Hitchens v Wilson - Christianity vs Athiesm (5 of 11)

[2010paultron]

Does anyone have any suggestions for authors or books when it comes to understanding why humans created the gods and worshiped them and how it kinda sprung up in almost all societies. there must be a study or some theories on it. i gues i could google it but id like to hear some from community.

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, Ous114.

[Cougar139tweak]

....."What if I was an amalekite....that's what reletivism is........." Thats it Hitch!.... Amazing how Christians think Atheist = Nihilist, when in fact he is proving he is a Religious version of a Nihilist by using "God" as a excuse for evil doings, God said it was okay....yipes.....keep this guy away from the shrooms....

[gthumb123]

Question for atheists; the comments here make me feel that atheists think they are intelligent and everyone else is less so if not just downright dumb. Please explain why there are so many extremely intelligent people who are christian. Why are there many extremely intelligent people, deists and theists. Does it not give you some pause when you are confronted by these realities. Im happy to provide a list of such people eg Anthony Flew was no intellectual slouch or CS Lewis etc etc etc.

[M3t4lManiac]

@gthumb123 Because of their mentality, they don't care to accept a natural world view and nothing would be more reasonable, so I'd guess they don't even consider it or they fail to produce sound realisations. Religion blinds people, even the intelligent ones.

[Cougar139tweak]

@gthumb123 I'll add one more to your list, Ken Miller...a bit of a hero to me. However I also realize that Newton believed in alchemy. It's not about not being unsure(atheism), it's about being SURE of something THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to be sure of (religion). I also realize that people make apologies for odd quotations from their religious texts. I used to do this as well (former Southern Baptist) Also choosing not to question a belief is automatic for a "believer in faith" including scientists

[Cougar139tweak]

@gthumb123 Most atheists are begging for a good argument for religion as most answers aren't answers at all. Most are arguments from personal experience. Also their are so many dead Gods it soon appears odvious to anyone not internalising this struggle that these are all just made up myths, especially after you read the texts. If God truly inspired these we should find that they are perfect and at the very least scientifically accurate, but they aren't, not even close.

[southsydney]

why the hell would god send his only son to the middle fucking east. a place full of barbarous idiots instead of say China or India where there was maths, science and medicine.

[Cougar139tweak]

@southsydney Actually God sent himself to die for himself in order to be a blood sacrifice to himself to forgive us for the sins he knew we would commit ....*deep breath*....before hand knowing he would sit beside himself in the judgement of all but before he could do that he would have to rise from the dead as he was of flesh but was God? what? then his followers demanded they see him in order to believe it..and people believe this second hand story even though stoys differ, makes perfect sense

[Redcaster916]

Hitchens is the smartest man alive, this guy is going to open the eyes of the world.

[Makotoichio]

Sweet. Murder is okay in some respects!... WTF Christians!?

[BruNoLoCc]

Is it just me, or does Hitchens talk for 13, 14 minutes and Wilson speaks for 2? LOL! That guy loves the sound of his own voice.

[DavidL999]

I'd have a lot more time for Christians if they weren't so full of shit!

[WeeBushy]

Hulkbacker39, I'll answer it for you so. It evolved.

[hulkbacker39]

hitchens hasn't even addressed the questions posted by Wilson. Where is his answer to the questions of origins for truth and morality? He just says its there, but doesn't account for its origin.

[LewisPearson]

"Where is his answer to the questions of origins for truth and morality?"

Truth doesnt require an origin... It is what it is and always will be and always has been. Our perception of what is true is subjective. Morality is subjective, so also doesn't require an origin. Slavery was morally good through the eyes of the slave owner, but morally bad through our eyes. Morality evolved. The question is making several false assumptions, I think thats why hitchens ignored it.

[TheRealEricLester]

when that fucker started talking about christianity freeing poeple from witch craft i nearly fell out of my chair

[MrsPhineasT]

What amazes me about any devotee is the selective respect for unverified and unverifiable assertions.

Christians condemn Muslims, Sunnis condemn shiites, they all laugh at Scientologists and none of them ever EVER EVER see the absurdity of their own ridiculous and unconscionable positions. How do they sleep? How can they claim such certainty? It is insane to believe without evidence.

HA! First time I've heard that - Christians take credit for the enlightenment. Gallileo just roled over!

[BruNoLoCc]

The Bible is the proof for the God of Christianity, and these other false religions are inconsistent.

[sondano]

@BruNoLoCc the Bible is only proof that ancient Jews were really lousy writers. Gee a 8 year old has better writing skills today than those bronze age morons

[Cougar139tweak]

@BruNoLoCc Hilarious, good one!!!....... You're being sarcastic right?????

[voskresene]

Up to this point, this is a weak debate.There is too much discussion about paticulars (i.e. killing amalakites) and no discussion about universals (on what basis can we say that is right or wrong). Every time they start to get on something significant, the discussion moves to something else.The only thing somewhat redeeming here is Wilson gives a context to the "swine account" that Hitchens misrepresented.Since this debate is so rhetorically dominate with no little substance, I go with Hitchens

[politirel]

I can't take these religious people

[primzahl13]

Wow! 1:30 ! I'm stunned: a christian showing his true face.

Two thumbs up Mr.Hitchens, for producing some results.

[afmartinez89]

good comeback though... and with a point.

[anetchi]

Hitchens is a saint for being such a gracious and sensible advocate for atheism! In a world that is largely infected by idiotic religious beliefs.

[mooseflier]

@anetchi "Hitchens is a saint"

OH the irony! Love it Anetchi