Christopher Hitchens vs. David Wolpe

David Wolpe and Christopher Hitchens

[@tromuniapp]

"we don't have bodies, we are bodies". I just love that.

[@Genesis-xd1id]

Same! Wrote it down

[@legendbird2008]

We miss you very much, Hitchens !

[@667jaymz]

When Wolpe is speaking I still watch Hitchens

[@TrippySuccubus]

Many years later, and that mischievous smile Christopher Hitchens gives at 53:16 is still one of my absolute favourite things. It makes me genuinely happy when I see that rather playful moment between him and Wolpe. Then the smirk at 1:15 when someone calls Wolpe out for saying his belief is “scientific.” Such a charming, adorable, and brilliant rascal.

[@latinxl416]

Thank you so much for posting. I can never get bored of watching this man, the Hitch that is.

[@1nf0calypse]

Wolpe is a great debater, a smart man, and very sympathetic. If I were religious and had to choose a congregation, it would probably be Jewish. Not because their dogmas are less nonsensical than the rest, but Jews have a deep culture of questioning and honest discussion, which seems to be lacking in Christandom or Islam. Fact is, by the way, that Wolpe and Hitchens were quite good friends and had a great deal of respect for one another.

[@Madoc_EU]

I would be a buddhist if I had to. Did you check out Hitchens' debates with Douglas Wilson? - Wilson is a christian pastor. Hitchens and Wilson get along very well, even though they can be vigorous in exchanging arguments. I think the both pushed one another to voicing their thoughts in the best and clearest way possible. Personally, I was very impressed by some of Wilson's ideas, as I stumbled upon a new argument that I hadn't heard of before. The two made a tour debating, and subsequently a movie documentary was released. It is called "Collision". You can find a lot of debates and excerpts, possibly even the whole movie, on KZbin. The documentary was a good chance for me to get another small dose of Hitchens' ingenuity after I'd seen pretty much all of his talks on KZbin. Wikipedia on "Collision": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collision_(film)

[@1nf0calypse]

Matthias J. Déjà I know Wilson, he is a nice guy, but in contrast to Wolpe and Hitchens an intellectual underperformer, in my eyes. I have hardly heard a single well conducted argument from his side in two debates. His attempts to argue for the existance of god actually made me pity him. He was like a lamb to the slaughter, when arguing with Hitchens. Even De Susa is better, though far more annoying. I loved the debate Hitchens had with former British prime minister Blair.

[@halophilicnc6473]

Frederik Hirche Repeated appeals to emotion intellectually outperforms Hitchens?

[@1nf0calypse]

Halophilic NC Reason always outperforms emotional appeal in an intellectual debate in my book. But, although I am an atheist and in fact an antitheist by Hitchen's definition, as I would not wish for a personal god to exist, there is one thing I honor even more than reason: Manners. Manners are not another word for "political correctness" which is a curse to a reasonable debate, manners allow people to come together and share thoughts respectfully. I don't expect anyone to come out of a debate with his views swept aside and replaced by someone else's, what I expect is, the respect to listen what the other side has to say and not to only say that one thinks that it is bullshit, but why and in such a way that the argument is honest (no lies like the ones e.g. William Lane Craig tells whenever he can) and not made to insult the person, but to make a point and further the debate. Wolpe is intelligent, honest, well mannered, and has a good sense of humor. Although I am not of his opinion, he deserves more respect than any hate ranting believer or atheist.

[@Solbm27]

And.....because most Jewish are actually atheist. It is all about community with most of them, and not about metaphysical (non sensical) claims. If I had to choose, yeap...maybe, first some Buddhist school (just because of the meditating practices....they do work, outside of any religious frame, in terms of keeping your mind sharp and being healthier) and second, this guy's congregation as a jewish. :-)

[@AssailantLF]

Everything he says is very hostile, accurate, well articulated, and damn near poetic. He doesn't even seem to be trying ever, either.

[@CamEron-nj5qy]

Respect to Wolpe for admitting he was losing the debate. Takes a certain courage to be that honest

[@Caffeineandcalisthenics]

both great speakers. christopher much more eloquent and educated it seems

[@gauismaximus595]

Yep

[@Ugly_Scallywagg]

Yeah

[@TMcCamby]

“The realization that there is no false consolation can cheer you up. Once you face the fact you are born into a losing struggle, things immediately appear a great deal more manageable”

[@grateful19661]

Go Hitch Go!!!! Man, I wish I could have met this dude.

[@veetour]

Wow my jaw just dropped to the floor when I heard the host refer to Christopher Hitchens as Chris Hedges. Really?? Did they just drag this guy off the street? How could you be host and not know your guest's name?

