Hitchens Brothers Agree To Disagree Over God

Journalist Christopher Hitchens is one of the world’s most famous atheists. His brother, Peter, insists that a civilized world must believe in God. The brothers have publicly argued over faith for years. But now that Christopher Hitchens has been diagnosed with cancer, the theoretical argument has become real.

Since Hitchens’ cancer diagnosis in June, he has received thousands of letters and e-mails, some from believers asserting that he’s getting what he deserves, more from people saying they’re praying for his recovery. Hitchens says he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring. But he is annoyed that some writers hope he’ll have a last-minute conversion to Christianity.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130526723

Nothing like a cancer diagnosis to put things in perspective.

from believers asserting that he’s getting what he deserves,

  Of course, we know they would use the same argument about the impending death of their mother, a sibling, or their child. 

Occam

I fail to see how Hitchens’ diagnosis has had any effect on his perspective.

Care to elaborate?

-RC

People like to think that impending death makes people turn to God.

People may like to think so, but when Hitchens says “If anything, my contempt for the false consolation of religion has increased since I became aware that I probably don’t have very long to live…”

I don’t think that is “putting things in perspective.” I think that is business as usual for Hitch.

-RC

Ruat Caelum - 13 October 2010 02:09 PM

People may like to think so, but when Hitchens says “If anything, my contempt for the false consolation of religion has increased since I became aware that I probably don’t have very long to live…”

I don’t think that is “putting things in perspective.” I think that is business as usual for Hitch.

-RC

Sounds like perspective to me!
One definition of perspective is ‘point of view’, Hitch has clearly expressed his point of view.

So you think that the word “put” has no meaning in this context?

I was just asking if skuld saw a change in Hitchens, because IMO this isn’t anything new for him.

I don’t think the terminal illness has had any effect, or “put things into point of view.”

-RC

Ruat Caelum - 13 October 2010 02:48 PM

So you think that the word “put” has no meaning in this context?

I was just asking if skuld saw a change in Hitchens, because IMO this isn’t anything new for him.

I don’t think the terminal illness has had any effect, or “put things into point of view.”

-RC

Yes, it’s a Hitch perspective…no change from his previous views.

So you’re admitting that it wasn’t “put” that way, but was already that way?

-RC

Ruat Caelum - 13 October 2010 02:52 PM

So you’re admitting that it wasn’t “put” that way, but was already that way?

-RC

Yeah,yeah!!   (uncle!!)

I don’t think that is “putting things in perspective.” I think that is business as usual for Hitch.

True.

I’m not trying to nitpick, I honestly thought maybe someone caught some undertones I missed or something.

I’m a big Hitch fan, and any signs of him changing his stripes are of big interest to me.

-RC

I barely pay attention to what the various “new-atheists” and other media hound anti-religionists do and say.  I know the basics of Hitchens’ views and just assumed people were invoking the old “There are no atheists in foxholes” crap.  *shrugs*

Ruat Caelum - 13 October 2010 03:13 PM

I’m not trying to nitpick, I honestly thought maybe someone caught some undertones I missed or something.

I’m a big Hitch fan, and any signs of him changing his stripes are of big interest to me.

-RC

No worries, I didn’t feel ‘nit-picked’!

Ruat Caelum - 13 October 2010 02:48 PM

So you think that the word “put” has no meaning in this context?

I was just asking if skuld saw a change in Hitchens, because IMO this isn’t anything new for him.

I don’t think the terminal illness has had any effect, or “put things into point of view.”

-RC

Oh yah, I only meant perspective in the sense that the brothers seem to have reached some sort of reconciliation.  Nothing to do with his views on religion or other existential matters.

Sorry for the confusion.  Guess I should have made that clearer.  My bad. 

All good mang.

-RC