Divine impulses Christopher Hitchens

Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Christopher Hitchens discusses being moral without believing in God, being an anti-theist, his contempt for the religious, the value of religion, the trouble with islam with On Faith's Sally Quinn.

[@davvves7977]

I absolutely mourn the day I run out of fresh Hitch content

[@SummumBonum.]

I don't think there is anything on KZbin featuring Christopher Hitchens that I haven't seen several times. His discussions never get old to me. Don't forget about all of his writings.

[@manamaster6]

+David Howes I fear that day; but I still have some content to watch that I know of, plus all the content I don't know of. But it is difficult to find more fresh content the more I watch.

[@Anthony-hf6bb]

+David Howes It seems that we've arrived at the point in our history when people and their work are documented, recorded and made available to the public to such a comprehensive degree that all of us can absorb these ideas and philosophies at the click of a button. I didn't discover the work of Christopher Hitchens till a week or two before his death. I still shed a tear.

[@coralaisly]

+David Howes As do I, which is why I don't go in search of it. I'm always happy every time I happen across another debate, interview or lecture of his, but because I know there aren't to be any more, I let them appear to me when they're good and ready. Interestingly enough, he does sometimes tend to pop up and address something I've been thinking over for a while. I don't always agree with him, but he almost always at least gives me a direction to go to figure out what I do think on the situation. And he was most always very up front with his sources, so even if I do end up disagreeing with his conclusion, I do end up finding that I see where he was coming from and the reasoning behind it. If nothing else, he presented his cases exceptionally well.

[@1pointt21gW]

this is a truly excellent youtube comment :)

[@heidigone]

Watching his videos makes it feel like he's still alive. Then I remind myself that he's not, and I grieve all over again.

[@tonylearner7636]

I cannot begin to tell you how much Hitchens is missed if only for his humanism and utter brilliance and heroic courage. And, gosh, what a speaker and critical thinker he was. For me, there was no more thrilling speaker to listen to. You know, if he was wrong, and it turns out that there is an after-life (a very improbable event, mind you) then I humbly submit to you that God would be mighty lonely in Heaven without Christopher. You may be sure that the Pearly Gates will open for Christopher. I am still depressed over Christopher's passing. Still very sad. My heart goes out to Christopher's wife Carol and to his family -- even now. To hear Christopher speak and share his thoughts is to love him. Fuck death, it can't take that away from we the living who remember him.

[@cthru22]

***** Hi Tony, I could agree with you if time had stopped on 9/10/2001. But since it didn't and Hitchens flipped from hard left to hard right I no longer found him to be entertaining. How could such an intelligent man believe the silly story-line of Muslim maniacs ... of cellphone calls from high altitude ... of steel buildings collapsing ... of planes and luggage and bodies disappearing at the Pentagon and Pennsylvania ... of a few men taking on the mighty American military and winning ... of declaring war in response to a criminal act before the crime was solved ... of the justification of killing hundreds of thousands of innocent people to avenge the deaths of thousands of innocent people. If this is where intelligence leads a man then I am happy to be a dummy and his disbelief in God prompts me to look more closely at the incredible complexity yet harmony that allows life to originate in the first place against all odds and might just have to be the result of a divine impulse of an almighty creator. I am now sadly but also happily un-Hitched.

[@tonylearner7636]

Michael Lucas Michael, thank you for sharing your observations on Hitch. Frankly, I am more a fan of Hitch's debates on religion than I am on his foreign policy. In the matter of foreign policy, I lean more toward Chomsky. Having said that, I think your points on the Iraq war were well made and pretty much on target as history confirms. I do think Hitch possessed the kind of intellect we rarely have occasion to witness in our life time. I count myself fortunate that I got to hear Hitch speak on KZbin. For me, Hitch was the Champion of the Religious Debate.

[@cthru22]

