Hitchens / McGrath - Religion: The Center vs The Fringe, Pt 2

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2007/10/11/Christopher_Hitchens_Debates_Alister_McGrath

Bestselling author and atheist Christopher Hitchens responds to theologian Alister McGrath's defense of mainstream religions from their extremist "fringes."

This is part two of a three-part excerpt.

Part one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX_LM7WZc9A

Part three: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EuDYGnWMiQ

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Poison or Cure? Religious Belief in the Modern World: A debate, dialogue, and discussion with Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath.

The Ethics and Public Policy Center and the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University host a debate between writer Christopher Hitchens and Oxford University professor Alister McGrath on the role of religious belief in the modern world.

Christopher Hitchens is an author, journalist and literary critic. Now living in Washington, D.C., he has been a columnist at Vanity Fair, The Nation and Slate; additionally, he is an occasional contributor to many other publications. He is most recently the author of "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" (2007) and editor of "The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever" (2007).

Alister McGrath is a biochemist and Christian theologian born in Belfast, North Ireland. He currently enjoys the title of distinction "Professor of Historical Theology" granted by the University of Oxford. He has written extensively on history and theology, including "In the Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture" (2001), and "The Twilight of Atheism: The Rise and Fall of Disbelief in the Modern World" (2005).

He has written biographies of John Calvin, Thomas Torrance, and J. I. Packer. He has also written on the interaction of science and theology and his "A Scientific Theology" (4 volumes, 2001-2004) has been hailed as one the most important works of systematic theology to appear in recent years. He has written two critiques of the biologist "Richard Dawkins: The Dawkins Delusion?" (2007) and "Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life" (2005). His most recent book is "Christianity's Dangerous Idea: The Protestant Revolution - A History from the Sixteenth Century to the Twenty-First," published by HarperOne. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2005 and in 2009 he will give the prestigious Gifford Lectures at the University of Aberdeen.

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[MrTruthAddict]

@Sneezlebob Funny part is, none of you idiots agree on which ones are to be taken literally and which are not. Every one of you have your own personal Jesus, custom tailored to your liking.

Morons...

[TomFynn]

@ivlfounder They point was never whether priests are more likely to fiddle kids. Although I'd not be surprised.

The point is that the numerous cases that did occur were deliberately and systematically covered up and known offenders silently transfered to "pastures new".

The point is that the church cared more for its public image than for the well-being of the kids in its protection, while claiming to be the sole arbiter for good moral.

The point is hypocrisy.

[riverstory87]

@enlightenedbyCH How do you know that i'm not rich with a beautiful wife to stand by me that i met in church.How do you know that i'm not happy with the wealth that i have gained with the help of the lord.How do you know that i wasn't crippled when i was young but allowed to walk through the lords power not a doctors.The world that my god created is beautiful and i take it in with the senses he gave me everyday.The truth is i am very happy when i close my eyes at night and joyous when i wake up.

[virtualpigmaster]

@riverstory87 Religion allows someone like yourself (who is probably a sensible human being) say things that are fundamentally evil, and believe them.

[peter17dude]

@riverstory87 lets take a look at that that says about you as a fellow human being. you obviously truely believe that hitchens is now suffering indescribably and will continue to do so for eternity. and yet you seem to be perfectly okay with that. thats say something about you and all other believer of the three big monotheistic religions.

[Adamazeroni]

Miss you Hitchens <3

[enlightenedbyCH]

@riverstory87 'Take the risk in thinking for yourself, much more happiness, truth, beauty and wisdom will come to you that way'

[riverstory87]

old hitchens is swimming in a lake of fire right now due to a life time of iniquity

[Tippersnore]

ForaTV: the world is drinking.