Christopher Hitchens Vs. Boteach

Christopher Hitchens Vs. Boteach

[@judycowley9816]

I only discovered Christopher Hitchens after he died and I am dreadfully sorry that I did not get to spend more time with him and all the wonderful enlightening knowledge he shared while he was still alive. I listen to a debate of his at least once a day which I feel so fortunate to be able to do, and have got his books ordered. I'm thrilled to have found him, my only wish is that he was still with us.

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

This is comedy gold if you have enough patience to watch the whole video.

[@AtheistChristian]

Christopher Hitchens was a great man. He went against the norm and never quit.

[@PHOENIXDude57]

Always be sure to have Dictionary.com open when reading any piece written by Christopher Hitchens.

[@ZwiftyZwifter]

And a very good thing it is too, to have ones vocabulary expanded.

[@zainulabideenzain3]

True that!

[@codeypritchard5996]

PHOENIXDude57 And Richard Dawkins, they both have very extensive vocabularies!

[@MrCmon113]

+PHOENIXDude57 Why? Hitchens expresses himself rather elegantly imo. O_o

[@PHOENIXDude57]

Taxtro I agree, but he has an extensive vocabulary and more often than not I find myself not knowing the definition of a word after reading no more than a couple of pages.

[@antitheistvegan]

What a legend Hitch was!

[@pgsmith22]

One of Hitch's best openings, against perhaps, one of his weakest opponents.

[@tedgrant2]

Once again, Christ' wins. Christ' is short for Christopher.

[@mhelvens]

Wow... Boteach pretty much destroyed himself. Especially in his first rebuttal. He didn't need Hitchens to do it for him.

[@EyeSeeReason]

What a rout. I almost feel sorry for him. Talking loudly doesn't strengthen weak arguments...

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

Many audience members are laughing at Boteach by the end of this very heated debate. Bravo (late) Christopher Hitchens.

[@kevinod771]

"Don't let your character commit suicide" - LMAO!!!

[@shanehamilton6298]

just the sound of the rabbis last name makes my skin crawl

[@ViolentVegan]

Boteach's main argument seems to be "choose religion because it's nice"

[@vammamies]

I was thinking this same.

[@lazylenni1017]

Yep. He seems to miss, that this doesn't make it true, though.

[@nicelittlerunner]

It makes me feel sick that Boteach makes a living by claiming authority of this fictional god and appealing to the gullible and weak of mind, telling them he is fighting for their corner. Hitchens appeals to thinkers and has earnt his money, Boteach has made his money by using the religious tax exempt free ride. For Boteach to insult Hitchens intelligence like this would not have happened without religion, proving Hitchens greatest challenge to his opponents is true.

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

Well written. Hitchens actually traveled the world and knows exactly what the harm religious bias still causes in the modern world. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[@Bunny0ni0n]

Hitchens attacks religion, then Boteach attacks Hitchen's directly. Makes sense.

[@josephmoriarty1693]

Boteach manages with incredible ease to drown in his own words. If this had been a sword fight Hitchens could have held his sword still in front of him as Boteach ran into it....

[@hansrudolf7212]

What a mind boggling genius explanation 👏

[@BastEternal]

I've watched a number of different debates with Hitchens as one of the opponents, and I haven't watched ONE debate in which the theist DOESN'T resort to making it personal, via direct insults or strawmen.

[@gabmik38]

Boteach, cannot face reality in this universe but needs the crutch he's leaning on

[@MrCassiuschrome]

It’s like watching Mike Tyson take on Betty white. 😂

[@Bunny0ni0n]

Also, I love how Boteach is pretty much mocked by Hitchens, Gillman, and the audience throughout the debate. It is especially satisfying when the audience clap when he is interrupted mid-harangue.

[@TomFynn]

Boatech is probably just pissed that Hitchen's books made more bucks than his own books.

[@jayhop7031]

now we know where the term "botard" comes from.

[@azureander5487]

One of the most basic principles of a debate is to maintain your composure, and by extension, to not yell and scream. Boteach seems to have entirely missed that concept

[@oldbk4281]

The most brutal of Hitchens’ many beat downs in these types of debates. I felt bad for Boteach.

