Christopher Hitchens and Tony Jones 4 of 11 , 06 October 2009 10:00

If there were any doubts about writer and general provocateur Christopher Hitchens ability to pull a crowd, they were entirely dispelled by the sold-out opening night of the first ever Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Presented by the Sydney Opera House and the St James Ethics Centre, the Festival brought together some of the more controversial thinkers from Australia and around the world. Hitchens's keynote address, followed by a discussion with our own Tony Jones, was an expansion on his bestselling, "God is Not Great: Religion Poisons Everything". Hitchens was at his polemical best, delivering a beautifully constructed speech supporting his argument that religion is not only completely implausible, but often actively destructive.

Christopher Hitchens's other books include "Letters to a Young Contrarian", "Why Orwell Matters" and "The Missionary Position: Mother Theresa in Theory and Practice." He also writes a regular column in "Vanity Fair".

Category:

Education

Tags:

• christopher
• hitchens
• antitheism
• atheism

[Albtraumen]

The atrocities of religion, and yes I have been asked many times how I could possibly raise my children without the 'moral guidance' of god.

I think I will fill someone's smug ear the next time I am pontificated upon.

[Domzdream]

At 2:15)

That IS sado massochism.

This was one of those things (the love and fear your god) that made me scratch my head IE it made no sense at all. Which was another contributor to my atheism.

[YY4Me133]

@8:18 I guess Abraham isn't famous for marrying his half-sister, Sarah, because that's no longer acceptable in most cultures.

[splicedenergy]

@AntiochusMegas He's talking about Roman Polansky and the stagetory rape of a 14 year old girl.

[AntiochusMegas]

What is the court case Hitchen's mentions?

[cheradinine8]

@scotttebben Those (yourself) who misspell write as wright should be very careful whom they call a moron...

[tulipsontheorgan]

Hitchens is effin awesOOOOOOME!!!!! I have to listen to this again :)) Wham! POW!

[HamIsDie]

If I had 1/3 the vocabulary of Hitchens, I'd be a linguistic genius.

[TAz69x]

LOL

66,666 Views

=3

[Gonzoidzz]

@la2111

Much humanist thought came out of the Church and many Popes were patrons of humanists. Google Renaissance humanism.

[la2111]

@Gonzoidzz The pagans and barbarians also believed in god(s)............Its not until the rise of secularism, humanism and rational thought do we have the advancements in science and medicine.

[mystisme]

@scotttebben englisn is not my native language, at least i try .wonders whose the moron ?it did not occure to you stop being jugemantal before knowing and and questions first