At least this guy is still very brave when it comes to not fearing death OR Hell. I hope to become as courageous by the later parts of my life.
Prayer won’t work, so all that matters now is if he is able to beat this cancer. Though, I know this isn’t always the case, since smokers are most likely to die of cancer anyway. It is a sad thing, and I’m sure that the day he dies it will be a great loss, with one less intelligent human being in this world existing.
Thank you for what you’ve done for us all, Mr. Hitchens! Slaughter this cancer.
Obviously the snide little pricks predicting the deathbed conversion continue to fail to understand what it means to lack a belief. I haven’t yet read Hitchen’s memoir so I’m not sure how religious his upbrining was but I know I’ve been an athiest my whole life. My parents were by no means strident athiests who raised me to ridicule religion, they just collectively agreed to not lie to me or tell me anything to be the truth without a strong certainty that it was. Therefore they never told me Santa Claus was real and they were unconvinced of the veracity of any one religion over the other so they never indoctrinated me. I’m in the military and it bugs the shit out of me to hear people say “no athiests in foxholes,” my job may not be in a direct combat role but I still fail to see how getting shot at would make me spontaneously think Santa Claus was real. Unless of course I was near an explosion that did physical damage to my brain causing some kind of delusion, which is why I agree with Hitchens that any deathbed conversion of a rational athiest is most easily explained by delusion. I’ve never had cancer either but I really can’t see how it could suddenly make me unlearn the irrational nature of religious belief.
I’ve never understood the “atheists in foxholes” argument, either. Like the rest of the religion, it is founded on fear.
The basic tenant of Christianity is a protection racket. It offers to save you from a Hell it alone provides, as long as you follow their doctrine and pay for it. Fear is all they really serve up.
Aug 07, 2010 @ 00:18:06
At least this guy is still very brave when it comes to not fearing death OR Hell. I hope to become as courageous by the later parts of my life.
Prayer won’t work, so all that matters now is if he is able to beat this cancer. Though, I know this isn’t always the case, since smokers are most likely to die of cancer anyway. It is a sad thing, and I’m sure that the day he dies it will be a great loss, with one less intelligent human being in this world existing.
Thank you for what you’ve done for us all, Mr. Hitchens! Slaughter this cancer.
Aug 07, 2010 @ 01:26:44
Obviously the snide little pricks predicting the deathbed conversion continue to fail to understand what it means to lack a belief. I haven’t yet read Hitchen’s memoir so I’m not sure how religious his upbrining was but I know I’ve been an athiest my whole life. My parents were by no means strident athiests who raised me to ridicule religion, they just collectively agreed to not lie to me or tell me anything to be the truth without a strong certainty that it was. Therefore they never told me Santa Claus was real and they were unconvinced of the veracity of any one religion over the other so they never indoctrinated me. I’m in the military and it bugs the shit out of me to hear people say “no athiests in foxholes,” my job may not be in a direct combat role but I still fail to see how getting shot at would make me spontaneously think Santa Claus was real. Unless of course I was near an explosion that did physical damage to my brain causing some kind of delusion, which is why I agree with Hitchens that any deathbed conversion of a rational athiest is most easily explained by delusion. I’ve never had cancer either but I really can’t see how it could suddenly make me unlearn the irrational nature of religious belief.
Aug 07, 2010 @ 15:10:44
One of the bravest men there is, I really couldn’t thank him enough for the influence he’s had on me.
Aug 08, 2010 @ 20:19:00
What An Inspiration!
@whitey
If you had, had a religious upbringing and had then seen the light, you would hate religion a terrible much.
In your everyday life, you would walk around and everything you see will simply lead you to thinking more about the plaque surrounding us…
Aug 09, 2010 @ 02:03:13
The plaque surrounding us? Try brushing your teeth.
So neutered views is trying to go for an image change eh?
Aug 09, 2010 @ 15:49:42
@Whitey
I’ve never understood the “atheists in foxholes” argument, either. Like the rest of the religion, it is founded on fear.
The basic tenant of Christianity is a protection racket. It offers to save you from a Hell it alone provides, as long as you follow their doctrine and pay for it. Fear is all they really serve up.