[@RisingSon1000]

This is the same guy that was a spiritual adviser to Michael Jackson.....enough said.

[@thethikboy]

gosh - such an unbiased objective attitude

[@fredquinn3919]

This reminds me of the description of playing chess with a pigeon (in this case...the rabbi)...the pigeon will knock over all the pieces, poop on the board and then fly away thinking it won....lolol

[@xzadeh]

Every statement from Rabbi made me say BS! Am I wrong??

[@castrol37]

great words, man

[@ciaracustard]

"His book lacks humour"? Did I read the same book? It's packed full of witty lines. There's a chapter called "A Short Digression on the Pig or Why Heaven Hates Ham" which made me chuckle on the bus. Seriously though, it's the same as when people say Dawkins is depressing when his writing is actually very charming and nowehere near as bleak as it is presented by his opposition.

[@jamesj5696]

It is sad to see a rabbi behave so foolishly. Hitchens is missed.

[@PsychoticNeurotic]

did he really say that scientists are baffled by the expansion of water upon freezing? good fucking god, i learned that when i was 15.

[@kevkelly8]

the grown ups call it a doctorate in literature.

[@krotenschemel8558]

First rule of deating Christopher Hitchens: Just scream.

[@ICEDMX1]

With all the time and space available, it seems ridiculous that god would use only earth to implant such a lowly form of life that is human. We haven't even been able to eradicate war, let alone hunger, hate and religion.

[@kevinod771]

One can't help but become extremely philosophical when Boteach speaks and mutter the words “WHAT THE FUCK”! Does he really believe that because he amplifies his voice he also amplifies his argument? How Hitch keeps his cool while these knuckleheads spew forth their venomous and ad hominem attacks is beyond me.

[@Berumen85]

I wonder if he really ended up buying 100 of Hitchens books

[@thethikboy]

I love this passionate Rabbi - He has all his evolutionary ducks in a row -

[@deanbrunson259]

The problem: Science is not "an argument" for the faithful because they don't believe it and don't want to understand it. They also think they are so special that they get two lives instead of only one, and a second home in Heaven. Delusion abounds!

[@Kooper05]

Anyone else notice this classic Boteach double standard? 20:25 "This is Hitchen's weakest book yet. He's close minded, inaccurate and lying. He hates hope." 46:00 "Hitchens is trying to assassinate my character."

[@66Phaedrus]

Wow...Saw the entire debate! Boteach got his butt seriously kicked....I must be weak: I really felt sad for the guy..

[@MeyerMack]

I'm glad I didn't get to watch this live, or I would have been kicked out for heckling BOTH of them for factual and logical errors. Arrrgh!

[@8888xenon]

When did science state that the earth is 16 billion years old? I was taught 30 years ago in school that the earth was 4.5 billion years old, and geologists STILL believe the earth id 4.5 billion years old. The ignorance of this Boteach guy is unbelievable

[@vasiliatmanchokov4981]

I think Boteach is a perfect choice for playing Tavieh. He certainly talks and waves his hands and moves like him. How many times does he say that he respects and loves CH?

[@SubTachyon]

55:07 The single most QUOTE-MINED Darwin's words in the history of ever.

[@peterkerruish8136]

Hitch U murdered that " false bloke "!!!.

[@evanskip1]

around Minute 1:19:00 is gold. mic drop!!!

[@ExiledCrow]

It's sad how Gillman is positively embarrassed at the schooling Boteach is getting and tries to pull him back ... but he keeps digging that hole. When Hitch appeals to the crowd, "who made that comparison"? Ouch! :)

[@1shizam]

"the transitional links barely exist"....But they do.

[@un2mensch]

@SubTachyon Thanks for the heads up, I'll wear my palm & forehead pads when Boteach starts talking, to prevent self-injury.

[@117425yt]

How can any one be a professor of Judaism, or indeed any other faith? It's ludicrous. Why I will walk into my university tomorrow and demand they offer the opportunity for me to become a professor of Lord of the Rings.

