Ironically Martin Luther would agree with Christopher Hitchens in relation to the indulgences. It was Luther who wanted reform as regards to this and inadvertently aided the quest for religious freedom in europe at that time. :) RIP Christopher, a great man, amazing writer and eloquent speaker who is sadly sadly missed :(
@hectichorse Even in the Latin phrase, the word heaven isn't mentioned: 'requiescant in pace' means precisely the same as 'rest in peace'. The fact that it was once used in a religious context doesn't mean it is a religious phrase, nor does it change its meaning.
@iHarveyLOL "Rest in peace" comes from the Latin phrase Requiescant in pace. This is where the acronym "R.I.P." comes from as well. It is a prayer to God that the soul of the deceased person will find peace in the next life.
Hitch was fully qualified to offer something most valuable and supportive to anyone who dare speak out against the sacred cow – that the facts matter, and with them the truth never needs defending.
@bromordra Well, yeah. I was kind of hoping for something a little more precise. Has he shown any improvement... has he gotten worse... I just haven't heard anything about him in 2 or 3 months.
@AncientAtheist Last I heard (8 Dec) he was still in Houston undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. I understand he is having more success with this than most as it is a very aggressive kind of cancer. He is still writing as can be seen on the internet.
@stromatolite775 Why thank you, kind sir! Hey, how great would that be if he was one of those "miracle" patients - only he was talking shit about god all the way through treatment? ;)
Thanks for posting. He wont be with us much longer alas, truly one of the great thinkers of our time. To misquote Douglas Adams, "So long, .. and thanks for all the debates".
i am so dense when it comes to Hitchen's repeated point he makes in many places about how Marx did not say religion was an opiate. He clearly does, he just elaborates on the point, but he states that it's an opiate. I can see pointing out the nuance and stating that it's not as simple as "religion is a drug" but Hitchen's here, and elsewhere says it's "not true" that Marx calls it that. I don't get it.
@BillKiernan I think the change in emphasis was the difference between it being used as a dulling sedative and being used as a healing medicine. But yes, he's made this point much more clearly in other talks.
@Philosification but the part that gets me is, Marx is explaining that criticism of religion basically extracts the part of it that is useful. it's only a healing medicine when it's been exposed, criticized, and dissected. otherwise, it remains an opiate. i still don't really see Hitchen's point when he tries to make it out like Marx calling it an opiate is an outright lie and fabrication.
@BillKiernan I don't think that opium was used then as the drug we understand today. That is the point of Hitchens remarks. In Marx's critique of Hegel's philosophy of Right, the meaning of opium is as a "healing" and NOT as a stimulant/analgesic/addictive substance.
@BillKiernan It's not you. It's Hitch. Take a look at pages 9-10 of "Why god is not Great" & read w/ video. Forget for now that Mr. Memory is less than precise in his quotation of the quote at issue. More befuddling is that the point he makes in the book and presumably on stage: that we the ignorant have always thought that Marx was "dismiss[ing]" religion as the opiate of the masses when, in fact, he took it quite seriously. I love the man but just don't get this.Too bad we can't ask him.
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Ironically Martin Luther would agree with Christopher Hitchens in relation to the indulgences. It was Luther who wanted reform as regards to this and inadvertently aided the quest for religious freedom in europe at that time. :) RIP Christopher, a great man, amazing writer and eloquent speaker who is sadly sadly missed :(
julestq1 3 days ago
Comment removed
julestq1 3 days ago
@hectichorse Even in the Latin phrase, the word heaven isn't mentioned: 'requiescant in pace' means precisely the same as 'rest in peace'. The fact that it was once used in a religious context doesn't mean it is a religious phrase, nor does it change its meaning.
Ewoutersen 1 month ago
Guys if your an Atheist your not meant to say RIP it means I hope you are resting in heaven, say something else like we will miss you
hectichorse 1 month ago
@hectichorse RIP = Rest In Peace
Are you retarded?
iHarveyLOL 1 month ago
@iHarveyLOL "Rest in peace" comes from the Latin phrase Requiescant in pace. This is where the acronym "R.I.P." comes from as well. It is a prayer to God that the soul of the deceased person will find peace in the next life.
