Christopher Hitchens vs Shmuley

Christopher Hitchens vs Shmuley

[@stevo2992]

This debate was held 16th September 2010, in June of the same year Hitch was taken into emergency care after suffering from a severe pericardial effusion. We lost Hitch 15th December 2011, I'm in awe of this man who despite being ravaged by esophageal cancer, and chemotherapy treatment that clearly left him in a weakened state, to be able to continue to debate with such passion and determination, shows what a great thinker and intellectual he was. He was the author, co author, editor, or co-editor of over 30 books, including five collections of essays on culture, politics and literature. Thank you for helping preserve Hitches memory in presenting these videos.

[@Horatio-Nelson]

@Steve White: Yes Steve. You're right. Hitchens WAS ravaged. This was indeed a just process. This being is now a small pile of oxidized ash. Regards.

[@capitalisa]

@Horatio-Nelson An ugly heart is reflective of an ugly God.

[@scimatarpictures]

@@Horatio-Nelsonwhat a bizarre comment

[@xpltfailure]

​@@Horatio-Nelsonyou're evil

[@ASkepticalHumanOnYouTube]

The Rabbi Shmuley technique: make your points very loudly, and they will magically acquire more validity and truth value.

[@bardoface]

That’s a common Sales approach. The bully method. It’s more about imposing your will than truth.

[@taxidude]

Could you speak up? I can still hear him! ;)

[@smoly37]

@@bardoface Very belated reply but so be it... Just wanted to say I agree with you fully. And what surprised me, is that he obviously can't adapt it. He should know by then, after former debates, that he doesn't need to shout to make his point across, because with someone like Hitchins there's no need to. Hitchins will NOT be intimidated nor bullied. I have to admit, that I really hated this guy after two other debates but the way he approaches Hitchins at the end made me realize that it was all in the heat of the debate. I had to change my mind about Schmuley. Toodles from Amsterdam.

[@truedarknessify]

Hitchens: Makes an argument Shmuley: Screams an argument

[@drrydog]

couldn't bear to listen to shmuley, ill take your word for it >.>

[@ossiedunstan4419]

Just screams, their are no arguments for religion, why do you think all middle eastern religions consider athiests as mortal enemies .

[@dayhak2001]

Man I miss Hitchens... What a truly inspired, brilliant mind he was and his death was a loss for the world, not just the atheist community. He truly was a champion for human rights, and the world could only benefit by having more people like him... Cheers Mr. Hitchens!

[@marthamarvelette4565]

+Ryan Kelly I keep searching You Tube trying to find someone who makes me think & inspires me the same way Hitch did. Sadly I doubt I will ever see another of his stature & intellect in my lifetime. I miss him too.

[@henrymartinez4871]

+John Doe Agreed. I miss him as well. The guy fought to the very end!

[@SandraLovesRoses]

True inspiration. Lovely person. He was alive, in the truest sense of the word, until he wasn't. I will love him until I die.

[@trainerd1]

Martha Marvelette He was the James Bond of intellectualism.

[@illuddivinus3309]

Calling him brilliant and inspired doesn’t even touch his genius. Closest thing to an ironic deity given his prose. I’m sure his IQ bordered ludicrous. And I say that because a true genius can perfectly intertwine almost pedantic photographic memory, while also maintaining humor at the core of his pathos. He is legendary.

[@no-oneman.4140]

One of the greatest gifts you should teach your children is to think for themselves.

[@trainerd1]

Someone tell Schmuley he has a microphone. Hitchens is the James Bond of philosophical debaters. Miss him profoundly.

[@Jw-un8oh]

I love that analogy man

[@Ajinzem]

That's just preachers preaching. They never care to debate. They just preach the way they preach in their temples, emphasizing a lot so people think there has to be some crazy genius insight they will nod to, pretending they understand to not be left behind.

[@HippiDippiWeatherMan]

hitchens vs inflatable arm flailing tube man

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

I know! Quite the contrast in personalities. Almost comical but the topic is serious.