***** Hi Tony Regarding Hitchens on religious topics I am now more critical of his views. One of his previously rather strong points for the lack of a guiding light in a dark world is the premise that an intelligent creator would surely have been able to produce a better planet than the one we find ourselves on. Who needs all the pain, misery, death, and destruction of planet earth? Is this the best an omnipotent God can do? Allow me to take a page from the prominent atheists like Lawrence Krauss and Richard Dawkins. When pressed to explain the origin of life itself rather than the evolution of life over time, they resort to multiple universes where one of them ... ours ... just happens to have the right conditions for life to bud spontaneously from a primordial soup in a series of little steps. Okay, that sounds reasonable. But then couldn't an apologist for God's incompetent workmanship say that He created a perfect planet in a perfect universe populated by perfect plants, animals, and people all coexisting happily ever after? It exists somewhere. It just doesn't happen to be our planet, in our Milky Way, in our universe in a multitude of universes. And then couldn't we say that it is our fault that we are not in God's perfect world because we are not perfect and don't belong there? We belong here on this imperfect earth which is ideal for us. We are well matched to it. And couldn't those who want to be in the other universe, the perfect one, strive to change themselves so that they would fit in there? One rotten apple can and will spoil the barrel. The options, as I see them, are to be content with our place in the multitude of universes, to strive to reach the perfect universe, or to commit suicide and escape the misery of it all. My choice is to remain here as long as I can and then come back here after I die to an earth where those who were discontent are somewhere else. I think that with a little fine tuning the earth will be paradise which we are taught it was until we all arrived, originally. Those who love life on the earth as it is will love it all the more when the discontent are ... somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high.

[@tonylearner7636]

Michael Lucas I do think that Islam poses a critical threat to free thinking and world safety but that is true of the other apocalytic religions as well. Take Christianity for example. Don't forget that in the not too distant past Christianity was every bit as brutal as Islam is now. So I think Hitchens had it right in his condemnation of Islam in particular and of religions in general. As to your commentary on God and the options you mention -- interesting, yes, entertaining even, but not verifiable, and therefore I relegate your commentary to pure speculation. I think Hitch's criticisms of theism are nearly airtight. Not completely but nearly. Contrary to Hitch, my own sense is that the universe did not just happen and appear out of no where. The Unmoved Mover idea personally appeals to me because it sounds logical to me. So I am not at all argumentative over the notion that there might be a God who created it all. In my view, Aquinas gave in his Summa Theologica, a strong argument when he argued for belief in the existence of God. But that is as far as the argument goes. Christians took the argument beyond the boundaries of common sense and logic. They built a huge fantastic creation story around it. And it is a story that has never been verified as true. To go beyond the reasonable proposition that there is a God by then telling me all about God and listing his many properties is pure poppycock. In other words, I don't believe in Divine Revelation. There is no proof for it. None. People who argue for the truth of the Bible engage in nonsense circular behavior. Usually, their way of thinking comes down to this ... How do you know the Bible is the Word of God? To which they answer: It says so right here. See, read for yourself. You get my drift ... saying that the Bible is the Word of God becomes the case of the dog chasing his own tail. It is more likely that the Bible is the Word of Men. This would surely explain why God is depicted as vengeful, moody, and even bipolar in the Old Testament. And why, I wonder, would God be depicted as such? Answer -- because men are all those things. I am nearly convinced, Michael, if men were horses then they would create God in the image of a horse. As I recall that observation was uttered some 2500 years ago by the ancient Pre-Socratic philosopher Protagoras.

[@cthru22]

***** Tony, there are basically two kinds of people in the world, theists and atheists. They are singing the same tune endlessly but with different words. When asked to substantiate their view of life arising in a lifeless universe, theists sing, "How do I know? The bible tells me so!" In answer to the same question for their proof of the origin of life, the atheists sing, "How do I know? Survival tells me so!" Both groups hold a book in their hand as they sing. The theists hold the bible. The atheists hold Darwin's Origin of Species. Both books are prophetic. Both were written before science had progressed to the stage where even the fundamental bio-mechanics of reproduction were known. But one of the books acknowledges the role of prophesy and the other condemns prophesy as delusional, forgetting that Charles Darwin knew what could not be known in his day! He had only postulated, based on observation, what he could not possibly have proven based on the random mutations of the DNA that supplies the mechanism of evolution through survival of the fittest: natural selection. Rather than just a book, both groups should hold up a bell, a book and a candle, for each condemns the other as heretics. Both are dogmatic. Both are inflexible. Both are right, both are wrong, and it is not possible to form a synthesis of the two. They are antagonists. They are oil and water. They are mutually exclusive. They are the scourge as well as the salt of the earth. We have both theists and atheists and we need both. If one or the other becomes overwhelmingly dominant the earth will become a living hell. I was happy to see in your last comment that you are not "...argumentative over the notion there might be a God who created it all." I congratulate you or your sanity in an irrational world. You are willing to provide space in the world for opposing views on fundamental issues. That is rare and commendable. Executioners do not question verdicts they simply enforce them. Too many theists and atheists would be perfectly happy to send the others to concentration camps. It is when you are positive that you are right that you are deepest in error. Everyone should lighten up.

