8 Christopher Hitchens vs. Al Sharpton

[braveheart1779]

Sharpton is an old fool! America is still influenced by religion, more than any other western country.. Christians are an influential voting group, politicians are constantly pandering to them.

Not only do we incarcerate more people, we also have an epidemic use of prescription drugs.

Religion won't do shit to save this country!

[BluePlaca73]

Man, Sharpton is totally out of his league here.  He is no match for Hitchens.

[StatueOfMike]

Al Sharpton still thinks Hitchens is saying atheists do no wrong. Where's his pink slowpoke tail?

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, operationmongoose.

[Tommyr]

3:57 for the win! Hitch-slapped! Awesome!

[themooddisorders]

Cancer of the throat!

[marcus24698]

sharpton.. doesnt get owned... hitchens make no sense.. he still hasnt proven Gods non existence.....so they both are dumb. i believe in God and because of logic....

[redcommander27]

@marcus24698

He doesn't have to prove god's non-existence, that's called the argument from ingorance and its a known logical fallacy. Most atheists don't say their 100% certain there is no god, they, like Hitchens say that given the lack of reliable evidence, it is rational to assume there probably is no god.

[writersblock26]

@marcus24698 Why did you put elipses in your comment?

[papermermaid]

@marcus24698

It isn't up to Hitchens to prove the existence of God. It would be up Al to prove the existence of a being that he insists is alive and working. Look, I am a Christian, but don't point fingers and demand a non believer to prove something that a believer is supposed to believe in.

[gazbostuart]

@marcus24698 Hey Marcus. I was interested in your use of the word logic in describing your belief of a God. Could you elaborate?

[yatter1]

@marcus24698 THEY are both dumb??? Hitchens makes no sense??? You believe in god because of logic??? I understand all those words, but WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU ON?

[kswindl]

9:21

wow...he didn't listen to a word he said.

[JesusSuckedGayPenis]

Do ya think that guys book got published LOL

[Mrjkc89]

no scientific evidence? it just evolved? open a book al

[abrahambivins]

Al Sharpton's whole argument this entire "debate" was just to distance God, or his concept of God, from all religions. He keeps saying that Hitchens is quoting from the bible or this deacon or the pope, but he doesn't adhere to that...then what the hell does he adhere to and why the fuck is he a reverend?

[tehnubzor]

"Al Sharpton may not have a degree but he shore has sense." -simsim594 simsim594 is apparently unable to differentiate between two words which sound the same when pronounced, but when written, convey two different concepts: the coastline where a body of land converges with a body of water, and another word displaying certainty. I realize that this is an argumentum ad hominem, and that the argument against the man does not disqualify his stance by default. But really. Shore = sure? lol

[mountainmanbear]

That dumbass with that question got owned. Serves him right for not even listening.

[LordCustard]

"What, it just "EVOLVED" somewhere?"

Yes, dumbass.

[andyx1205]

I don't know or care if God exists or not, but what makes one religion "true" while all other religions are deemed "false"? Isn't it more rational to claim that all of them are false?

[simsim594]

Al Sharpton may not have a degree but he shore has sense.

[BinaryReaper]

Sharpton dis-values the bible he dis-values the supposed word of every god but his extremely personal one to one pocket god.

Where the hell is the argument. He isn't even taking his own side.

[asdashopperrr]

"What a remarkably stupid question"

[bla12344321]

Well that seems to be an argument in favour of sharpton since Hitchens says that morals are independent of god. That being said, there is a reason why these cannibalistic cultures are isolated in remote parts of the world and aren't dominant on the planet like cultures that subscribe to predominant moral views; their "different set of moral codes", which include eating other humans, simply doesn't work from an evolutionary standpoint.

[mandolinroad]

How does Al explain the cannibalistic cultures that have been found in remote parts of the world? They clearly have a different set of moral codes of what ok and not. Were they simply not informed by God... did God forget about them?

[motleycruenoob]

Man, Al really avoided that last question.

[24LakerGirl]

I will not play with the toys! Don't make me play with the toys!

[elphenom9]

i pity sharpton, he is too stupid to realize how stupid he is

[Scofield0085]

That was so funny when Hitchens was using the term "toys" as if synonymous with religion.

F** U Al Sharpton

[someguy2525]

less than 95% americans believe in god.....

[waldoistwisted]

laughable, when about 42% of americans dont believe in evolution...

[calzagheisthebest]

i'm extremely stupid sorry but what does less than 95% mean? 5% believe in god & the rest are athiest or 5% don't believe in god & the rest do? (i'm not taking the piss in any way i just don't know if that meant just under 95% do believe or just 5% do)

[someguy2525]

ill be honest i have no idea what the hell point i was trying to make :/ i mean my stats is just plain wrong for a start :S

[Mint2855]

Al Sharpton is so fucken stupid

[Theprinceofponeage]

well.... what an incredibly stupid question. LOL!!!