[@alanwilson4860]

Yeah I'm chuckling

[@BenjaminGoose]

"Chrissy" Trying to undermine him by using a female name, an obvious indicator that you're a conservative loon.

[@Jw-un8oh]

@Jazzkeyboardist1 Science doesn't prove anything. It shows us the most accurate model. Try again failed mucian.

[@crescendo5594]

I love how Hitchens just blows his nose during Shmuley's opening argument, like, "I don't even have to pay attention to this guy to fuck his argument up in a few minutes."

[@SandraLovesRoses]

Videos of Christopher make me happy because I can listen to it at work and remain engaged and sane.

[@johnnybgoodeish]

I have nothing but admiration for Hitch: his love of learning and literature and his eloquent way of expressing himself is still a continuing inspiration for me. His courage to continue a series of debates while undergoing the debilitating affects of cancer treatment - nothing but respect!

[@johnnybgoodeish]

Agnes, because that is one of those idiotic things that christians love to say and is just absolute nonsense. If your understanding is just superficial soundbites that is the kind of thing you say. Dig deeper, peel off those onion layers to reach a deeper understanding -you have a brain. I'm sorry, but I feel so disappointed when human beings parrot this kind of rubbish, because I know people, including yourself, are capable of so much more. We are biological organisms, but not merely: we are amazing biological organisms capable of so much. All of the processes that occur in our body are chemistry, which do consist of "molecules in motion" but that is how our body functions and allow our brain to work and all of our biological systems to function. Are you never curious about these things?

[@johnnybgoodeish]

Agnes, was that the maniacal laughter of a lunatic? Should I call you Dr Evil?

[@The1stMrJohn]

@@johnnybgoodeish like your name 👍

[@michaelstellajr3931]

@@johnnybgoodeish "...but that is how our bodies function, while [sic. also] allowing our brains to work, and [sic. further] allowing all of our biological systems to also function." Is that better grammatically? Idk.

[@ErikBramsen]

Hitchens speaks 10:50 40:50 1:14:10 1:22:55 1:33:20 1:42:45 His introduction is boilerplate so I recommend you start at 40:50, but the second part is a great intellectual (and a greater performer) at the top of his game.

[@The1stMrJohn]

👍😁I'm sure that there's no afterlife, but if there was... CH would be giving them hell!

[@commanderpipi1youknowfromp730]

Thanks

[@softbeak8333]

@@The1stMrJohn are you though?

[@BFrydell]

Edit your comment (however you want). After you submit the update, the timestamps in your comment may turn into actual links (now that KZbin can do that).

[@unknownchannel3141]

Thank you.

[@mrseaturtle1106]

How CH opens the bottle at the end is in many ways how he saw life; we miss what has always been right in front of us, and we only need now to view things differently. What a man.

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

The very first statement Shmuley makes "We all believe in an afterlife!" He starts off wrong about me and he's loud. His ego is larger than his gut :)

[@gloriouspurpose_]

Well he goes on to explain what he meant by that, he seems to have said it to garner some shock & it worked. This involves, as he put It, an eternal legacy 'after-life' such as MLK.. which is what nonbelievers would associate more with. It's funny, many of my Jewish friends speak in a tone similar to his... almost the same voice. Wouldn't say it's having an ego as much as being eccentric.. but since when is having an ego a bad thing? lol

[@SatanicSeed]

Well if you had listened for a few more minutes, you would have noticed that he actually says that the afterlife that we all believe in is us living on in the memories of our descendants.

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

SATANIC SEED : That's just another bucket full of holes that also doesn't hold water. Nobody takes themselves seriously when they spout off about reliving their childhood through their children and my fading memories of past dead relatives is nothing like them still being alive and talking about death as we all do. Dreams seem real only if you stay sleeping and daydreaming is what children do when they're bored with reality.

[@PandemoniumMeltDown]

Always start a ficticious claim to a truth with a pink elephant.

