation of ideas without either going sour and moody. Very good interview. Respect earned

[@aqeelkhurshid4860]

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Hitchens it's difficult to see how one cannot be enamoured by his oratory and lexicon. Perhaps the most gifted wordsmith in the anglophone world there ever was.

[@danielchen2436]

No one can speak more eloquently than Hitchens.

[@uri_k]

“One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. So now people assume that religion and morality have a necessary connection. But the basis of morality is really very simple and doesn't require religion at all.” [Arthur C. Clarke]

[@salamjihad3449]

YOU DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS !! GOD ISNT A BEING HIDING !! GOD IS YOUR HIGHER BEING !! WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD THEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOURSELF !! YOU ARE HAPPY AND AT PEACE !! WHY DO YOU THINK REAL CHRISTIANS ARE HAPPY AND DONT NEED MANY MATERIAL THINGS ? AND MORALS COME WITH KNOWING YOURSELF !! FIND JESUS ! AND FIND YOURSELF !!

[@Sco692]

i said the same thing

[@Sco692]

@@salamjihad3449 there is no god,like u think.and capitol letter dont help.makes me think ur desperate

[@salamjihad3449]

@@Sco692 OH WELL SOMEONE WITH ALL THE ANSWERS !! WOW !! NO GOD LIKE I THINK !! AND WHAT DO YOU THINK I THINK ?? LOL SNOWFLAKES MAKE ME LAUGH !!

[@salamjihad3449]

@Kitalia the kitsune WRONG ! RELIGION IS WITHIN !!

[@TalladegaTom]

You are most welcome. So glad you enjoyed it.

[@maxorbit357]

3:32 I don't feel the impulse to steal, ever.

[@flipgsp]

Good for you, but I'm atheist and I am tempted to steal all the time from stores. And the only time I don't do it is when I think I will get caught. Now you can get on your high horse right now and call me immoral but so what. I won't lose any sleep over your labeling of me. That's the problem with subjective morality in an atheistic universe. It means nothing once people start disagreeing and doing the opposite of each other. Veganism is a great example. There are currently tons of atheist vegans and tons of atheist meat eaters. The atheist vegans make moral arguments of why eating meat is is bad, and the atheist meat eaters simply say they don't care or that they don't agree that it's immoral. They continue to eat meat without a second thought to the vegans moral claims. Simply labeling the meat eaters as immoral doesn't do a single thing to stop it.

[@salamjihad3449]

YOU DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS !! GOD ISNT A BEING HIDING !! GOD IS YOUR HIGHER BEING !! WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD THEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOURSELF !! YOU ARE HAPPY AND AT PEACE !! WHY DO YOU THINK REAL CHRISTIANS ARE HAPPY AND DONT NEED MANY MATERIAL THINGS ? AND MORALS COME WITH KNOWING YOURSELF !! FIND JESUS ! AND FIND YOURSELF !!

[@ravenwda007]

@@salamjihad3449 I'm god. You can fuck of now.

[@salamjihad3449]

@@ravenwda007 YOU THINK YOUR GOD ? REALLY ??

[@nestrada19740]

Ahhh....how I miss the Hitch!!

[@mikeygarcia8271]

The last days are here..wait for the gog and magog war..Russia, Iran and Turkey will invade Israel and no country will intervene. That is in the prophecy..when that happens..you know who to go to..God is your only hope. Because shortly aftr that the anti-christ will come..you dnt want to be here when that happens..

[@CosmosFiddler]

I don't know about anyone else, but for me, doing the right thing (i.e. - morality) is a simple matter of self respect.

[@B2BCreditandCollection]

CosmosFiddler and the idea that this hosebag's entire interview is intended to try to prove an idiotic premise that we need religion to know the difference between right and wrong.

[@sirrevzalot]

And that may very well be why men like Hitch are so hated by them: they don’t feel a deep self loathing that makes them feel they need to grovel before something. Crabs in a bucket.

