Christopher Hitchens on Australian Q&A panel, October 1st 2009 1 of 7

[firemarshall007]

I did like that Muslim guy.

[antoroma009304]

incredible logic from an incredible individual. He should be better known in every corner of the world.

[uberhikari]

If God is omnibenevolent and completely moral, then we ought to question why he allows this to happen. And if through our own reason and rationality we find that the existence of natural disasters is anathema to an omnibenevolent and completely moral God, then we ought to either rethink the traits that God possesses or doubt his existence. In either case, then key question would not be how humans ought to respond to this situation, as Walid suggests, it would be to question God.

[uberhikari]

Out of the religious people on the panel, Walid seems to make the most sense, and yet his position seems rather untenable. It's not enough to concede that God allows horrible things to happen in the world, even to people who may not deserve it, and yet insist that the question is how humans ought to respond to these horrendous circumstances. Walid's position is foregrounded in a logical fallacy.

[krackersdave]

That Walid bloke has a nice voice - but he sure as hell waffles and bullshits --- on and on and on and on. By the time he gets to the point you've forgotten what the bloody question was...

[paginipro]

god is logic I'm the next chris hitchens theoreticalphysics.webs.com

[GarchompNation]

@paginipro

You don't deserve to be called the next Christopher Hitchens.

[paginipro]

@GarchompNation because I'm better than Christopher Hitchens,he didn't have the right answers ,I do god is logic as in the law of the universe

[GarchompNation]

@paginipro

You are disgusting, there is no God.

[paginipro]

@GarchompNation you are stupid ,there is god it's called logic

[GarchompNation]

@paginipro

Do you know what God is? It is an all mighty being... That is not logic you fool.

[paginipro]

@GarchompNation you don't know what god is ,the law of the universe is god and that god is logic

[paginipro]

@GarchompNation there is a god and it's logic ma nigger

[GarchompNation]

@paginipro

Fuck off you racist. So Logic can make things out of nothing appear? Logic can kill people and raise them from the dead? Fuck up and get an education.

[paginipro]

@GarchompNation how can I be a racist if I believe in logic,now getting back to your question logic making things do this and that , to me logic is the link between existence and nonexistence through right and wrong ,I know it sounds deeo ,but it's right

[GarchompNation]

@paginipro

How can I be racist if I believe in logic? You are kidding. You called me a nigger, maybe is racist? Idiot.

[paginipro]

@GarchompNation is eddie murphy a rasist for using nigger a lot?stay with logic nigger

[GarchompNation]

@paginipro

Eddie Murphy is racist, he is discriminating against the people of his own race with that word you fucking fool. Use your stupid head you piece of shit.

[amarssadal]

@QuestionForAtheists is that the best reason you could cook up for god's creation? for children's sake.

[simondrift]

'God is meaning beyond meaning' - what's that meant to mean?

[morningstomper123]

@simondrift Superstitious waffle. Pure 'woo'. Doesn't mean shit.

[kly45]

@simondrift It's meant to mean that god is beyond meaning to mean

[simondrift]

@kly45 What's 'beyond meaning to mean' mean?

[Exlemic]

hitchens makes my penis tingle.. r this wrong?

[cOrAluvsthee]

@Exlemic It's a very normal reaction to immense mind fucking by Hitchens.

[kranskyman]

I don't know what it is but the guy at 5:59 cracked me up.

[UnitedKingdomify]

That woman does know there is a microphone near the glass she keeps tapping, right? >.>

[BunnyMan456]

8:00 - 9:00

is there like a peasant trying to chisel through his shackles? Is someone having some dinner? What is that noise?

[teufeldritch]

I love Hitch but I don't think he answered the first question. He basically just repeated it & agreed with the questioner.

[blakstar101]

is it just me or did the muslim guy and the catholic lady just change the subject and say they weren't interested in god creating disasters after hitchens destroyed them?