[@TheKyrix82]

A very professional and respectful interview all around

[@aurevoiralex]

"You don't become an atheist as much as you find out that's what you are." In deed. Born into a deeply Catholic family, faith has always baffled me, even as a young child.

[@lambofchrist6222]

+Aleks Persson Deep down you know God exists but you suppress the truth in unrighteousness because you love your sin.

[@aurevoiralex]

Lamb of Christ Not even close. Sorry. :)

[@lambofchrist6222]

Aleks Persson You're only saying that because you don't want to believe.

[@aurevoiralex]

Lamb of Christ I'm actually quite content NOT believing. Can YOU be OK with that?

[@lambofchrist6222]

Aleks Persson I know you're content not believing. The reason you're content is because you don't want to believe in God.

[@interessantegedachtes5448]

Wow a hitchens video, I haven't seen before!! AFter watching 400 of them. A golden one.

[@aazz999100]

holy crap...no pun intended, 400 i have a way to go! miss him!

[@uralbob1]

Hitch, we could use you now. I'm so sad you are gone. We'll always remember and honor you!

[@thornyrose4709]

I love Christopher Hitchens. Because he has /had so much compation for humanity. Rip you honest loving gentleman.

[@PSspecialist]

I was surprised the most by what he said about being an atheist since he was a child. I was a theist when I was little (Orthodox Christian), before I developed critical thinking. Then again, I was never told the whole story about the way "god" operates. All I was ever told at school was that he was simply a creature in the sky that cares for you and loves you as long as you say a few words every night before you go to bed. Never gave it a second thought really. At that age I loved that feeling of security because there were so many things my tiny brain couldn't fully understand. Then I slowly started questioning it. Why am I begging for security from a being I can't even see? Afterwards, I started doing research and I saw the real face of Christianity. It was horrific. I felt betrayed and even scared. I was promised a life of eternal happiness and I realized that it was all a big lie. Eternal happiness suddenly became eternal darkness. People like Christopher Hitchens have helped me a lot emotionally because while I was smart enough to see through my religion's lies unlike most kids my age, at the same time I didn't have the intellect to make sense of life in the pragmatic sense. See, religion twists your mind in more ways than one. It only makes you think about and obsess over your death. That's why some people have such a difficult time escaping from it. It's the most sensitive human fear and the bastards take full advantage of it. It makes you miss out on the things that are actually important. That's why people who take religion too seriously seem so devoid of life. No music, no art, no entertainment. For them only the bible has value. The others just interpret the words in said bible as "metaphors" because they want to cling on to that feeling of security while not being a bunch of lifeless zombies at the same time. Both are cowards.

[@AFMMarcelD]

@ Vampire I love your positive comment, you are right on point, I also love Hitchens for helping me shake the horrific shackles of primitive and abhorrent religion.

[@brianjoyce9040]

Simple thoughtful reasonable refutation of religion/god. Nobody does it better or clearer.

[@birichinaxox9937]

Oh were to I have found you when you lived. Thank you for articulating everything I have struggled with and to explain since I was 12. I too was made so I could not believe and due to my catholic up bringing I thought I was innately wrong, broken, lacking and less somehow for this lack of belief. If I had only stumbled across your wise words earlier. I morn you though you were long gone before I knew such a wonderful human being existed. I have never thought to admire anyone but the more I listen to your debates and read your books I realise I admire you.

[@chadgautier2864]

Birichina XOX this is very true what you wrotw. He realy helped me turn the page in my life

[@chadgautier2864]

Birichina XOX i also was so afraid to go against of what was said to be god. In fear he would strike me down. But that is npw thought on my own time to be silly

[@AFMMarcelD]

Professor Christopher Hitchens a beacon of light, the light that makes heat, that impels fire, the fire that lights our way. You were indeed brave and great Sir Knight you fought with the strenght of many men, may we join you infinitely one day. Rest well great one, orator, rebel, polymath your work here is finished,...I love you Sir.

[@kristibutler2136]

A brilliant mind.

[@definitiveentertainment1658]

Best. Video. Ever. Hitch talking about religion, and every 20 seconds my favorite hit song “3 Guitar Notes Alternating Repeatedly” plays in between his statements! My belief in the divine is renewed!!!

[@sickotraveye8598]

Hitchens was brilliant. Sorely missed for sure.

