It has been very interesting to follow some of the blog buzz over the debate I am having with Christopher Hitchens. Speaking of that debate, the third installment is now posted here. Christian bloggers have been generally very happy about the whole thing. But the Christians who have been dubious about the whole enterprise can …
The Top Hat and the Sea Otters
We are in the backstretch now. In his next chapter, Christopher Hitchens gives us a brief historical survey of freethinkers throughout history who found themselves in trouble with the authorities. Men like Socrates, Spinoza and Thomas Paine are an inspiration to Hitchens, and he spends this chapter telling us why. But he also tells us …
Floating Indignation
In Chapter Seventeen, Hitchens tries to answer the question created by secularist atrocities. “Is it not true that secular and atheist regimes have committed crimes and massacres that are, in the scale of things, at least as bad if not worse?” (p. 229) There are two responses here. The first is a brief reply to …
Hitchens Gives Orwell the Raspberry
My review of Chapter Sixteen of Hitchens’ book will not be long at all. The title of this chapter is “Is Religion Child Abuse?” He acknowledges at the conclusion of the previous chapter that it is “one provocative question” (p. 215). It certainly is. One of the guiding assumptions of Hitchens’ zeal is that religion …
The Temple Fires are Extinguished
In his next chapter, Christopher Hitchens takes on religion as original sin. In this chapter, he demonstrates that he understands the Christian gospel better than many televangelists do, but at the same time, that understanding is suffused with the kind of hatred that brings a different kind of confusion. Hitchens says here that the behavior …
Only Wrong When the Buddhists Do It
At first glance, it may appear that the next chapter of Hitchens’ book would be another one where there is considerable agreement. It is entitled “There Is No ‘Eastern’ Solution,” and, of course, I completely agree with that, as far as it goes. In addition, I agree with Hitchens’ assessment of why many Westerners have …
Second Installment in the Hitchens/Wilson Debate
The second installment of the debate between Christopher Hitchens and me is now posted at the CT website here. If you hadn’t noticed, they also have a comment box available.
Stalin Has No God, Including Hitchens
I need to check and see if Congress declared this National Hitchens Week or something. His next chapter in God is Not Great asks the question: “Does Religion Make People Behave Better?” We have noted before that the question is framed improperly. It is like asking “Does Anything Going By the Name of Medical Treatment …
The Debate at CT
The beginning of the Hitchens/Wilson debate is now posted at Christianity Today and can be found here.
In the Name of Reason
In chaper twelve, Hitchens stops arguing fallaciously from the presumed origin of all religions, and argues briefly, but equally fallaciously, from the collapse of relgious movements. He makes this case on the basis of the collapse of one religious movement. “It can be equally useful and instructive to take a glimpse at the closing of …