[@jbperez808]

He said Chris Hitchens initially, and then it became Chris Hedges.

[@1simon1000]

John P Your point?

[@pluckyduck11y]

1simon1000 John's point would probably be that the host simply had a slip of the tongue. He knew full well Hedges and Hitchens are not the same, which is to say he did not have them confused. Just a momentary lapse in speech is all. Happens to everyone.

[@beaconrider]

Back when Hubert Humphrey got the nod to be the Democratic nominee for the 1968 election, some airhead introduced him as "HUBERT HORATIO HORNBLOWER". I never bothered to find out who the idiot was, but I did wonder how long people gave him static.

[@jadezee6316]

just a mistake that every human being has made. to bad you are not intelligent enough to know that

[@RodneyAllanPoe]

A very good debate. Thanks for uploading it.

[@whoresoftijuana]

Thank you for the service Andrew.

[@philochko]

I love Chris... pause

[@vashna3799]

The rabbi (and the moderator) have an habit of interrupting Hitch when he's talking.

[@EnigmaEcliptic]

moderator is a menace to both of them.

[@Disciple1000]

Stop bullying me with your religion. Keep it out of the schools. Keep it out of government. Keep it out of my bedroom. Keep it to yourself.

[@lte23401]

Christopher Hitchens arguments seem natural and easy to accept.

[@Exedorable]

Great analogy. I'm gonna steal this!

[@ctriamimgons]

Wolpe has a bad habit of insisting that Hitch and moderator remain completely silent during his rebuttals but he continually jumps into Hitch's rebuttal.

[@romad20000]

AHHHH very nice, thank you

[@willfourth]

ROFL "There's no fraudulence you can't get away with if you can get the word Reverend put in front of your name." --- Christopher Fucking Hitchens

[@zeitGGeist]

"we don't have bodies, we are bodies"

[@AdamDevigili]

"even if they believe it, it's a lie?" umm...yea? If I BELIEVE 2+2 = 5, that doesn't make it true.

[@danielmurray04]

thanks .. i was getting really worked up

[@TheStebify]

Yep, China too! Amazing how we often get things wrong. Still I'm over my tantrum now and got on with enjoyed watching the wonderful Mr Hitchens kick arse. I miss his miserable little face, what a gift he was.

[@JensSiegfried]

I'm totally fine with that. Thank you for this interesting chat :)

[@xxRuleZzZxx]

This was a great debate that I loved watching it. I'm an atheist myself but thank god for people like David Wolpe (who I respect as a human being) to bring forth these challenges to the atheist community. Knowing more about both sides is always better and constantly thinking about the world we live and how we can improve it helps us move forward. RIP Chris, and great win.

[@masonvegas4336]

His name is Christopher not Chris. You are an idiot if you didn't know he did not ever go by Chris

[@DerpBane]

lol you made me laugh

[@Sibeliusrex]

Sebastiao Salgado, his work is extraordinary.

[@corbzy1783]

20:29 why has this been cut off, the moderator was about to make a brilliant point

[@mosipd]

I knew this was going to be great when I saw Wolpe incessantly talk over Sam Harris in another debate. No one talks over Hitchens, and sure enough he proves that fact many times in this debate.

[@TheFutboler22]

Just finished watching Wolpe's debate with Sam Harris, and I find it incredibly funny that Wolpe's entire basis in the other debate was that his belief couldn't be proven scientifically, but within 5 minutes of this debate starting he claims that his belief is scientific. It's always refreshing to see some consistency lol

[@suzukix5owner]

Ive noticed this as well.I am always finding new hitch vids.

[@beidlgsicht]

i laughed so hard when hitchens finished the point he started at 4:51

[@ricko1111]

Sebastio Salgado - his book is called the End of Polio: A global effort to end a disease -its a beautiful piece of art and commentary.

[@Trendkillervideos]

Gotta give Wolpe some credit, he can hold his own in an argument... even if he is wrong!

[@GavinHitchens]

Firstly thankyou for the upload. Secondly my volume issue is to do with the actual event, is it just me or is the jewish gentlemens microphone distinctly louder than anyone else?

[@bretnetherton9273]

"Awareness is known by awareness alone," is the sole irreducible axiom of reality. To put forth a syllable to refute it is to concede..

[@mojobag01]

53:12 "Don't applaud that!" - Epic Fail David. Great video. Thanks for the post.