[@gor265]

Striking lucidity, fascinating insights, the world lost one of its foremost intellectuals.

[@carolondrey3222]

One of the many things that astounds and impresses me about Hitchens, as well as the other "Four Horsemen", is that they are so extraordinarily patient with their interviewers. I wonder that they even consent to talk with some of those nitwits.

[@whosafraidoferiknrding4470]

Carol Ondrey Normally I would agree with you but I thought this interviewer wasn't so bad. She asked some pretty good questions and allowed The Hitch to answer them thoroughly.

[@albertrogers8537]

+Carol Ondrey You are absolutely right in most other cases. With this woman I think Hitch is relaxed and quite pleased.

[@Underleaf76]

+Carol Ondrey Yeah he has had some knuckleheads to deal with, no doubt. This lady is actually very objective in her interview style.

[@albertrogers8537]

Phelan I enjoyed your use of the word 'miraculous'!

[@anothertime1282]

'... they are so extraordinarily patient with their interviewers.' - It's called 'being English'. Unfortunately, though, this culture of good manners may be dying out as the country becomes more Americanised: strident me-ism taking root.

[@Green28142814]

"I'll pray for you." "Okay, I'll think for you."

[@coreycox2345]

It can't hurt, I think David Nicholson.

[@Fancymanofthedeep]

A true genius. I know that word is thrown around causally but Hitchens lives up to its immense standards.

[@anothertime1282]

Compulsory daily 'prayers' at school in England. Wonderful for encouraging either indifference to religion or outright unbelief.

[@paulnijsten6360]

Greatly missed. Intellectual GIANT. Baffling English also. Beautiful man - one of the best of our species. Take note, and ACT.

[@juicer67]

Thanks for this little gem. I thought I'd seen all of the Hitch videos on offer from KZbin. Glad I was wrong.

[@joseseghiri9]

Christopher Hitchens how much I personaly miss you ! I felt you always sincere, and honest in your thoughts. I do miss you !

[@dianalee84]

Miss you Hitch

[@eriklarsen1599]

What a pleasure to hear this interwiever!

[@llongone2]

I miss this guy! He was a better teacher than Jesus. And we could use a great teacher like him n this day and age.

[@richardstanislawski2577]

Hey there was no Jesus

[@TheNavarro6767]

Love and Fear. Sums it up.

[@SS-mm5md]

Regardless of any agreement, or disagreement with CH on almost any view, anyone would have to marvel at his intellect, writing, and the ability to debate and present his views. I personally miss CH so very much, particularly now with all the Middle East conflict; and he's not here to see it.

[@normansknob1155]

i'm glad every time she asks a question it's accompanied by a twinkly little guitar arpeggio. it's not annoying at all.

[@seenandnotheard]

norman's knob Lmao

[@Pat121V]

The twangy music at the cut scenes is head wrecking.

[@johnsmith1474]

Nice observation. It's like waiting to be executed.

[@avedic]

***** lol....brilliantly put.

[@Remnants100]

Sally is so gentle with Hitch that I want to give her a Big Hug. (Bless her)

[@thedaveastator7939]

This has been clumsily assembled. The video repeats itself several times and the jingle-thing that plays between transitions distracts me from thinking about what's just been said.

[@hinteregions]

But it is free.

[@thedaveastator7939]

So is every other video on KZbin.

[@skiphoffenflaven8004]

It is utterly lazy. Although I do not mind at all hearing Christopher, and it is my hope that the repetitiveness is a battering ram.

[@kubasniak]

Stop whining. Focus on content. Hitchens and interviewer are top tier.

[@jayrod5411]

the fucking music.... cut that shet out. Reminds me of a bad SNL skit.

[@writtenworlds]

***** www.funnyjunk.com/movies/8806/Snl/

[@philosoraptor1423]

I'm certain that I would have apostatised at a much younger age had I not experienced a great deal of mental abuse and coerced indoctrination from my family.

[@Hadronium]

Philoso Raptor Eh, ditto. Don't forget the disinformation. I know I mocked the big bang theory and evolution (age

[@SullenMorbius]

2008? the quality of this looks 1978.

[@AFMMarcelD]

Agree, even the original moonwalk transmission looked better in 1969.

[@westaussieatheist]

Just when I thought I'd seen all the Hitch clips. Bravo

[@oldtimer5111]

Top man

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

We can only miss the Hitch for so long. Sooner or later, we're going to have to pull our socks up and carry on the bad word.