[bboyloco3]

i hate when religious people give credit to "god" like let say when a boy is about do die because he had a snake bite and then he was given anti venous snake medicine and survived, then all of a sudden the parents are all like oh "god" saved my boys life but then the doctors who really save the boys life doesn't get the credit he/she deserve, and i hate that so much. i mean why not thank god for every time someone dies? instead of when someone lives?

[c1o2d3y]

@bboyloco3

IMO the worse type of persons are the one's who were in a tragic event where several other people died, but for some reason they can go out and say bullshit like "I had a guardian angle, therefore, god has a greater purpose for me" and just totally spit on the graves of the other forgotten members of their party, by implying there lives were meaningless

[bboyloco3]

@c1o2d3y yup like that i hate that i makes me wanna slap sense into there head its like lets say when a sports team wins they thank "god" but when they lose they dont say dammit "god" you made us lose i really hate that.

[drandersw]

Why are these videos vandalized with text?

Other videos on this channel have been destroyed with disgusting sound intros. These are destroyed with text.

[farerse]

@drandersw close your eyes and just listen then.

[MisleadGuidance]

Is it just me but is Hitchens the super hero of Atheism. I'm officially labelling him a BAMF

[mgfaxlad]

@MisleadGuidance Hitch is indeed the Baddest BAMF. He owns everyone he debates with using rational, factual arguments. He's a BAMF for sure.

[paramount8000]

@SakuraSymphony He volunteered to have himself waterboarded to prove it was torture. He did this because he opposed its use on terrorist suspects. How much more of a humanitarian could he be?

I don't imagine anyone should be smiling in a debate anyway. You will look like a clown.

He doesn't have a gospel, he wants people to guard themselves against it. He definitely doesn't say you're going to hell if you don't listen to him.

[danielrep]

To start with, you seem to have ANY CLUE about British "dryness" and particular humour. Secondly, you are blind: The first thing Hitchens does when that fine Kurd panelist homages him... is to Smile and assent.

[mikeyman211]

I love that Hitchens is the only one who isn't pandering about anything. Well him and the host.

[jkun17]

I feel sorry for the priest. I think he knows he's arguing from an impossible position.

[nr900]

is it just me or is that wee islamic fella incredibly cute?

[tomclunie]

Love the body language between Hitchens and the priest.

[druidee1]

great opening question!!

[spinozareagan]

Hitch just pwned the chair he was sitting in. Heh, classic pwnage session by Hitchens and his infallibly logic that I am going to adopt, heh.

[xentech]

@spinozareagan heh? who says heh? lololol

[mikeyman211]

Hitchens looks too big for his seat. Like he doesn't fit.

[tonyrosam]

@mikeyman211 its because he is bigger in intellect and girth than the rest. He is so overpowering that they pose no challenge to him (christopher Hitchens).

[Nades129]

around 6:58 you'll see that evil Hitchens grin saying; "holy bugger this guy's full of crock"

[PsuedoSenator]

I've never spent an hour in a more useful way and these great panelists certainly used the time efficiently and packed a ton of discussion in.

[Cambodia69]

Am I the only one who notices the distracting noise that Anne is making with her rings against her glass?

[TAz69x]

LOL, that first guy looked like "It's Pat"

[seanearnest]

There is no such thing as a "Catholic intellectual".

[d00df00d]

What about Ken Miller, the star witness for the prosecution in Kitzmiller et al. vs. Dover Area School District, 2005? He singlehandedly dismantled intelligent design, is an outspoken opponent of religion in science, and is also a devout Catholic.

There are plenty of people who are valid intellectuals and secularists, who also have faith. For them, religion is essentially the kool-aid they drink in the privacy of their own homes.

[Makonu2]

Lol, I thought that was funny when I heard it too. =P

[Destroe1]

@seanearnest Amen to that.

[Seanze329]

@seanearnest That's exactly what I thought when I heard that, ha ha. Oh hey your name is Sean too. :P

[truthslap]

@seanearnest I'm not religious, but what you said is easily one of the most historically ignorant comments I've ever seen.