[@alexalcan]

One of the most interesting and reasonable debates on this issue ive seen. Both debaters were pretty reasonable and alert, though I still have to hear any argument in favor of the existence of god that isn't "can't think of something else" and "people want to beleive it"

[@misterdis1]

God I miss Christopher:)

[@bradgrady7497]

He wouldn't leave it alone for moral reasons. It is wrong to lie to people. And, it is wrong to allow those who have been lied to to continue believing in a lie when they are potentially destructive.

[@Gemily27]

Fantastic debate

[@ncwdane]

you can't see the wind but you can tell it's blowing because it's clearly seen by the leaves & trees

[@harleysrocknrollchat]

Miss you Hitch...)

[@slutbunwallah]

Good for you

[@tcrown3333]

Fantastic aspiration. Being Welsh, that makes me charismatic by default (I wish). The 'free thinking' part? I may be in with a shout. Seriously - a great sentiment.

[@MikeZilla1988]

Look, Simba. Everything the light touches is our kingdom.

[@keithpulliam2328]

miss ya Hitch :(

[@BeardedTech]

I agree. Surprisingly, I really enjoy listening to him talk much like I enjoy listening to Hitchens. He can carry himself very well. Pleasantly surprised I might add.

[@willumpjuh]

15:18 "And all of this set in motion ... on a scale that is absolutely beyond our imagination .. in order that the Pope can tell people not to jerk off. " THIS was Hitchens at his best. They were so not ready for this .... 😆

[@CuddleScout]

thanks

[@Tree_born_crooked]

Very good debate

[@LiftHeavy]

Hitch! You are missed...

[@NikMikas]

Also, why do people not understand that there are very grey lines between nationalism, religion, community, and genetic relations. The separation between church and state is a recent and novel phenomenon, one that is still not representative of the majority. Many still view the conflicts between nations or for resources as divine battles between spiritual entities.

[@temporaldisplacement]

Aside from being from a millitary family myself and seeing the spending power of retired officers I have seen (though it would be very time consuming to find again) a video on youtube in which C.Hitchens in a rare moment of true humility that he infact did receive a collosal inheritance which greatly propelled him socially. As for the rest you'll get no argument from me.

[@Blaenboy1]

Well if hell truly exists I'd be happy sitting there listening to Hitch !

[@danielmurray04]

I did like David Wolpe's piece on free will and determinism, genetic determinism and environmental, a deep point, well responded to by Christopher.

[@damienpuglisi]

I'm exactly the same but when you watch them all you just have to watch them again and read his articles/books again. There's never enough Hitch.

[@TheBenballs99]

I have watched a lot of these Hitchens debates. I don't think that they will ever change my mind on being a deist. But as far as a personal God that answers prayers that was something I always hesitated to question. Also an afterlife was something I was very unsure about. I will say he has fully convinced me there is no personal God or afterlife. It would seem like that would be a depressing finding but quite the opposite. I feel like my time here is even more precious now.

[@greyeyed123]

Indeed. I'm a teacher in a high need school who gets paid for half the time I actually work. But even disregarding those kinds of examples of helping others, what about the ARMY of educated atheists (scientists and others) who not only have discovered things that saved millions (if not billions) of lives, but continue to be absolutely essential in discovering the NEXT thing that will preclude millions alive today from dying prematurely, not to mention starving, developing a disease, etc.

[@KillerClunge]

The great thing about the debates involving Hitchens and Wolpe is that if you watch Wolpe while Hichens speaks, wolpe seems to have a great respect for Hitchens, his remarks and of course their delivery.

[@edcampion19]

@zeldaofarel BBC horizon had a very interesting doc on psychopaths, one of the things featured was experiments which are showing that empathy is present by age 1 in healthy babies.

[@zeldaofarel]

Bullying is most prominent in pre-school, because empathy only emerges when the brain reaches a certain level of development. In some people, who are probably genetically flawed, it never develops and they become sociopaths, psychopaths.

[@Hooga89]

Hahahahaha. Omfg. Loled so hard.

[@lisaburnett3368]

The rabbi didn't answer the challenge ? There is nothing a believer can do. That a non believer can't. Religion falls to those of the flock. I am not a sheep. Sorry.

[@jimmyirish4224]

this vid should have more views

[@ptluzzi1]

same here! i didnt agree with him on the iraq war or clinton but i still bought every book and thought i had seen all of his debates till today when i saw this one. Hitch was the man!!

[@dracdrum]

From 3:38 Christopher makes an awesome point and David's facial response is priceless... at 3:58 LOL

[@DrFrogglePhD]

+Ben Arrowsmith He did love Christopher. They were good friends. Also, David is a Jew. Jews don't have a hell.