[@elijad1376]

+Craig St. Cyr HE IN How might science explain heaven and hell as places that could exist? Scientists now posit through string theory the presence of multiple realms, multiple dimensions. One of the implications of the big bang is that space and time had a beginning, and that space and time are properties of our universe. If that’s true, then outside our universe or beyond our universe, there would be different laws of space and time, or no space and no time. The idea that our universe may not be the only one and that there may be other universes operating according to different laws is now coming into the mainstream of modern physics. So the Christian concept of eternity, which is God outside of space and time, is rendered completely intelligible. It opens up possibilities that would have seemed far-fetched even for science fiction a century ago.

[@CraigStCyrPlus]

Are you looking for a fight?

[@livefreeanddonttread]

Religion has no correlation with science. The fact that people try so hard to confirm biblical stories only reiterates the fact that is wishful thinking. You either understand that religon is a tool made for controlling people, or you are one controlled by it.

[@elijad1376]

or you come to realize all humanity, or groups use labels to control people. religions ,atheist ,governments, all do it.so lets not just single out religion.

[@elijad1376]

Hitchens made a lot of money doing it.

[@EVALLOYD]

Why does Christopher Hitchens call what some folks call God a dictator? It's not off the top of his hat; he bases his statement on what he has read in the chrisitian book, the bible. Atheist though he was, I almost wrote "is", but that's just wishful thinking, the Bible was a book that he knew a lot about. In Genesis 22: God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son, that he loves, to prove his love and fear of God. And just as Abraham is ready to strike the fatal blow, God holds back his hand, telling Abraham that it was fine and that he'd proven that he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice and he went on to shower gifts and the sort to thank him. Now imagine the same situation in real life: A single mother, let's say, who has a little boy that she loves is asked by her partner, not the boy's father, to kill her son to prove her love for him. She takes a knife and just as she's about to plunge the knife into her little boy's heart, her partner stops her, saying, stop stop, now I know you love me and by the way, you didn't think I'd let you go through with it, did you? Now, honestly, what would you think of a man who would ask that of a mother, and what would you think of a mother who would accept? Then there's the "you shall worship no other God before me, for the Lord whose name is jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus). Now if you dare worship other gods, he'll cut off your ears and your nose, and if you escape from that, you'll be slain by sword, and if you escape from, he'll take away your sons and daughters, and then you'll be consumed by fire. Definition of a dictator: A dictator is someone who has absolute power - or who at least behaves as if they do by bossing others around. I rest my case, and yes, I miss Christopher Hitchens too.

[@whosafraidoferiknrding4470]

Linda Well said!

[@albertrogers8537]

+Linda Indeed, the not-the-father is lucky to get out the door unslashed, but that's because he isn't Almighty!

[@gregcampwriter]

Hitchens is great, as always, but the constant breaks for swirling symbols is unnecessary. Just show the conversation.

[@jaewaitwhat4412]

I can't understand what format this originally aired in that such chopping and logo bumping was necessary.

[@michaelemswiller5434]

Commercial break and then the showing of the name of the show . . .

[@iainrae6159]

Thanks Hitch for showing how shallow and potentially dangerous religion is.

[@kev9089798767]

I remember asking my teacher in my Church of England school what was there before God and she just replied that God had always been there. Lying to children is disgusting in hindsight.

[@cristianvq7177]

Awesome video!

[@brianfinnegan9700]

My one god- Christopher Hitchens

[@WrithingGuitarist]

12:10 Atheist is equivalent to child molester? Holy shit! The Irony. Catholic priest...lol

[@seans4893]

Hitch is amazing

[@albertrogers8537]

Linda's comment objects to the use of the word "Dictator". Then she defines dictator as someone who has absolute power. That is correct. God is defined as Almighty. A dictator is not by definition always cruel, but Lord Acton was most probably right that "Power corrupts, Absolute power corrupts absolutely" and the myth of asking Abraham to prove his loyalty by murdering his wife Sarah's son (remember, he'd thrown out the other) is not the sort of thing that a confident benevolent Being would do.

[@albertrogers8537]

Phelan That is pretty conclusive. In other words "the God of Abraham ..." is an evil one.

[@elfboy29]

Good to see an angel interview Hitchens

[@pandorahinkleheimer3915]

I tried to believe, then I forced myself to believe, until I admitted to myself that what I already knew, deep down inside, was not to be found in one book written by illiterate, superstitious barbarians - but in my fully capable brain. I don't "sin" more than those who believe in hell. I believe in the well being of others and lack all ability to be cruel, unlike believers whose last parting shot is always "You're going to burn in hell for eternity". And they will know we are christians by our love????