[@Krikenemp18]

@bigbadb10 I'm reminded of a point Hitchens has made to arguments about "good theists" but is fitting in this discussion, which I'll paraphrase here: Shmuley's "afterlife" is agreeable precisely on the basis of its departure from theism.

[@lynnsutton6808]

I can't listen to Shmuley - too shouty.

[@dr.rickmarshall6697]

That was a great ending . RIP Christopher Hitchens your memory lives on .

[@coreylee9342]

Hitchens argues his point, Shmuley Preaches his point.

[@ivek7773]

I went to drink water,i exited my room across the hallway into the kitchen,and I still hear evwry word Schmuckley is saying

[@johnhunter7386]

I'm a Christian and I have to say how heart breaking it was to watch Christopher Hitchen's health take such a precipitous decline. Sad that he died so young.

[@woodytheduke]

some of your christian friends cheered for his demise. To still call yourself a christian after listening to this man proves your still a stubborn theist

[@jackrabbit6299]

Christopher Hitchens, Thank you for opening my eyes to the Truth. Missing you.

[@LiamHowellUltimate]

I just watched two other debates between Hitchens and Shmuley, without skipping any parts, and had all but written Shmuley off as a shouty bastard. However I'm glad I watched all the way to the end to see what happened after 1:47:06 - absolutely melted my heart. I hope we see more people like Hitchens soon. Rest in peace.

[@jaywunder13242]

Hitchens lives on on You Tube

[@isinox]

J Wunder the best afterlife he could have hoped for :)

[@The1stMrJohn]

😁👍💚

[@pmathews109]

Oh where are you now when we need you, what burns where the flame used to be!

[@kiwitrainguy]

It's one form of immortality.

[@jonathonrobinson7236]

@@pmathews109 I believe you would find him in God's wrath. Revelation 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10 And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

[@TheLefthand21]

Hitchens is just amazing, he blows my mind in what he says, and yet i totally agree with everything he says, his rational straight forward thinking picks away the at stupid ideas of religion, and after i have listened to this man speak, i feel stronger and more human because of it. Most of us here feel the loss of Christopher, and although i wish he was still alive, im sure he has helped mankind turn the page in secular rational thought.and one more thing, i love Chistopher Hitchens

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

I think of the late C. E. Hitchens as a historian. He knew the history of England, the U.S.A., The religions around the world and yet he was most renowned for being a controversial journalist who uncovered the truth about famous people. I miss him and I don't believe he is somewhere resting in peace. His personality is gone and that's just a shame for us.

[@jdkhaos4983]

Luckily it's the age of technology so he lives on electronically and teaches millions even after death

[@bobbyduckett5465]

Sure, God loves us SO much, he sends us to Hell for unimaginable pain and suffering for all eternity for the crime of skepticism. Legit.

[@Ometecuhtli]

They love the victimless crime so much

[@nickyact1]

Always be suspicious of people who SHOUT, they've already lost the argument.

[@britton5881]

"Empty vessels make most noise""..

[@boxer12350]

nickyact1 well said

[@mathgod]

I AGREE WITH YOU.

[@Ajinzem]

I get louder when i am losing it because the guy i am talking to keeps ignoring what i am saying and continues preaching the same over and over again even though i made a good point to negate what he is preaching about. Even worse when it's illogical and makes no sense, yet they act like it's so obviously true. Ignorance is hard to deal with.

[@Ometecuhtli]

In Spanish the saying goes: Mucho ruido y pocas nueces -> A lot of noise and a bit of nuts. It comes from the observation than if you shake a nut the one that makes most noise is the one that has the least edible material, or in this case, the least substantial argument.

[@ryanhitchens8550]

Shmuley is impossible to listen to.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

But he doesn't even rap in shithole alamance

[@nett103]

I love how the people are calling Christopher Hitchens, "Hitch". I think that he thoroughly likes it.