[@salamjihad3449]

BUT THE ARGUMENT IS HOW DO ATHEISTS KNOW THY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING? SOME ATHEISTS THINK IT'S OK TO BE A PEDOPHILE OR TO MURDER, LIE, CHEAT, STEAL ETC !! CHRISTIANS KNOW ITS WRONG !! NOT ONLY BE THE TEACHINGS BUT HOW THE BIBLE TRANSFORMS ONE INTO A ENLIGHTENED PERSON !!

[@vhawk1951kl]

And how exactly do you decide that whatever it is is what you call "right"? From exactly where you get these weird religious what you call ", morals"? Do you just make them up as you go long? They appear to be a species of opinion, and that is exactly what they are, are they not?

[@jdnlaw1974]

I’m from Jacksonville, AL. Thanks for posting!

[@TalladegaTom]

You are very welcome.

[@shadowofadoubt14]

Cheers for the upload, good interview

[@yanyates2401]

This guy is on no par with Hitchens. Different level. Miss you CH x

[@BenjaminIMeszaros]

Respectful discussions on big ideas by people that don’t fully agree are so rare and important. This was a great segment, and it renews feelings of sadness for the passing of Hitchens. I disagree with the man on many things, but never in a way that disregards or misunderstands the reasons he had for holding those opinions. What a titan

[@donnyscript6623]

Is to just me or does this interviewer do such a good job on every interview!!

[@Based_Druid]

awesome, thanks for posting

[@TalladegaTom]

You are very welcome.

[@Randsurfer]

Premise fail. At 2:15, the interviewer says "if there is no God, if there is no objective ground for morality...." In what way is a morality dictated by God "objective". It is the opposite of objective. It begs the question: Is something true or moral because God says it, or does God say it because it is true or moral? In the first case, that makes morality subjective. God could say anything and it would be true or moral because of his "authority". Thus, truth or morality is subjective to God's position. In the second case, truth or morality is objective, but independent from God's thinking. If God only says something if it is true or moral, then the truth of that statement must exist prior to God's thinking on it. Therefore, truth or morality has an objective basis outside of God. There is some objective reality greater than God. This is the great dilemma of morality in Religion.

[@R3tr0v1ru5]

This is the best argument against the religious position. No one really seems to mention it though.

[@BeHappy-pk3yt]

Retrovirus I remember hearing this argument a lot. I can't think of a specific link to provide, but I am sure if you watch enough of Matt Dillahunty on youtube you will eventually come across it. I think you will still be disappointed to see that the religious shrug it like any other sane argument. The religious argument ALWAYS boils down to "God says so, so its true, nothing else matters". To them there are no numbers, no logic, no arguments or evidence. There is one book and one book only and they just keep fighting between each other about who reads it better.

[@michaelnance5236]

You're speaking of Euthypro's Dilemma named after a character in one of Plato's dialogs. Is something good because God wills it or does God will something because he is good. While in Plato's depictions of the various Gods, who were either arbitrary in their actions or subject to good and evil themselves (thus the Dilemma), the Christian doesn't have to address either option as they both present a false dilemma. The third and viable option is that God wills something because He is good. God's own nature is the standard of goodness by which everything is measured. When one says something like human flourishing is a good thing or they might even go as far to say that it's "better" than than something else like human suffering, they are appealing, intentionally or not, to something else entirely as the standard by why to measure both against both individually and collectively.

[@Magneticitist]

Insofar as we can prove God is a creation of man, and all morality is subjective because it does not define any particular parameters which translate into the tangible world. It then becomes sensible to attempt to use the tools that we do know of and understand to design our nearest approximation of what morality can be to us as reasoning individuals working together. It's not factually correct in any absolute terms it just seems more sensible.

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

@@BeHappy-pk3yt IF YOU KNEW GOD YOU WOULD KNOW WHAT GOOD IS !!!