[@DrFrogglePhD]

Ben Arrowsmith Yes... hell was not a thing in the Abrahamic tradition until Jesus....

[@dracdrum]

Ben Arrowsmith For me, it looked like a "that's a good point" face.

[@2gethutch]

Why the cut at 20:29? Seems to be quite a few other trims of this video especially during valid questions toward David Wolpe...

[@zeldaofarel]

I remember when my grandma died I was friends with some Christians and one of them told me that it was okay, because she was in heaven. It wasn't comforting. Besides, she was sort of an on and off Catholic, so I doubt that even if there was one, she would be there according to Christianity.

[@danielmurray04]

On unjust grief, to experience a wrongful death and have some priest try to smooth it over and bypass the outrage is like a smiling slap in the face from a sickening fool.

[@GodlessReason]

I think you're right on that, and that might also be the only reason why the rabbi could never say, religion doesn't play a role in any war at all, in fact some of those wars are even directly mandated and demanded in holy books, so that's the last wall he can fall back on, anything else would be lying. It's still preposterous to suggest that wars without direct mandate from a holy book had no religious impulsions.

[@alecbachlow6627]

Thanks for the information. He was witness to extreme and foolish things...Just as my father who suffered the tail end of a revolution...a massive world war..the destruction of institutions including religious ones by the communists...and the death of his father by firing squad - My earliest memory was watching him in private smash a 300 year old Icon...and weep...He resented the fact that his father died for his faith. I can see how my dad thought God had failed him. This inspired me to think.

[@F3r3Th3Mast3r]

he looks like a BOSS

[@therub2191]

At this point in time, Hitchens must know he's going down... still he stands firm in his beliefs, I respect that. Hail the Honorable Dead.

[@iampauleybaby]

And yes, you can also pick up the glass instinctively, as Wolpe actually does.

[@TheAndroidNextDoor]

I've been told that I'm less moral for being an atheist and yet, no one has yet to answer the challenge Christopher Hitchens posed that I bring up when confronted with that accusation.

[@tomskelcher]

You can predict things that have already happened? Awesome!

[@XxPetexXx]

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”

[@sg72646]

Rabbi David bless him is trying his hardest to protect his religion but debating with Hitchens is futile. RIP Christopher but who is going to carry on his wonderful work?

[@Brascofarian]

Really happy.... I thought I'd seen every Hitchens debate before his death, seeing a new one was a bit like having him back again. Thanks . :) Als, credit where it's due/jew, Wolpe did well.

[@johnnyarsonctXhc]

your right, christopher is irreplaceable, but you forgot Ayaan Hirsi Ali, shes amazing

[@BrendanBeckett]

There are 2 distinct meanings of sound - physical waves and psychological experience. The latter is immaterial. I've watched many debates on theism and Wolpe is by far the most intelligent and honest proponents of it in my opinion.

[@Siegbert85]

You could argue the other way around: why can't Christians leave us atheists alone? We don't believe in your gods and don't want to be bothered with him.

[@cron93]

will someone wake David up and tell him that we have no free will.

[@masonvegas4336]

This moderator clown introducing Christopher as Chris, then calling him Chris Hedges is nauseating

[@iampauleybaby]

Wolpe says sound and consciousness are immaterial!!

[@Seymour13]

I've seen plenty debates where both parties are willing to concede points (even if just for the sake of debate) and where the religious person is actually honestly considering the arguments made. This is not one of those debates :P. I certainly have to give christopher kudo's for his patience.

[@MikeCrawch]

"right" as in the morale between what is right and wrong. For me "greed" fall under the catergory of evil.

[@0mla1]

What do you think of infinity?

[@ruthlessadmin]

More specifically about consciousness: it's not a separate, or individual part of the brain. It is the sum total of the brain's functions. Being self-aware is not mystical; it's just awesome and complex. It is a mechanical process, which I am convinced, we will fully understand, and be able to model/replicate, in years to come. That will be a bad day for theists.

[@justinwalker4475]

the world needs this man shame he died

[@SouthernWhiteTrash]

If there were hell, in due time I may see him again.

[@maurieer]

"RIP Christopher but who is going to carry on his wonderful work? Christopher, I'm sorry to say, is irreplaceable. Let's hope that that Sam, Dennet, Dawkins and other young young people will enter the scene. Pardon my spelling.

[@danielmurray04]

David Wolpe does try and give the impression he is constantly being interrupted and not let finish.

[@MikeCrawch]

@sentinalno1 "We don't know" thank you!

[@Studentofgosset]

Religion is not a matter of science, it is a matter of psychology and sociology.

[@ragemanrasta]

Nailed it! (CH)