[@edwardkirkhope814]

My first comment as moderator would have been 'schmuley stop shouting, it does not make you point any more credible'. Anyone who has watched him debate (sorry preach) before will know he shouts everything, constantly tells everyone he was a lecturer at Oxford and incessantly name drops. 'I met the pope, I met President Clinton, I met him, I met her' and on and on and on. The man is just awful. Utterly awful.

[@darlingtonboobam4107]

schumley went over kill... and lost me when he went on and on and on about MLK.... I felt like I was in kindergarten being conditioned and sheltered by fairy tales and lies. .......he's also hard to Take seriously when he starts shouting..... tooo much drama cannot make up for or distract from the obvious lack of proof truth or power of your argument...... please people....!!!!

[@ozoneswiftak]

Hitchens is awesome. His words were gold. .

[@americancheeze1]

Hitchens afterlife is his work, his books, the insight and courage that he gave others to fight the dogma of religion. He is dead, but not forgotten.

[@roybaines3181]

this is shmuley when he's calm.

[@AaronBrownStudios]

The last 5 minutes of this video are wonderful. If you don't want to watch until the end, please watch the end, at least. You might find the Rabbi to be credulous, and you may find Christopher Hitchens arrogant; but in the end you catch a glimpse of who these two people really are. Two people who love life, and want other people to be happy and fullfilled, and are willing to help in whatever way they can to make that happen. R.I.P Hitch

[@smoly37]

And that, friends, family, brothers, sisters, comrades, is the true meaning of a discussion. Amongst people that have the wisdom to not mistake the arguments with the person. I thought the rabbi was very annoying, but the way he offers his respect and best wishes is very gracefull. I see him now in a totally different light.

[@generic_programmer]

Good work by the moderator, to dive right into the debate without the 5 hour introductions that are common of other mods.

[@Tsnore]

You can see The Hitch patiently, barely containing his frustration, twirling his glasses about, as he waits for the comical Schmuckley to finally stop prating.

[@approachyourself]

Omg Shmuley is so loud in his speaking. Hitchens is awesome!

[@hudsonchalmers6504]

An amazing man and brave is Christopher

[@aaronkaczowka5824]

I remember being at this debate and thinking to myself how Christopher was dying of cancer and still more alive than any of us. That and how you could feel the attractive moderator was smitten with him.

[@TaxTheChurches.]

And the sound guys should be given complete control over mic volume.

[@ValiantFerguson]

I love Hitch

[@mindofmayhem.]

Hitchen's said so much more, without even a word at times.

[@fruitavelli]

That oompa-loompa analogy was one of the weirdest things I've heard. Literally every bit of it was wrong.

[@goemp]

fyi, that voluptuous woman in the centre is Lisa Oz.

[@AdamService]

"Having, so-to-speak, invented the toxin of monotheism, it's a wonderful thing that jews have been the greatest contributors to undoing it." There it is, I think the best hitchslap of the debate. I hope you read this in my afterlife.

[@aviatharpemberton5612]

I live in a group home with two devout Christian. Hitch helps me stay sane I was sad to hear of his passing

[@un2mensch]

Those two are true fucking gentlemen. Great dialogue!

[@ericgraves7340]

What an excellent ending to an interesting debate.

[@TheBushfish]

simmer down Shmuley... let the Hitch begin!

[@SandraLovesRoses]

lol

[@TheSodesa]

Exactly. For those of you who don't know, it is the idea mentioned above that has enabled the Catholic church to say that condoms are more harmful than AIDS. They truly believed that they were doing the dying people a service by letting them die 'legitimately' and get to heaven early.

[@annfrier8134]

Wish he was still here. he inspired so many.

[@zachcurtis1283]

I've seen many people debate with Hitchens, and I have to respect Shmuley most of all. I don't agree with his beliefs, but I respect his honesty.

[@Piatasify]

Yes, he's a great debater, it's fun to listen to him.

[@myexperience7574]

Hitchens what great mind

[@tywhitmire860]

Those chairs had to be miserable to endure.... I absolutely love listening to Christopher!

