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June 7, 2007
Town Hall: Christopher Hitchens
I’m about three chapters away from finishing my favorite book of the year so far: god is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Tonight, I was lucky enough to catch author Christopher Hitchens at Town Hall Seattle. The place was packed (which bodes well for us “antitheist” types) and Hitchens delivered thoughtful, sometimes ribald, always insightful commentary. Some of my favorite quotes:
On people who pine for a real heaven:
I have no desire to live in a celestial North Korea
On morality without scripture:
Religion gets its morality from us. [Human beings]
On the free pass given to religious leaders:
You can get away with anything in this country if you have the word “Reverend” in front of your name.
Throughout his speaking tour he has been posing this wager as well: Name a moral decision that can be made by a theist that can not also be made by an atheist. So far no one can come up with one.
It looks like this was the last stop on the tour, but you can catch up with the banter in his new book. I’ve read the polemics of Dawkins, Harris and Dennet and this one might actually be my favorite. I guess I’m a sucker for a guy who likes to smoke, drink and cuss while spreading the gospel.
Geoffrey sez:
In heaven there will be kimchi, synchronized gymnastics and 72 plump, white raisins.
Posted at June 12, 2007 9:18 AM
ROARSHOCK sez:
Dear God how I miss the Dr. Gene Scott
Posted at June 12, 2007 6:35 PM
Daverham sez:
Is he suggesting that there will be Kimchi in heaven? What’s wrong with that?
Posted at June 12, 2007 8:21 AM