[firemarshall007]

@seanearnest I was just going to comment that.

[BlueNile123]

Sleepcity--I fully agree. In specific, Mr. Aly's response removes God from the picture and thus weakens his own (theist?) position and reinforces Hitchens' atheistic one. By what other measure would a theist evaluate such a devastating event that delivers so much suffering to so many? It's wholly insincere to expect a faithful person to disregard God's will in such matters. Aly's words could've been said by Hitchens ("Who am I in response to this?") w/o invocation of God.

[danielrep]

Ahh,the Kurdish flag!!!! The opening could not have been better, thanks to that great panelist, as Hitchens said. So moving...

[JohnR22926]

IMO, if god exists, his primary directive is non-interference. He grants us free will and he does NOT interfere. Ever. This explains why such suffering is allowed, but it also means there's no such thing as miracles. As Einstein said, God does not play dice with the universe. Of course, god might not exist at all.

[Emamnuelguzman86]

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then He is not omnipotent. Is He able, but not willing? Then He is malevolent. Is He both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is He neither able nor willing? Then why call Him God?

"Epicurus"

[JohnR22926]

emam: IMO he is able but not willing. But...I do not therefore conclude he is malevolent. IMO god created a universe and grants us free will; what would be the point if god interfered once in a while to prevent incidents of suffering. In fact, where would god draw the line? Would a little suffering be OK? How would he define "a little"?

I'll also offer the thought that what we view as unimaginable suffering may look like something else in god's eyes.

[Emamnuelguzman86]

"Unimaginable suffering may look like something else in gods eyes" Did his son not supposedly die on a cross so the pain would not be unimaginable. Some actually do believe that god interferes once in a while. If the afterlife or the other realm of reality is indeed much better than this one then why even bring us here in the first place, if god is all powerful than why is the universe imperfect, its this imperfection that allows life.

[JohnR22926]

emmanuel: As I said in my first post, I don't believe god interferes. Not ever. That means there is no such thing as a miracle and it also means Jesus was not the son of god. If this is correct, it explains why god allows so much suffering and why the universe is imperfect.

But, then again, who can say? Maybe the suffering and imperfection is part of god's plan and that we just can't grasp his larger plan.

[Emamnuelguzman86]

Johnr22926, if suffering and imperfection is part of gods plan then why call him god.

The reason the universe is imperfect is because we are all a glitch in the great machine we call the universe, we are something that went wrong instead of right, The universe could possibly be a black hole itself. Why would a perfect god's creation be imperfect that means he or she does not care enough. As for life after death and reward or punishment with heaven or hell is a political human made idea.

[JohnR22926]

emamnuel: I don't accept any theory that says "god" has to provide us with perfect lives free of suffering. And I think that "god" is the appropriate term for the being that created the universe.

Sadly, your comment that "we" (I assume humans) are an example of something that went wrong in the universe is the most vile sort of life-hating nihilism; it's the way radical environmentalists think...the type who don't REALLY want to save the planet...just to destroy what man has built.

[4f7u6c1k]

What does god do all day then? Cross words? Sudoku? must be bloody boring.

[JasonERF]

Hitch is fantastic.

[sleepcity]

I love how nobody responded to Hitchens' questions. It was just "well, I don't find that very interesting" and "the point is not why the suffering happens but what we can do about it" etc.

Nobody seems to be aware (or care) that there's a gaping hole in their life's philosophy introduced by the problem of theodicy.

Hitch is brilliant as usual.

[whisfoxvictor]

God, sodomy and the lash?!! sounds like a hell of a party!

[ragexgod]

*L* kinky.

[thesethreekings]

Why do religious people look a bit like they're on morphine when they're talking about God and all that claptrap?

[JohnR22926]

theseth: good question. I've often wondered the same thing about glaze-eyed Obama supporters.

