Hitchens: Humanism and abortion.

Q&A part III of the Hitchens vs. Turek debate at VCU, VA.
Full debate:
http://www.vimeo.com/1904911

Hitchens says here that religion only poisons the debate about abortion and that Humanist values help to decide difficult moral issues concerning the life of the unborn child.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Christopher
• Hitchens
• Turek
• god
• VCU
• debate
• atheism
• Humanism
• abortion
• theism
• wishful
• thinking
• Christianity
• Dawkins

[canteluna]

@GTBeauregard anyway, why not exorcise what's bugging you about abortion & criminals & get involved with some of these people instead of bitching on youtube from an armchair. you might find that when you get to know them, instead of looking down at them from a distance, some might be worth your effort.

compassion is the answer to almost every human problem. that's the only thing in any religion that is worthy of anyone's time. the rest is platitudes & idolatry.

[canteluna]

@GTBeauregard why so upset about abortion & criminals? angry you have to pay taxes for prisons?

look at europe, they have liberal abortion laws but with few of the consequences you allude to. that tells you the cause is not abortion & promiscuity.

yes people in prison tend to be from broken homes, so what, so was i. the real issue is whether people are valued & nourished. in europe young men aren't abandoned, there are opportunities such as vocational school or university.

[canteluna]

@GTBeauregard most people as "pro life" (hate that term it's such a misnomer) as you tend to be christians or muslims. i wanted to see how you would react when i brought religion into the issue.

i don't agree with your simplistic & uniformed view of christ. i am not religious but there is plenty to admire about christianity & jesus (though also plenty to criticize).

i don't know you so my calling you "flawed" is just my way of reminding you that we all are, especially hypocrites.

[canteluna]

@GTBeauregard once a fetus can exist outside the womb without the support of the mother then i'll agree it's an autonomous life with rights to protect. until then it's the right of the woman to do with her body as she likes including abort. just because a zygote is a potential human life doesn't give it rights. why can't so many men in particular accept this? get a different hobby, try wood working or making ice sculptures. please don't kill abortion doctors.

[GTBeauregard]

@canteluna " the penal codes are what our society deems fair. " that was my point. Why this strange morality where innocent life is taken to ease the burdens of females while sociopaths are allowed to live. Saying "that's just how it is" is one response I guess.

[GTBeauregard]

@canteluna You seem to think you can argue in favor of abortion by pointing out the stupidity of Christianity.

[GTBeauregard]

@canteluna Christ was just a man with dumb ideas who spoke in allegory to mask his simple slave relgion and pretend to be a god. You call me flawed; I wonder what you'd call a rapist or one who delights in arbirary violence agains the innocent - just a nuicance we must deal with in egalitarian society? Since abortion and birth control, unwanted pregnancies and fatherless children have increased dramatically among the poor; most in prison come from these. Ignore that if you wish

[canteluna]

@Hatrimn it's laughable to equate owning property to the autonomy of one's body & reveals your value system. but your argument fails because your premise assumes that a zygote or some questionable stage of a fetus is "another party." i've already dispensed with that premise. it's on you to prove otherwise. you can't. argument over. take up another hobby. how about advocating against the death penalty or protecting animal rights since you claim to love the life of other parties so much.

[tigersforchrist]

Only a REAL FOOL would claim there is no God! Man creates awesome skyscrapers, fake hearts, tunnels, vehicles etc.. If we are very imperfect then what more can God create THE UNIVERSE! You must accept Jesus Christ as your Savior to receive eternal rest in heaven! Simple! John 3:16 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him! Repent & accept Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ or HELL?!? Visit cbn. com

[Hatrimn]

@canteluna That's like asking "who makes choices about our property?" Well, when the choices we make detrimentally impact the well-being of another party, then it is the government's duty to protect that party from such choices. Simple.

You are not truly free, and your property is not fully owned by you. If you wish to partake in society, then you submit yourself to communal responsibilities.