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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 16, 2011 at 5:44 pm
(This post was last modified: December 16, 2011 at 5:47 pm by Oldandeasilyconfused.)
I've been reading the obituaries and watching some of the videos.
I agree that the man had a sharp mind,was articulate and witty.Also a skilled debater and polemicist. (I read 'God Is Not Great ' and was underwhelmed)
However we part company at what I see as his simplistic and bigoted characterisation of religion. I am not a religious apologist, BUT I do demand evidence of claims. Hitchens provides no proof for his generalisations,only opinions.
OF COURSE I'm sorry he's gone,there was much to admire in the man.He attacked humbug and got many people who would not normally have done so to start asking questions at least.
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 16, 2011 at 5:44 pm
(December 16, 2011 at 5:04 pm)Rokcet Scientist Wrote: (December 16, 2011 at 10:27 am)Stimbo Wrote: There are three things it is impossible for humans to know.
Don't tell 'm!
Actually I'm waiting for someone to ask me what they are...
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 17, 2011 at 1:42 am
(December 16, 2011 at 5:44 pm)Stimbo Wrote: (December 16, 2011 at 5:04 pm)Rokcet Scientist Wrote: (December 16, 2011 at 10:27 am)Stimbo Wrote: There are three things it is impossible for humans to know.
Don't tell 'm!
Actually I'm waiting for someone to ask me what they are...
OK then:
how are three things singular?
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 17, 2011 at 2:43 am
His response to religion seemed appropriate to me. I suppose it could be called bigoted, I don't think that would have changed his mind. As far as his opinions, what else can there be when dealing with unsubstantiated nonsense? Opinion is all that is available for discussion.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 17, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Does anyone know if this quote comes from one of his books? "Human decency is not derived from religion. It precedes it."
― Christopher Eric Hitchens (13 April 1949 – 15 December 2011
I'm asking this because I have been thinking a lot about morality and religion. From my 30 years as a fundie I know their perspective. To them you aren't moral if you aren't religious because morality comes from religion. I'd like to know the atheists perspective. It looks like morality has evolved over time through reason. Religion only enforces a set of moral beliefs. It takes society to push religions to reinterpret their scriptures to reflect what has become common morality. Religion always seems to enforce what was common morality in the recent past.
I have studied the Bible and the theology behind Christianity for many years. I have been to many churches. I have walked the depth and the breadth of the religion and, as a result of this, I have a lot of bullshit to scrape off the bottom of my shoes. ~Ziploc Surprise
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 17, 2011 at 2:31 pm
(December 17, 2011 at 1:42 am)Rokcet Scientist Wrote:
OK then:
how are three things singular?
How should I know?
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 17, 2011 at 6:55 pm
(December 17, 2011 at 2:31 pm)Stimbo Wrote: (December 17, 2011 at 1:42 am)Rokcet Scientist Wrote:
OK then:
how are three things singular?
How should I know?
You tell me: you wrote it.
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 17, 2011 at 7:36 pm
No, I shared it. If these things are impossible to know, what makes you think I know any more than you? Anyway, what started out as a bit of fun has gone way past boring. Remind me never to try and joke with you guys again.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 17, 2011 at 8:03 pm
For what it's worth, I suspect there are more than a few of us who have remained silent and chuckling to ourselves because we got the joke.
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RE: Christopher Hitchens R.I.P.
December 20, 2011 at 5:47 pm
World at a time when the rise of dogmas, a great loss.
We remember him with respect.
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