[nedelz]

Al Sharpton is a FUCKING IDIOT

[FistOfCheese]

Al's version of logic baffles me.

[harbster2]

Poor Al Sharpton.

[Flamenco866]

he's not really saying amazing stuff....because his arguments are logical. What's amazing is the fact that he HAS to argue this obvious stuff because so many people believe in this goofy, illogical stuff with blind faith. And we are happy because someone is finally speaking against it.

[ihateneocons]

what half-ass, bullshit answers by sharpton.

its like hitchens and a fifth grader held a debate.

[allstar21369]

and the fifth grader still firmly believed in santa clause

[acehimself]

No Hitchens is a bit wrong, when a child gets cancer and beats it, it was God guiding them back to health, but when they slowly and painfully die of the disease, it was because God needed them in heaven more. Religion can never be beaten in argument because they'll create some interpretation of religious intervention into every single action and a different interpretation when the opposite occurs.

[Facebook289]

your personal opinion

[countchaos99]

Hitchens should have mentioned that before the Cult of Osirus in the Egyptian religion that religion did not have a moral basis for judgment like the Sumerians and the Sumerians did get along. They built a great civilization and did not need a moral component in religion to do it. They did it to continue themselves.

[BRichB]

Morality and altruism are both evolved traits. Why did Hitchens let this go over and over during this debate?

[jamesjohnking]

My money's on his stupidity. He does more damage to himself that Hitchens does or could.

[MilesB1975]

Wow, Sharpton really throws in the towel at 5:41 by admitting to "no supreme being etc..."

[aboikov]

Sharpton = a hypocritical deist (at best) who masquerades as a Pentecostal "reverend" to pay the bills. I don't know what's more despicable--doing that or being a Biblical literalist.

[Smood47]

Well put aboikov.

[njiancak]

"'Cause God says so," seems to be a pretty easy cop-out for many people when asked why something is a certain way.

It saves people the trouble of thinking about it themselves.

[vysehrad]

On faith and crime: Sharpton doesn't even understand what statistical correlation is. He appears no more qualified to debate this topic than Kirk Cameron.

[vysehrad]

Once you understand that evolution is a fact, you realize that our morals did evolve, and there are many plausible explanations for how this happened. Clearly, our ancestors with morals would have survived better than those without. Many animals besides humans exhibit morals, with our closest hominid relatives exhibiting the highest degree of moral complexity.

[Staticnz]

I really want someone to take Hitchens to task on the Bush administration and the Iraq war, I still haven't seen it happen. As for talking about religion, Sharpton is out of his depth here. This is Hitchens strongest subject. The morality of capitalism and war is his weakest, imo.

[untamedgorilla]

Sharpton either doesn't listen or just isn't serious. He "suspects atheists commit crimes too." Can he make a single point? Who said they don't? He's like a child.

[untamedgorilla]

Let's be serious - Al Sharpton is simply not intellectually equipped to say anything about anything. It's remarkable he is able to take care of himself, much less debate Christopher Hitchens.

[steveoco1]

sharpton is a fuckin retard

[lifeisgummo]

Sharpton is forever pointing errors in everyone elses words. maybe he should re-evaluate his own position and words.

[1n354a]

"what an incredibly stupid question"....

priceless. i almost pissed myself laughing.

[Sanderniet]

I reviewed it 5 times too. this guy has no shame, brilliant!

[BobTKaye]

People go to religion when they are emotionally weak because they can't think straight and the religion claims to have all of the answers, and they don't leave for the same reason that abused spouses stay with their partners, they've been trained to blame themselves when they're suffering and not think about it rationally.

[hooyo4ever]

i doubt my faith daily as should any rational being give my time as well as respect to denounce or accept.

that is the way i think it should be and that is the point of the debate.

[amazingjames311]

sharpton needs to read about primate morals and ethics.

their is a wealth of scientific knowledge and research that is exactly about the natural evolution of morals and values between tribal or pack primates.

[kakahass]

LOL hitchens "i agree with sharpton in that there was no divine revelation" hahaha

[KurNorock]

From 5:55 to 6:04 Sharpton hits the nail right on the head. Only the next words out of his mouth should have been "that is evolution".

It is just too bad he can't see that.

Only I suspect that he does see it but just does not want to admit it to himself.

The more I watch this debate, the more I see a budding atheist in Al Sharpton. He isn't a theist at all, at best he is a deist, possibly an agnostic.

[Bockatadi]

4:00 classic!!!...these two need a weekly talk show!!! or call in radio show.

[orclv]

Ha ha, it did evolve its proven :)

[AIDINSWE]

im gonna do you all a favor

here is it

there is no god

dont belive it, go and fuck yourself.

[DancinJim]

I have to say I think Hitchens is great, but at the same time I also think that because even the scientific approach is flawed (where did the first molecule come from?) it does say that there is something else. (Not necessarily a 'God' but something we have no clue about.