[Brantinger]

U stop wondering when u come out of the reeducation camp again with your very own thrill going up your leg. And then who knows... there could be a great MSNBC career waiting for you.... So lets thank the great leader for the stimulus!

[mrcarlos15]

You must be from the South. You live in America.

[Brantinger]

Nope Northern-Germany bordering to Denmark, Scandinavia.

[BARCACROSSESTHEALPS]

Thanks for posting. I can't get enough Hitchens into my diet....

[CarloTheGambino]

There's nothing worse than theologians - flapping around in a sea of ignorance, unable to comprehend the world around them.

Someone said once - can't remember who it was - that theology is like looking in a coal cellar at night for a black cat that isn't there. Sums it up perfectly I think - a life spent study theology is a life wasted.

[GermanStraight1]

well ...

I thought I heard them all , but you sir made a fool out of me ...

"looking for a black cat in a coal cellar at night " ... loool ...

brilliant ... just brilliant ... good job mate !!!

May I borrow that line , please ?

Brgds

GSO

[FeegieDeuceCrew]

its not mine dude, someone said it once upon a time - someone great and good, david hulme possibly - feel free to use it, it aint mine :)

[GermanStraight1]

well ...

anyway , thank you sir for using it in this context , still brilliant !

ta mate ... see ya´

Brgds

GSO

[CarloTheGambino]

"Catholic intellectual"

That cracks me up, every time.

[CarloTheGambino]

If I watch this Australian show all the way through - am I going to be confronted with black and white minstrels at any point? I know that sort of thing is still popular down under.

[San1tarium]

If I go to the UK, am I risking being knifed by every citizen? I know you guys love your knives.

Oh sorry I thought it was mass generalization day.

[CarloTheGambino]

Hmmm, your generalization doesn't really work though does it? Nice try though. I dunno what comment of mine you;re replying to, but I think you done gone fucked up.

[darthbandon1]

I don't like the way the Islamic guy speaks. He seems to be to be the kind of buy who speaks with a silver tongue with the unbelievers by day, while preaching jihad by night.

[yington]

Why is his voice nice ?

[paulwilfridhunt]

Whats your gig Yington and why do you want to know?

about this Chrstopher the artist who steals the show

Look Pal all I said is that his speaking voice has that nice British tone

and thats how he nails you but its not me alone

Most people know he has a great voice

I don't listen to him but that is my choice

I oppose him which is not against the law

but I oppose him because he maligns my God whom I adore

I will defend God's name

from Chris the heathen who causes shame

[Mordegast]

I am a poet and I will defend poetry against religion.

[yington]

Im sorry but you might rhyme, but what you rhyme is the same illogical crap.

Firstly what is a "nice British tone"? I am British so maybe don't hear what you do.

Secondly, he maligns you God? What God? Where is your God? The God that we see in the Bible? The Torah? The Koran? The Hindu books? The Bhuddist books? The Scientology books? The Mormon books? The Quaker books?

Unfortunately, religion is a variety of human fairy tales, told in a grown up vindictive way.

Wake up you child.

[soursourapples]

most people here are attacking the religion and not the man. His personal views were very coherent and Christopher Hitchens even applauded his statements. Lets see what he has to say in later videos though.

[drongovids]

you're wrong wrong wrong

[soursourapples]

you seem to disagree with three of my statements. please elaborate.

[Gnomefro]

The Muslim guy is hopelessly confused. Among the key people superstitious people who attributed all sorts of natural events to the will of Allah is the founder of his own barbaric superstition - Mohammed.

For example, Allah is responsible for droughts, as it is claimed that he is responsible for creating rain. (Surat ar-Room, 48, Surat az-Zukhruf, 11) Who'd suspect desert nomads to invent a rain god?

It also includes the consequences of rape by muslims(Sahih muslim 3371 and other places.)

[not4resale]

ZOMG the guy in the audience goes to my uni!!! I used to have a politics class with him! The guy in the brown with the big hat!