[@man_kind]

This video is pretty easy to analyse. The louder Shmuley yells, the more bullshit he spouts. Pretty gracious of him to make it so easy :)

[@dwakefield1486]

I like this debate; it's a bit more endearing than some of the others I watched between Hitchens and other theists.

[@bonnie43uk]

Thanks for the comments, yeah, you're exactly right, .. and those founding fathers were smart enough to separate church and state. Regarding Hitchens, I've listened to dozens of his debates and lectures, he had an incredible wealth of knowledge that I doubt few people could match, the idea of a 14 year old "ripping him apart" is simply laughable that I had to play along with it in my last comment. Thanks again.

[@ASkepticalHumanOnYouTube]

1:35:50 - "very slender little memoir" hilarious

[@Marcara081]

Thank you sir.

[@robert9ish]

I enjoyed this dialogue very much.

[@stevenhird1837]

What a intellect hitch was

[@peterkerruish8136]

Christopher I thought you were going to debate a rabbi not a bloody Used car salesman...

[@steveworrell]

Best intro to a debate ever.

[@americancheeze1]

Man is a marvelous curiosity … he thinks he is the Creator's pet … he even believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks He listens. Isn't it a quaint idea. -- Mark Twain

[@TrevorLentz]

Those chairs look like the least comfortable pieces of wood I've seen. lol

[@MasterCedar]

I suspect that that the JC might disagree with that statement.

[@TimKrukowski]

@@MasterCedar you've won the internet. There is not even a close second. You'll be receiving a major award directly.

[@MasterCedar]

@@TimKrukowski Thank you, thank you, thank you, I would just like to say...........

[@jema9735]

They're kosher

[@jeffmcginnis3882]

I will say, when watching this on my phone, I "Blew" on the screen atleast twice...assuming the arm-rest was a hair on the screen.

[@kramdoogs]

First two seconds says it all, the louder you SHOUT the righter you are.

[@robertroberts9657]

The zeitgeist is changing - and Hitchens was / is on the front line.

[@Lanearndt]

Damn, that Lisa Oz is one helluva smouldering beauty!!

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

Yes she is !!

[@akeandersson2672]

Hitchens were are you were are you we need you so much!

[@kiwitrainguy]

Your post is missing two "h" 's. Should be "where" instead of "were".

[@bolitho1999]

"That religion is a petty commercial enterprise'. Yes it is!

[@backcuetheoriginal]

Shmuley said souls are real and later on he said he is humble enough to admit that he does not know something. How does he know if souls are real? I am calling shmuley out as a liar.

[@SarahStarmer]

It annoys me when people deliberately misuse the word faith. No one uses the word faith to describe a belief in things that aren't supernatural. I think it is a good idea to be sceptical but I would never say that I have faith in scepticism because the word faith would raise scepticism up and give it supernatural qualities, and that wouldn't make sense to me.

[@AneTix101]

One of my favorite conversations

[@jeffryfoley5887]

Two wonderful debaters. Christopher, I miss you (I'd love to hear you talk about Trump and today's GOP). Rabbi Shmuley, thank you. Cheers.

[@432Restoration]

Crazy to hear shmuley talk about not blowing up things in 2024

[@JosephNordenbrockartistraction]

@ 00:21:00 Priceless Hitchens I recorded on my cassette tape. Love that laughter too !!!

[@gregcyr]

Thank you so much. Shmuley's hoarse throated ranting gives me a headache.

[@hungryman211]

I have to say, what a wonderful ending. Well wishes without the need to inflict prayer.

[@Birdieupon]

Great exchange! by the way, you can fix the widescreen border by putting the following into the keyword tags: yt:crop=16:9

[@gothrock100]

wow what a great debate :). I love when the debated is heated enough to be interesting but not so that the hole thing turns to slander, although that could be interesting to, i feel the intellecual points made where brillant....... love you hitchens :)

[@dr.rickmarshall6697]

I can admire one thing he says, he admits that there is no proof of a god and he said he doesn’t want to lie and say he has proof because there is none and that it is his belief and faith without proof. at least he’s being honest.