[costermonger50]

The scientific approach is not flawed. It does not presuppose where the first molecule came from. Science is based on facts, it does not make absolute statements about the first molecule, only theories based on evidence. As more evidence is unveiled, some theories are rejected and others supported until there is only one theory left that is supported by all the evidence and provides testable predictions that can be verified. Much as evolution is now perhaps the most supported theory in science.

[DancinJim]

You're correct. But if it doesn't have the total answer that explains everything, then it is flawed. Just like you said, some theories are rejected when more evidence becomes available. So we now can safely say that evolution is correct, but the bigger picture still remains - that is something even science cannot explain, as there has to be an explanation outside of human logic. Thus, science, although an excellent tool for explaining humanity's existance and development, is ultimately flawed.

[operationmongoose]

Science doesn't need to leap over that chasm. It doesnt claim to have the literal word of an omnipotent god put to parchment. It simply says that what we do not know... an answer should be sought. Imagine what was not known 100 yrs ago, why doesn't the bible mention electricity, genetics, astronomy, etc. etc.

[DancinJim]

Yes I am not disagreeing with you on that - but the very fact that science says "what we do not know... an answer should be sought." is an admission that science does not yet have all the answers and thus it is flawed.

[operationmongoose]

And the bible should be used to fill in what science has not yet discovered?... Something is certainly flawed here, and it's not science.

[DancinJim]

Yes I see a flaw here too... You are totally misinterpreting what I am saying. At no point was I saying that the the Bible explains what science cannot. That is you making a random assumption and not paying enough attention to what I wrote. All I was saying was that science, although it provides a logical explanation for human life, is still flawed. At no point did I mention the Bible being a suitable 'fill in' the gaps.

[DancinJim]

continued...

Infact I initially said "Not necessarily a 'God' but something we have no clue about." That could be anything (a gas, an alternate universe, the list is infinite...) and since we have no knowledge of this, it is pointless to even speculate. The only thing I can be sure of right now is that from me saying that you have somehow managed to interpret that I must think the Bible has the answer?!?!?!

[operationmongoose]

Well, if you are an agnostic who simply longs for science to be utterly comprehensive then please accept my apology. I guess a presumption was made on my part because theists constantly raise this exact argument to me in an effort justify their infantile superstitions and faith in the supernatural.

[lmhs2]

"science does not yet have all the answers and thus it is flawed"...This statement is nonsensical. A flaw lies in making claims about matters to which one has no knowledge. Science acknowledges the limits of its own certainty. By its own standard science is therefore rigorously honest and to called it flawed is to misunderstand the meaning of the word.

[DancinJim]

"A flaw lies in making claims about matters to which one has no knowledge."

Total rubbish. Human beings are flawed because they are not perfect. Science is flawed because it is not perfect.

"Science acknowledges the limits of its own certainty. By its own standard science is therefore rigorously honest"

By acknowledging it has limits it makes itself correct, but not perfect. If something is not perfect...it is FLAWED. lol.

[DancinJim]

Let me put this in a way that can not be misunderstood: Science has given us much information, but the fact that it cannot tell us exactly how everything came to be (if that is even the start of it) means that it cannot explain everything. Therefore, if it cannot explain everything, it may be correct as far as it can possibly be, but it can never be perfect, as it lacks all the answers (and it is invented by a flawed species!). Thus, it is flawed. Simple really.

[DancinJim]

I simply quote myself on that one:

"it does say that there is something else. (Not necessarily a 'God' but something we have no clue about."

I never said there was a 'God' (hence why I am a big fan of Hitchens). I just asked 'where did the first molecule come from?'. My inference there was simply that even science cannot prove that, as it does prove other things such as how human beings were created.

[Fyrvaldur]

Al Sharpton is not stupid he knows where he stands... don't get me wrong... Hitchens owns him;)

[furrymustard69]

George Bush is a christian, yet looks like a monkey?

This reality is all fake.

Wait till you see the next one.

[darknewday197]

Nakedjanet; Torah Judaism is the best in religion? No rabbi can answer Hitchen's questions because the rabb's theism is based in nothing that can be tested, proven or trusted. All religion is complete fabrication. Why should people follow a theism created by superstitious desert tribes in just one part of the world?

[DaveyH123]

what goes on in your brain, or lack of it, that makes you repeat what your cfritics have said? is it just your lack of ability to construct a reasonable retort. your are a fully fledged moron. thankyou for blocking me, you joke.

[DaveyH123]

You are seriously messed up girl.

[thbjr25]

This comment is for Mr. Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr.,

King James Bible, Proverbs 18:6-7,

6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

[Jakester1111]

Jeesh.. Sharpton is clueless. He cant defend religion so he does what most religious people do... circular reasoning.... Even if their is a creator why the hell would he need praise? That would be psychotic.

[operationmongoose]

"the best of religion (Torah Judiasm.)", it appears that the world will never have peace. How could it even be feasible when 1 billion people feel wholeheartedly that 5 billion will be sentenced to spiritual execution by a "just and loving" god.