[@silentotto5099]

Boteach keeps invoking the commandment "Thou shalt not murder". But, what does that really mean? Where does the Bible define murder? To my knowledge, it doesn't. Societies define murder. So, what does that commandment really mean? It means that we shouldn't kill those who society decides we shouldn't kill and that it's permissible to kill those who society decides it's permissible to kill. We needed God to tell us that?

[@patrickgerona1]

Forget the horse........What are the odds that of 1 million sperm from your father, that you would be born, raised, educated a certain way to stand on this stage with that tie on? and yet here you are...........

[@zainbali7819]

Patrick Bryan whatever point you tried to make. I don't understand, please clarify fo rizzle.

[@pgsmith22]

Did Boteach know his mic was on? Calm down son; being loudest doesn't mean you're correct.

[@siduniv]

1000^1000000 would take three volumes of 500 pages to write. Enough said.

[@hughjarce9742]

Hitch was brilliant. The Rabbi bloody awful. He shouted throughout.

[@pfflyer3381]

The gaps of the gods, if we don't know.. yet, god did it!

[@zeldaofarel]

Complexity, complexity, complexity...

[@jdkhaos4983]

At 46:00 shmuley did the same thing he's descibing.

[@Skruf138]

Boteach seems to believe that if he shouts it loudly enough it becomes an argument. Very annoying to listen to him systematically distorting what Hitchens says. You can even hear to audience getting tired of his nonsense in the end. What a one sided debate.

[@darnhard]

as is so often the case , religion says its all to complex to be evolution , but allows for the complexity that the supreme being has to create this complexity, who created the creator if he is that complex.

[@apathyguy8338]

Not a Jew but Rabbi Wolpe seems to be the far stronger debater. Doesn't seem to pull facts out of his ass like Boteach. I don't agree with him but he's far more credible infinitely more affable.

[@Sumtinrandom]

I think evolution refutes the notion of races. Pretty sure it does.

[@ljb5163]

There's one race, the human race.

[@paulhaynes3688]

Brilliant the ignorant must hate him so sad

[@a1969scorpio]

100 books

[@scipio10000]

First time I see and hear this character Boteach. And you need to see them to believe that they actual exists. So Hitchens is a philo-nazi, Darwin a racist, Hitler is an evolutionist. What a sorry specimen of human being.

[@itshogs]

Please elaborate on how the study of religion is deemed 'very important'.

[@Kooper05]

For anyone wonders as I did about the Rabbinical court ruling that both sides were in great heat about: blog.92y.org/index.php/weblog/item/rabbi_shmuley_boteach_and_christopher_hitchens_the_debate_continues/ I can't find any additional published follow-ups after Boteach's dismissal of Hitchens' provided proof as (paraphrasing) "you can't prove your proof is actual proof', an evermore saddening position to watch Boteach dig himself into.

[@fateh666]

A discussion with an ignorant person is fruitless...

[@031767sc]

the rabbi cries like a little girl

[@KbcBerlin]

Take bacteria adapting to ant biotic; What happens when someone doesn´t take the whole course, and the bacteria breaks out again?The antibiotic has destroyed all but the bacteria that have a slight difference which has allowed them to survive longer. They breed, and all have this former difference.Take the ant biotic again for the same short time.Nearly all will survive.Take it again for a little longer and a new even more resistant group will form.Eventually a fully resistant form evolves.

[@aarrgghh]

boteach never goes after the topic or addresses questions -- his rebuttals devolve into filibustering character attacks. how many times did the moderator ask him "what does that have to do with god?"

[@woutkoopman]

'Dawkins is one of the last people who believe in slow evolution'. 'life cannot have a random beginning, groups of monkeys thundering away at typemachines cannot produce the works of shakespeare, for the practical reason that the whole universe is not big enough for the waste of the attempts'. 'we found oil, gold, diamonds, but no transitional links of evolution'. I hope that the people who read this understand this comes from the rabbi, not from the giant. I just have no words to describe how unbelievably ignorant it is.