[@StaticLightbulb]

Shmuley's debating technique is fantastic: shout louder than the other guy.

[@nanplabwern]

I thought I was an athiest until I heard the shouty person. Now I know I am.

[@morebabble]

The deference and respect Shmuley pays Hitch, Hitch's rejection of it notwithstanding, is rather touching.

[@crescendo5594]

Am I the only person who's thinking, "Oh, that's why Dr. Oz is always so damned happy."?

[@tobitron]

I miss him

[@adombovic]

The last minute was really heart warming

[@Krikenemp18]

1:20:30 "I will fight and die before I live in a country that either forces religion on people or forces them not to have religion." The height of irony when he defends the right of parents to force religion on their kids in the very next sentence: 1:20:40 "And I find it astonishing that people would clap when someone says that religious parents should be prosecuted for teaching their kids religion." Edit: Glad to see someone in the audience thought of this too. 1:38:20 I'm not glad that the response was basically "Parents will indoctrinate their kids if they want to, why should we hold them accountable for it or try to stop it?"

[@angeliquesebban]

Great debate, full of respect and humor on both sides. I'm an "atheist Jew", but I have to say that Shmuley is pretty cool for an orthodox... Thanks for the post.

[@harkema8090]

That how it goes! Shouting loud makes a fantasy true!

[@edwardkirkhope814]

Religions tell about the wondrous afterlife but insist on dominion of this life too.

[@adambomb30]

Shmuley's voice is nails on a chalkboard!!

[@thebalticbull]

Shmuley sounds and acts like Rudy Giuliani when he’s defending Trumpf

[@Ajinzem]

It's painful how ignorant Shmuley is and how wrong his claims are and how easily Hitchens proves him wrong every time.

[@mykidsdad36]

Most of the religious that I have seen Christopher Hitchens debate, just as Rabbi Shmuley does here, when pressed, completely deny what their holy text teach. Pinning down their beliefs, is like trying to take a finger and pin a glob of jello, it's impossible. They pick and choose which of their religious text they wish to believe and or practice, and diminish the importance of the rest. Then they have the nerve to criticize and condemn the fundamentalist of their faiths, who unlike them, are not hypocritical in denying what their holy text state and infers. They are not "true" religionist, they are liberal humanist that are too insecure and afraid to shed the traditions of their family and their faith, and in my opinion living more of a lie than those who are.

[@MarkKrebs]

... and in 'rolling their own' they demonstrate the made up nature of it all. How has this mind control been so resilient?

[@americancheeze1]

I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours --Stephen Roberts

[@Here0s0Johnny]

einsteins (ingenious) interpretation of the photoelectric effect was published in 1905. he was about 25 years of age at that time. that point of the barking rabbi is at least somehow reasonable. nobel prizes usually come late.

[@Ajinzem]

The difference between a religious parent and an atheist parent, atheists will tell them that they don't believe in god themselves and why and religious parents will force their kids into their religious culture and traditions.

[@fugguhber4699]

This week, here in Bangkok, I have KZbin and lots of time on my hands; in the last week I must have watched 40 hours of CH videos. I am 100% sure that my I.Q. went up.

[@maxxwellbeing5208]

Sounds like religion hasn't been able to dumb you down. Any rational person with an open mind with an ounce of common sense and the ability to use rational thought and logic can't help but to be enlightened by the words of Christopher Hitchen's. I never tire of listening to Hitchens...I feel much smarter after I hear his words. It makes my own debates much easier. My whole family are crazy religious Catholics... Hitch really helps me at family gatherings... I'm the long Wolfe...but I love debating the nonsense. All they have is faith without evidence. Be well.

[@MrAndersonHimself]

Well said. Well said indeed.

[@archaicsoul4597]

There’s a dark tone to shmuley. Dark indeed.