[@starczarar]

Altruism, self-sacrifice, and cooperation are evolution's long-term survival goals, as opposed to eating and procreating, the short-term goals. I call them goals only because that's what works in retrospect. As Hitchens says, we wouldn't have gotten far without those survival characteristics. Hitchens doesn't say "survival of the fittest"; he prefers "adaptability", but that is only because the masses hear "fittest" and think "strongest" or "most cruel" or "most selfish". Life and evolution show that the fittest are those who are able to build and function in a society, increasing the chances of survival by being a group instead of an individual. How's this for altruism (and morality) from evolution: The selfish gene. The gene that will sacrifice itself so that 99 other copies of itself can survive in the tribe that was saved by said sacrifice. Ingenious, beautiful, simple. Morals come from evolution. Only evolution can show us what works and what doesn't.

[@No_Avail]

starczarar That assumes that survival for the sake of survival is morally intelligible, rather than something a slave to nature can only fetishize. If humans actually took their moral marching orders from a DNA molecule predicated on unintelligent design, we'd conclude that the million+ victims (of life) who commit suicide every year are unethical to do so. This has always been more of a theistic line of reasoning (i.e. Suicide = Insulting God by rejecting the _gift_ of life). No different than saying "Suicide = Insulting the natural process by rejecting the gift of life". Both are morally fatuous.

[@starczarar]

AntiBullshitMan Survival can be done in better or worse ways. What works better is what we call more intelligent. Cooperation works better than no cooperation. By the definition of evolution, those who cooperate survive better than those who don't. There are other examples.

[@heartfeltteaching]

But this presupposes that survival and adaptation are objectively good in moral terms. Yet a naturalistic worldview provides no basis for such moral objectivity. If one says that evolution has shown us what naturally works for our good, then one commits the naturalistic fallacy. Metaphysical naturalism provides no ontological ground for the intrinsic value of human beings from which all of morality flows--dignity, rights, and duties we owe one another. As such, morality must remain subjective and relative on such a view.

[@Alphacat1100]

This interviewer is so transparent. Christopher H. is brilliant!!

[@josephharley9448]

All the things I wanted to say to priests and teachers at an Irish catholic grammar school, But I didn’t have the confidence. Then I watch CH say them, with charm and precision. Jesus. I was right all along.

[@scruffmcgruffthecrimedawg5661]

It was a debate. Hitches have his opinions. That doesn't mean you're right, it means you've confirmed your bias.

[@KooPooky]

We lost the best too soon.

[@coachd1433]

Hitchens is an academic and makes well grounded arguments. I love listening to him speak and make his points, though I don't always agree with him. I DO also love watching him argue with evangelicals who are rooted in the love of money in the name of God. Those are Hitchens' best moments ... This interview, with the interviewer and his smug position, is beneath the discussion, personally ...

[@7788Sambaboy]

On his book tours Hitchens searches these people (institutions) out. He doesn't want to sing to the choir. He knows that the Hoover institution will believe their trained apologist for irrational conservatism (J.Robinson)will destroy Hitchens arguments, only to have them crash and burn in the face of logic and common sense.

[@CorlissNikolaus]

Realize the dream with diligence, and make life with wisdom

[@simay4977]

Our two children, 4 & 6, know right from wrong. Are very sweet and good and both like to nice things for people. They have not one clue about religion.

[@mikeygarcia8271]

They were made in the image of God..we are made in His image which enables us to know what is right or wrong. Go back to God for the sake of your children..don't drag them to hell with you ...The last days are here..wait for the gog and magog war..Russia, Iran and Turkey will invade Israel and no country will intervene. That is in the prophecy..when that happens..you know who to go to..God is your only hope. Because shortly aftr that the anti-christ will come..you dnt want your children to be here when that happens..

[@simay4977]

@@mikeygarcia8271 grow up Mikey

[@mikeygarcia8271]

@@simay4977 Open you eyes homegymman..Don't be fooled by your own limited undertanding of things. Not everything you see is real..and not everything that is not visible to your naked eye does not exist. You haven't experienced the spiritual realm to declare with 100% certainty that there is no God..I have experienced it..even many atheists did and were transformed by the experience....and we are many. So you can't talk about something you know nothing about...open your eyes a little bit..question everything, including your own belief.

[@simay4977]

@@mikeygarcia8271 cool story bro. Just bc you had a feeling, doesn't mean it was real.