[@CarlyWaarly]

We all miss Chris : ( ..........The white title box is a distraction and does not need to be in view all the time. grrrrr!

[@kevinod771]

He got his information from Al Gore. The same guy that said the earth's core was 2million degrees while pushing his geothermal position.

[@PhRiZoN]

Watching Boteach using statistics to prove his false points makes me cringe.

[@pfflyer3381]

1:10+- he, he, he, me,me,me,! The inferior mind in the body of gods, who gave birth to everything! To superseded his mother!

[@mars_over]

1:32:08 When a man blowing his nose gets the audience's attention is because you are talking nonsense.

[@glutinousmaximus]

Yay! Go Schmutz Bo-Cheat! No - I mean REALLY GO!

[@srrlIdl]

you mean OMH. O My Hitchens.

[@ApeloFellow]

I was ready for interesting rebuttals and counter rebuttals for an hour after Hitch's greate and I dare say numerous opening opening. Then Boteach began spouting nonsense and I depressingly turned off the video, wrote this and am leaving.

[@KbcBerlin]

It is clear to me Europe would be much further down a better ethical road if the Golden Age of Greek Philosophy had been maintained, rather than taking the Biblical path. First stunted by Rome , then nearly lost completely in The Fall of Rome and dark ages supervised by Christianity..

[@117425yt]

Boteach's understanding of evolution is disgraceful. I hope one day he actually bothers to learn something before making such idiotic claims.

[@gloriannepapolis6525]

What the hell, how many times did the lord murdered thousands of jews in isreal , decimated town after town of all its inhabitants, mothers, children , elderly because he believed they were worshiping false idols, holy crap, thy shall not murder unless it is me when i am enraged

[@kevinod771]

Why does Boteach have to mention the nationality of the au pair?

[@WickedV3ng3nc3]

When did Iron solomon become a rabbi?

[@stingy1sam]

He sounds like he's trying to perform a church service, not debate. This is crap. Another hunter-prey debate.

[@torch2k]

So is his understanding of Isaac Asimov, apparently. Certainly, he should be made aware that Dr. A was an atheist, if he's going to use the man's quotes for his purposes.

[@rsr789]

The Rabbi is CLEARLY lying about the Darwin / Eye quote! If he reads the WHOLE thing, Darwin states that even though there is the perception of design, it was clearly evolved and points out why! If you have to lie for your cause, your cause it's by definition, TRUE!

[@mannythepirate]

Did he ever buy the hundred books and distribute them among his Jewish friends?

[@TheTamriel]

Yeah, faith in the spiritual world (the Neanderthals once have opened for us) as the only true catalyst for love is a sacred myth ha. Actually it is the catalyst for hate...

[@PsychoticNeurotic]

Haha, he was being facetious - 'non-profit' is a play on words. Non-proPHEt, get it? ;)

[@virakthong8022]

I scared the most is the religious people.

[@judycowley9816]

Why does this Rabbi Shmuley debate and contradict the person "Christopher" rather than the subject of religion? I think thats pitiful. Christopher does not do that any any of his debates to my knowledge.

[@verarobinson369]

Rabbi Boteach certainly distinguishes himself in this debate; from his peers and allies in particular. His profoundly misinformed arguments are both spurious and delusional, a huge disservice to his cause. Perhaps he should confine his efforts to right wing talk shows, and leave the intellectual heavy lifting more qualified advocates. If he were educating my children I would be deeply concerned.

[@nriab23]

God is not great made him a lot of money, atheism is supposed to be nonprofit? What sort of thing is that to say... He just wrote a book..he is obliged by no atheistic decree to give up profits.. and what does that have to do with the validity of the things mentioned within the book?

[@Lesquille]

What a horrible moderator.

[@blakevivaldi1089]

A pretty good effort from the Rabbi Boteach amidst a rather unsympathetic pro-Hitchens audience.

[@XmarkedSpot]

+Blake Vivaldi Sisyphus was more successful with his boulder than the rabbi making a sound point.

[@PsychoticNeurotic]

awh come on guys, are we really not getting his joke? profit... prophet... hurr