[@sbeast64]

1:30 "Round the clock, celestial dictatorship". Brilliant.

[@ralphdavis9670]

Exactly right; you don't become a non believer, you either is or you ain't.

[@zeldaofarel]

I know a secular cathedral. It's the Parliament building of my country, Hungary.

[@robertstewart239]

I like the interviewer. Short, concise questions without rambling monologues. I tried to watch an interview with Hitch's brother last night. The interviewer talked too much and I gave up.

[@casyatbat]

The great Mark Twain _“Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.”_ _“The only gospel in any monarchy should be the Rebellion against Church and State.”_ _“The physician’s is the highest and worthiest of all occupations, or it would be if human nature did not make superstitions and priests necessary.”_

[@Pwwh0711]

Every new Hitch vid nourishes the soul **

[@shelbzillathrilla]

Imagine believing that people get cancer as punishment. Only a real sick religious putz could muster the hypocrisy and spite needed for such ugly conviction.

[@harryrenner4016]

Up until about Jr. High School age I was what would be considered normally religious. but then I seen a spectacle at a healing that was so appalling and such a freak show circus. that from that point on I was an agnostic up until sometime more recently. when I made the decision to become an atheist. and now I know for certain that I will be an atheist until the day I die.

[@DavoidJohnson]

A good riposte to 'I'll pray for you' is ' Then I'll think for you ' Think Hitch has said this.

[@martinkimber8033]

Totally agree, but just thankful for what we

[@Sagaciousish]

SEND THIS TO ALL YOUR CREATARD FRIENDS

[@carolynboyce1831]

Sagaciousish I know about spirituality more first hand than not, and perhaps that's the point. Anyone can join the dark side for cookies. I was looking for being smart and informed. Wise.

[@Viky.A.V.]

Oh, finally someone asked Mr Hitchens to imagine an all-loving and non-punishing god! Actually, I think he'd kinda liked that one, haha. But it's obvious he was a very freedom-loving person. Thank you for sharing!

[@headrockbeats]

Come to think of it, I think I've never been able to accept the idea of a god either, even very early on. I remember being told about god from a fairly young age, and never being able to take that seriously on any level. I didn't feel the need to voice that opinion until much later (when first realizing that some people actually believe what you'd always considered a fanciful story - and that they direly need to be corrected), but it always seemed like a legend that may or may not have some inkling of truth to it, a legend that people kept telling simply out of some sense of tradition. Then we started learning science - specifically the notion that a theory with no evidence to support it is as good as false - and I've never looked back.

[@collj86]

I am God my hobbies are fishing and dancing.

[@briz1965]

I think Chris was the first in my mind, in today's environment to say - stuff you I don't believe in anything until you prove it. I carry this flag also and only dismayed I didn't hear of him before he even passed.

[@pascalmassie3906]

A lovely and brave man.

[@anothertime1282]

Brave, Yes. Lonely, Certainly not.

[@patbrennan6572]

amazing grace hymn, when we've been there 10000 thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing gods praise , than when we first begun...fuck; i can't take a day off to go fish'in? ;how much praise does this guy need?

[@Hithere-ek4qt]

I am a huge fan of Hitch and basically enjoyed watching this BUT the editor did a terrible job, inserting captions before segments (which contain way too many repetitive portions.), not to mention the sound is not synced to the video. I suppose copyrights prevent loading the entire show. That would have been much better.

[@AscendingParadigm]

It prides me to think: I lived in the time of the Hitch. =)

[@wellydellify]

Human empathy is our CODE. In Thailand and Japan (Busoshu) is evidence of human behavior conducive to the good for all. Don't you agree?

[@Acharmedlife]

The best hitch debate ever is ch and Frye vs archdiocese

[@theturdinator6011]

I live near tavistock , where he went to school. I always wonder if I've trod on his path

[@Xenaisthebusiness]

Cutting off Hitchens ever 2 1/2 minutes with that annoying ass music is what it must feel like to be forced to attend Catholic mass.

[@williamcarr459]

Hitch lives! I loved the man, his voice and his heavy ideas. I miss him. I watch his vids, read his books and think his teachings. He lived near me. I wish like crazy that I could have shared a cocktail and rap with him. I would have cherished that…. Thank you Christopher.