[@wizardoflawz]

It is a sad day if the only way to get a person to behave is to get him to believe a fictional man in the sky is watching him. That is the opposite of saying true morality is reflected in how you behave when nobody is watching.

[@salamjihad3449]

YOU DONT UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS !! GOD ISNT A BEING HIDING !! GOD IS YOUR HIGHER BEING !! WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD THEN YOU UNDERSTAND YOURSELF !! YOU ARE HAPPY AND AT PEACE !! WHY DO YOU THINK REAL CHRISTIANS ARE HAPPY AND DONT NEED MANY MATERIAL THINGS ? AND MORALS COME WITH KNOWING YOURSELF !! FIND JESUS ! AND FIND YOURSELF !!

[@Togidubnus]

@@salamjihad3449 I am happy and at peace without having God come along and laugh at my plans. But you, sir, seem a little agitated. @wizardoflawz Having a notional overseer who had dominion over everyone and everything was the basis of centuries of feudal society. We had to be obedient to our lords and masters, and if we weren't then an even higher authority might have something to say about it.

[@salamjihad3449]

@@Togidubnus EXACTLY !! WATCH YOUR STEP !! THE LORD IS WATCHING !!

[@zeitakulobusta9708]

"Arid, pitiless, no sense of the numinous or the transcendent...." Is there anyone so effortlessly eloquent I can listen to in the public sphere today?

[@musiclover9361]

It is all over after 19 seconds of Hitch's first response.

[@rakhtherion6845]

Similar thing happened to me in the UK. Dropped my wallet in a cab after tipping the guy. Went down to the area that I got the cab from and left my number with a few of the gents there and within a day the cab driver contacted me saying he has my wallet. The money in the wallet I needed very badly for rent. Was just amazing that he did that because I didnt expect that at all. Very appreciative of people like that!

[@salamjihad3449]

HE MUST HAVE BEEN A RELIGIOUS PERSON !!

[@jerroldhewson3600]

​@SALAM JIHAD you don't need religion to have a conscience. We have empathy and intellect. We can, if we try, all get along.

[@salamjihad3449]

@@jerroldhewson3600 the good rules of religion come from thousands of years of societies trying and failing at things,, your statement sounds like a teen talking to their parents !! we don't need your rules !! i know what I'm doing! I'm a big girl now..until they grow up and realize Mommy was right all along.

[@jerroldhewson3600]

@@salamjihad3449 Socrates solved this dilemma a long time ago in the Euthyphro argument. The problem with religious morality (if adhered to rigidly) is it must remain loyal to these older forms of what our understanding of moral boundaries were like thousands of years ago. Secular morality allows our understandings to evolve and as such increase our empathy to be more inclusive. The goal ultimately should be for all us to get along. We share the same planet, we are all neighbours.

[@salamjihad3449]

@@jerroldhewson3600 it would be good if we evolved by not using moral rules from religion or other spiritual guides but the fact is that society is getting worse. exactly because of the fact that we are getting away from these guides. less marriage means kids don't have father and mother figures in the home. kids have no guidance. thinking they can become any gender they decide to be. is directly related to moral rules. we had village moral rules and town moral rules which came from what we learned from these old books. when we caught a person cheating on their spouse or a person sexually assaulting a child .pedophilia. homosexuality etc etc they were dealt with accordingly. now it's somehow accepted..and when I say somehow I mean we got away from these rules that were tried and true for thousands of years. change isn't always progressing.

[@ladakale]

How we miss you, Hitch.

[@mikegoldstone6832]

Bloody hell, how civilized! And all the more thought-provoking as a result.

[@robertm8780]

so far so good

[@billout12]

For the last argument, I tend to agree. I had the same conclusion about a favourite poet of mine: Christina Georgina Rossetti. Her poetry is a delight that flows through your tongue, mind and (mortal and undivine) soul... until she turned to Jesus. Then it becomes the epitome of boredom.

[@salamjihad3449]

LOVE CAN BE QUITE BORING AT TIMES

[@richardhedd3080]

When the interviewer said he’d light a candle for Hitch I was hoping Hitch would say “that’s a relief because I wasn’t going to do anything for you either.”