[FaganRoberts]

For Hitchens, he shall make easy work of the others.

[revjimbob]

I have no idea what the Islamic guy was talking about, and the catholic woman at the end wasn't much better. Fucking hell - I assume Hitchens wipes the floor with this mob later if the level of intellect and argument so far is any measure.

[aus296]

That is too bad, and your loss. I found, quite to the contrary of most religious mouths' drivel , his answer to be coherent, humble, and sincere. BTW, Hitchens is his best when he is challenged by decent opposition, not when he is able to merely wipe the floor with his peers... also, assume little.

[revjimbob]

I watched the rest of these vids, and my assumption was correct. Have you watched them?

I don't recall what the Muslim said, but it seemed the usual theist sophism. No mention of his religion's built in violence, homophobia, bigotry, misogyny, belief in genies and flying fucking horses etc. Hardly recognised it.

[nyomythus]

Except for Hitchens, what so odd or sad is that everyone is so ill-prepared to speak on this topic, I mean just stunningly ill-prepared.

[retepvosnul]

What did you expect ? If most people would really start thinking about there religion, how would such a dogma survive ?

[lailum]

why the hell are they discussing natural disaster and religion when they clearly know global warming is the cause of climate change???

[sam51092]

There's no better question to make religious people um and ah, fumble around, back themselves into a corner, and try to change the subject.

[enors412]

THANK YOU FOR POSTING :)

[IcyIconoclast]

why cant we have any like this in the states, at least something so well known?

[jeremyshambles]

if youve gone to public school here in america you know the extent of most of the population's attn span. they need explosions, loud yelling, and quick sound bytes followed by shapes and colors to keep their attn. "we dont live in the most sophisticated of times" Morrissey,.......cheers

[GrantAustin1985]

Hitch is my hero man

[lucidl]

why are they even talking about god and natural disasters? we shouldnt need to now

[shexmus]

Aussie news was all about the earthquakes and tsunami in Samoa and Indonesia on that day. The question was inevitable.

[NewtonsStudent]

"If you claim to know the mind of god you can't mind looking foolish...which obviously you don't" ouch...and in his opening statement.

[MisappliedRhetoric]

(chuckle)

Yeah, look at the guy's face face when Hitchens says that.

He's pissed.

A look of vivid resentment, brief and subtle but unmistakable, flashes across his face.

[XrAiDeN]

Looking forward to an hour of The Hitch while playing World of Warcraft! Yes I'm a nerd all the way.

[violetninja]

LOL, I do the same thing with fallout 3.

Glad to see i'm not alone :D

[XrAiDeN]

Haha cool, yeah I do it all the time, I can´t play a game without listening to a lecture or discussion. Hitchens is my favourite!

[gtalcstories]

same

[liquidhead]

that's the best game for lectures, although most open world games are good too.

great - we got a common theme going on this bitch!

[Cotdail]

I think we're off to a racing start, ladies & gentlemen.

[MEpianist]

I was just getting restless for some more Hitch footage - seen it all :)

[publicanimal9]

'Catholic Intellectual' what a perfect example of an oxymoron! lol

[jamer01]

I thought exactly the same thing!

[MisappliedRhetoric]

Damn you, I was just about to hit "post comment" when I glanced down and noticed you'd stolen my remark :-)

[publicanimal9]

haha sorry bro ;-)

[cabree76]

what a way to open up the panel. Yah Hitchens!

[joh3]

What the hell is Hitchens doing in this ridiculous and inane conversation? I would think that he would be sick and tired of this kind of nonsense and not even want to bother and to get on to other things.

[Hirnlego999]

Hopefully a few more seeds of doubt, a couple more books sold etc.. :)

[Cafeeine]

Its television, and it gets viewership. All in all, I'd rather have someone like Hitchens on it rather than not.

[klalkity]

He's a pro. It's a living. He loves to write; he loves to speak. If he can go to every Christian book tour event that will have him then what can't he do? He's amazing!