The Inner Witness (Christopher Hitchens)

Christian apologist Frank Turek seems to think morality can only exist if a "standard" exists apart from the universal human conscience. Hitchens debunks that assumption..

Full debate available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8xLnP4553A

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[johhny3rubs]

Spot on once again from Mr. Hitchens. The oldest trick in the Christian book: where do nonbelievers get their morals? they occur naturally do they not?

[IconsOfTeleplay]

Good riddance to the braying jackass Christ' Hitchens who supported the sanctions and the war of pelf against Iraq. [Lesley Stahl on U.S. sanctions against Iraq: "We have heard that a half million children have died. I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And, you know, is the price worth it?"; Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price--we think the price is worth it." — "60 Minutes" (5/12/96)]

[Saylisk]

Can you find the "3"?

EEE3EE

Like if you found it!

[KongKit]

@johhny3rubs i was asked that before also and i thought ....really , really.  What about all the other parts of the world that dont believe or even take part in christianity before or after its rise , before "jesus" its crazy. They didnt believe in god yet they survived , we have artifacts , proven history. They didnt just run around killing each other . I remember it , and its funny he asked "well where do you get your morals from " and i thought he clearly isnt serious

[johhny3rubs]

read some evolutionary psychology. the moral animal, selfish gene, non-zero sum etc. and, I completely disagree with you. fin

[orpheusxx1]

It's a shame that this question is still asked. If we do not have an answer to where morals come from(other than most people inherently have them), it does NOT support the idea that we get them from a God in any way.

[GhostSoldier77777]

Wow, Turek is a very, very angry, frustrated, bitter man who blurts out without much self-control. Not very Christian of him.

[bdwilson1000]

@superbill2

It would not be acceptable to those who are being robbed, raped, and killed..and all we can do is educate the public on history and ethics, and hope that most people continue to have a generally peaceful nature. Fortunately the free world banded together against those you mentioned, and in case you didn't notice, their societies aren't around anywhere. In a global society, it is in the interest of everyone to cooperate and trade rather than destroy wealth and lives by fighting.

[superbill2]

@bdwilson1000 Theft and murder are incompatible with a stable society? Hitler, Stalin, and MAO didn't think so, Early American settlers didn't think so when they stole land and killed the natives.....their society thrived doing these things!!! If an aggressive society wished to be happy would it be acceptable to rape, kill and steal neighboring countries since they are able to do so (benefit) and live peacefully?

[bdwilson1000]

@superbill2

The basis is that theft and murder are incompatible with a stable society. Fortunately most people don't want to live in a world where they can be raped or killed at any moment, and because we arose as a social species, we are able to empathize with others and see that they wouldn't want to be raped or killed either. Therefore we band together with like-minded people and form societies with rules against these things so we can live happy and peaceful lives. It aint rocket science.

[superbill2]

@johhny3rubs hitchens did not answer the question. If my natural tendency is to want to sex, rape, and kill anyone who gets in my way you would call me immoral. The question is why? I'm only following my natural drive but you want to try and hold me to a standard outside of myself and outside of yourself that we should both acknowledge. Rape and Murder are wrong, but Turek is asking (on what basis can you claim this?) An individuals conscience is subjective and fails....