[@albertrogers8537]

Sally Quinn is quietly very charming. 'Green' is the waste radiation of photosynthesis.

[@jamescollins8794]

I just know by observation looking seeing hearing feeling etc

[@pobz100]

Greatly missed.

[@yakojjy]

This creepy music is making me so sad, really making me miss Hitch.

[@lambofchrist6222]

+Wilbur Jenkins Don't worry. You'll see him in hell

[@lambofchrist6222]

Wilbur Jenkins Deep down you know God exists but you suppress the truth in unrighteousness because you love your sin.

[@yakojjy]

Lamb of Christ Deep down you hope your God exists because you're just afraid to die, and fear nonexistence.

[@khorgan77]

+Lamb of Christ proof that god exists is in a banana.....wacko. Go sell crazy elsewhere.

[@josephrobertbugembe2354]

What a loss to the World, the passing away of the Hitch.

[@OregonINK]

Hitch was so correct. “You don’t become and atheist you find out what one day what you are”. I grew up Christian with my mom and Jewish with my dad and from a very young age I could tell it was ALL bs

[@chrisp2042]

amen, some direction

[@dianalee84]

I've always been an atheist I never could believe in a sky daddy, I read the bible and could'nt understand how Anyone could buy that nonsense. The number of times as a little girl I was thrown out of my playmates homes because their mothers discovered I didn't believe in god, I lost count of

[@michaellucas7961]

dianalee84 Hi Diana, although I've had 12 years of Catholic school bible-based education, I've always sided with the scientists when watching creation versus evolution debates. Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens, and Krauss can topple any group of Horseman of the Apocalypse. Having been indoctrinated by the clergy I find it easy to believe in God. Having seen the arguments against him I can believe in science. This leaves me with a dilemma. I am approaching the end of my days on earth and the question of the origin of life is no longer an entertaining philosophical discussion. Is there a bible or a science book under the light at the end of the tunnel? Was there the word of God in the darkness at the beginning of the tunnel or was there just a noisy, meaningless, Big Bang? These are real questions that need answers. Everyone has to reach their own decision. Assuming the number 84 in dianalee84 is your year of birth you still have time to be philosophical. As for me, I'm un-Hitched from the scientists.

[@albertrogers8537]

+dianalee84 How very grown up of you! How many of your playmates came to agree with you later? I disapprove of those mothers, and add them to the list of offences done in the name of religion.

[@shelbzillathrilla]

@@michaellucas7961 learn to sit with mystery and uncertainty. Its okay to not know. Its exciting, if you like.

[@cthru22]

@@shelbzillathrilla ... my reply to dianalee84 regarding the Bible versus Science was written 4 years ago. Since that time, in fact just recently, the debate has ended for me: the Bible wins. I can say this with complete confidence due to the explanation about the origin of life from a scientist. Have you ever heard of James Tour? He is a synthetic organic chemist with credentials and achievements a mile long. If you are unfamiliar with him search KZbin for his videos on evolution and abiogenesis. That life could evolve spontaneously from chemical soup becomes absurd when examined by a competent, and more importantly, an honest scientist. The only real alternative is the Judeo-Christian Bible after ruling out the standard scientific arguments based on their mathematical impossibility. James Tour tells us that his colleagues will say one thing to their students and something else in private conversation with him. The answer to the question, does God exist, has been found. The answer is absolutely, positively, YES.

[@mikearcuri406]

Michael Lucas I came across your comment in this thread and wanted to respond. Although I am a scientist with two degrees and 181 hrs. of college credits, I do not subscribe to Big Bang cosmology or Darwinian evolution. These are both unproven theories that also violate basic laws of science. I can’t grasp how a random explosion in space could result in a perfectly ordered universe with complex life and consciousness, and that all of it is unguided and totally meaningless. Of course there are hard core atheist scientists (Hawking, Krauss, and others) who come up with mind numbing theories that only they can understand. They attempt to dazzle us with brilliance, but end up baffling us with bs. I’ve studied geology, genetics and evolution and believe, as many scientists do (including a number of atheist scientists), that Darwinian evolution is impossible. Completely refuted by the fossil record. Even Darwin himself realized that the fossil record should be replete with transition organisms...and it is not. Darwin hoped that scientists would some day find the missing links to substantiate his theory...but they never have. In fact, fossils from the Cambrian period reveal that many organisms appeared on earth suddenly and in advanced form and could not possibly have evolved. But atheists still cling to this peasant theory like a drowning man would cling to a capsized canoe in a hurricane. So I too after much thought and searching have adopted a Theistic world view. Admittedly I was raised Catholic, but after graduating high school and going to college, I became totally non-religious for at least two decades. But in college I was heavily indoctrinated with scientific dogma. Big Bang cosmology and Darwinian evolution were drilled into you and you were expected to embrace them without question. To dissent would subject you to ridicule. In conclusion, I hope that the path you are now on gives you purpose and peace of mind. You mention James Tour’s writings and they are excellent. But if you haven’t already, also check out Stephen Meyer and Hugh Ross, two respected scientists who make a great case for intelligent design. May God Bless