Fuck you retard.
hectichorse 1 month ago
@hectichorse I disagree. It's origins are religious but now it's in common use by both theists and Atheists.
Hitchiest 1 month ago
Hitch was fully qualified to offer something most valuable and supportive to anyone who dare speak out against the sacred cow – that the facts matter, and with them the truth never needs defending.
SmotherTeresa 2 months ago 11
I admired Him when He was alive, I will worship Him from now on.
xegos 2 months ago 4
@xegos Admire but don't worship. Hitchens wouldn't want to be worshiped, though I understand the temptation.
david521598 2 months ago
RIP Hitch.
Your words led me to much of what I am today.
Xgya2000 2 months ago 3
Comment removed
Alliedtonone 2 months ago
Thank you Hitchens, for fearlessly taking the religious bull by the horns. Your an inspiration. RIP
SpecialPioneerSmerf 2 months ago 19
a great man just left us...we thank you!
Steadno 2 months ago 3
RIP Mr. Hitchens, the bell curve of the world just took two big steps in the wrong direction.
TheFedupcitizen 2 months ago
Great stuff, as always. How has he been doing lately?
AncientAtheist 2 months ago
@AncientAtheist He's dying. But, then, so are you.
bromordra 2 months ago
@bromordra Well, yeah. I was kind of hoping for something a little more precise. Has he shown any improvement... has he gotten worse... I just haven't heard anything about him in 2 or 3 months.
AncientAtheist 2 months ago
@AncientAtheist Last I heard (8 Dec) he was still in Houston undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. I understand he is having more success with this than most as it is a very aggressive kind of cancer. He is still writing as can be seen on the internet.
stromatolite775 2 months ago
@stromatolite775 Why thank you, kind sir! Hey, how great would that be if he was one of those "miracle" patients - only he was talking shit about god all the way through treatment? ;)
AncientAtheist 2 months ago
Thanks for posting. He wont be with us much longer alas, truly one of the great thinkers of our time. To misquote Douglas Adams, "So long, .. and thanks for all the debates".
bonnie43uk 2 months ago
i am so dense when it comes to Hitchen's repeated point he makes in many places about how Marx did not say religion was an opiate. He clearly does, he just elaborates on the point, but he states that it's an opiate. I can see pointing out the nuance and stating that it's not as simple as "religion is a drug" but Hitchen's here, and elsewhere says it's "not true" that Marx calls it that. I don't get it.
BillKiernan 2 months ago
@BillKiernan I think the change in emphasis was the difference between it being used as a dulling sedative and being used as a healing medicine. But yes, he's made this point much more clearly in other talks.
Philosification 2 months ago
@Philosification but the part that gets me is, Marx is explaining that criticism of religion basically extracts the part of it that is useful. it's only a healing medicine when it's been exposed, criticized, and dissected. otherwise, it remains an opiate. i still don't really see Hitchen's point when he tries to make it out like Marx calling it an opiate is an outright lie and fabrication.
BillKiernan 2 months ago
@BillKiernan Work on your apostrophes, bro.
Skindoggiedog 2 months ago
@BillKiernan I don't think that opium was used then as the drug we understand today. That is the point of Hitchens remarks. In Marx's critique of Hegel's philosophy of Right, the meaning of opium is as a "healing" and NOT as a stimulant/analgesic/addictive substance.
prossihalty 2 months ago
@BillKiernan It's not you. It's Hitch. Take a look at pages 9-10 of "Why god is not Great" & read w/ video. Forget for now that Mr. Memory is less than precise in his quotation of the quote at issue. More befuddling is that the point he makes in the book and presumably on stage: that we the ignorant have always thought that Marx was "dismiss[ing]" religion as the opiate of the masses when, in fact, he took it quite seriously. I love the man but just don't get this.Too bad we can't ask him.
Jakelakeable 2 months ago