[@sirrevzalot]

I found his remark to be rather passive aggressive, actually. It’s akin to “Ill pray for you,” but what it really means is they know they lost and they don’t know how to sound gracious in defeat 😂

[@maxxwellbeing9449]

I’ve never seen this before. What a great find.

[@grahamsimpson4084]

Loved the hitch.brilliant man

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

Always that final need to be on higher ground expressed as "I'll pray for you, I'll light a candle for you". It's exasperation desperately wanting to be arrogance and arrogance desperately wanting to be caring for your fellow man. Well ... really it's just desperation desperately wanting not to be so effing desperate.

[@nikolaneberemed]

Hitch's best response to "I'll pray for you" was "And I'll think for you." Priceless.

[@dannyboy6308]

Just Curious You're a clown

[@bindaredundat-uv6wz]

YOU POOR CHILD !! YOU DONT UNDERSTAND !!!!!!!

[@salamjihad3449]

NO ITS NOT. WHEN CHRISTIANS TRY TO HELP SOMEONE ITS TRUE LOVE. NOT MORALLY SUPERIOR.

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

@@salamjihad3449 Before I rebut that: I am interested in how you feel using all caps is contributing to your claim?

[@seans4893]

love hitchens!

[@clarencetaylor7455]

“Chewing much more than he bites off” brilliant!

[@DouwedeJong]

After reading the dawkins quote from one of his letters, the dude realized darwin makes the point justly.

[@JamesRichardWiley]

The moral atheist: I do not believe your god exists but I believe I should treat you the way I would like to be treated.

[@loganleatherman7647]

Spot on mate. I don't understand why this is so difficult for religious people to understand. Even before the Bible came into existence, these sentiments were expressed in Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching in Ancient China, demonstrating that Judeo-Christian ideology is by no means the sole proprietor of morality in its most basic sense. Indeed the most probable objective root of early morality was empathy in-and-of itself.

[@MultiMcginty]

Absolutely right and also the ancient Egyptians. The Christians were late to the party. The morality that they claim to have invented existed well before they came onto the scene.

[@hd-mot]

The only thing I would change is the "but", It doesn't need it, and I'd go so far as to say it shouldn't have it. "I do not believe your god exists. I believe I should treat you the way I would like to be treated." I know it sounds nitpicky, however, the way you have it phrased gives credit to the idea that morals come from their god/religion.

[@cpculpepper1]

Why bother believing that?

[@hd-mot]

@@cpculpepper1 bother believing what?

[@uri_k]

Hitchens Was Great.

[@SefyFriedman]

Was - is he dead?

[@Fatstratmatt96]

Sefy Friedman He died in 2011.

[@SefyFriedman]

I know, just wanted to say - THANK GOD FOR THAT!

[@thedon008]

Sefy Friedman UUU,,,a real believer and good christian here...being glad that another man died. Wasn't it "love thy enemy" or some shit like that?

[@uri_k]

thedon008 May I remind you that all Abrahamic religions are very invested in hating all who deny loyalty to their specific interpretation of their god(s) and therefore, "Love your enemy" is to be taken very suspiciously and not for granted. I would expect nothing but hostility from theistic believers. And I welcome it, as Christopher did. He even went as far as to say "I don't wish to make peace with religions, I wish to be hated by them". That is true inspiration right there.

[@BluGiant14]

A civil debate between two diametrically opposing viewpoints. With rational claims and counters, evidence and rebuttal. Not a single insult or slander. Wow. Wouldn’t expect to see that EVER in 2023.

[@rl7012]

That interview is over a decade old. That said, Peter Robinson is always a respectful thoughtful interviewer.

[@nixl3518]

Perhaps the most articulate expression of Hitchen’s philosophy in a relatively succinct amount of time. A rational dialogue that allows Hitchens to express atheist precepts under rational cross-examination that fail to thwart him to any degree!

[@lucilledelorme]

Oh how wonderful an orator. Never knowingly bested.