[@shaggz20022002]

I love Americans, but if they did get out and about as much as Christopher we may have a different perspective on the world.

[@glutinousmaximus]

I think you make a very important point. America in the last 20 or 25 years, has been intensely parochial; convinced of their own greatness and the rightness of all things American. (The 'World Series' is a good example!) America was great, and can be great again, but what is needed is a much larger view of what's going on in the world, and that other Nations matter, and need to be engaged.

[@puyrm]

As I've gotten "out and about" I've noticed while Americans may be parochial, many other westerners around the world, while they may be more informed about world events, have an astonishing disinclination to do anything about them. I think the latter is more dangerous. I fully concede the point however that Americans need a more global and less self-absorbed perspective.

[@adknerr]

Adam Mangler I completely agree with you on the main parochial point. It's spot on. Not quite sure you should old to the 'World Series' argument however, since it was named that before even World War 2.

[@revandk]

I love the guitar interludes. So mystical woooOoooO

[@oneshotki11]

I actually was what Hitchens said you dont do. I one day realized I dont believe this anymore.

[@petererik6534]

"i believe in a good god i believe my god is good i believe in a good god and his name is ronnie wood denis leary

[@johnstover9083]

Is that "the" Ronnie Wood from the Stones? I'd have to agree

[@patbrennan6572]

at least ron wood exists, and he dosen't demand we praise him.

[@mad1083]

I didn’t know about sadomasochism then although there was quite a lot of it at some of the boarding schools I was at. But that was for later. 😂

[@MrDaiseymay]

I was eleven when, during Bible class at school, I suddenly thought this is plain silly---as real as a Grimm's Fairytale---

[@mutedmakequiet]

THAT PISSES ME OFF, ACTUALLY.

[@frederickdahl2780]

Christopher Hitchens will always represent intellectual and moral courage. If there is a god who faces Hitchens in an afterlife, that God will stand in the shade of Hitchen's shadow.

[@ComradeRemus]

Bad editing. Large portions of the conversation are repeated to fit under different headings. Good interview, though.

[@albertrogers8537]

My wife pointed out the difference between knowledge and faith as the fact that she knew I was the father of our children, whereas I had faith that they are. So strictly speaking, Christopher knows that his daughter's mother is an animal, but "conceivably" her father might be the Holy Ghost, or the Father of Lies, although no such claim has ever been made.

[@albertrogers8537]

Phelan You have a good point. Neither God nor Jesus ever personally asserted his love for me. My wife did!

[@count23all]

why was the random stupid interlude title card put on the video? It seems completely unnecessary to do that every 15 seconds.

[@Jackthesmilingblack]

"I'll pray for you." That is so creepy.

[@chulonger]

who is the lady interviewing Hitchens ?

[@SatanicSeed]

All sounds very reasonable to me. I don't know what everybody is on about.

[@EmilRzayev-dg6vj]

If you’re religious and you have a normal brain listening to this man in five minutes you’ll become non religious

[@oxy-moron_]

I wish I hadn't been tricked and could have found out what I was. Instead I had to break out of my illusions at a young age after thinking every night that demons would come to kill and torture my family.

[@SleepyPenguin-8og]

Christopher hitchens passed away. Rip god.

[@ericpoe8515]

"you don't become an atheist so much as you find out that you are"

[@zeldaofarel]

@ECabot22 Well Hitchens was talking about actual buildings too. It's not really anti-EU. You have to see it from our perspective. We had the onslaught of the Tatars, the Turks, the Russians, the Austrians annexed us through family ties. Did anyone care? No. We suffered a lot, but when we asked for help for example against the Turks in the name of Christian Europe, they ignored us. We were always the ones licking their boots, bowing down. He's just a bit tired of it.

[@keiranbradley3222]

What's the deal with the breaks ?, it keeps being interrupted by idiotic religious conversation !!!. ;)