Thread: Christopher Hitchens

Awoke this morning to hear the sad news that Christopher Hitchens has passed away. As a great thinker, writer and polemicist his work has enlightened me more than any religious text, teacher or encounter in the first four decades of my life. His masterwork “God is not Great – The case against religion”, reveals a passionate man following in the philosophical tradition of Bertrand Russell using a unique acute clarity to reveal the cold man made construct that has enslaved many millions for generations. It is Russells words that come to mind on the passing of a great man, an Englishman who died in Texas as America’s greatest Atheist and one of the worlds great thinkers

“I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I am not young and I love life. But I should scorn to shiver with terror at the thought of annihilation. Happiness is nonetheless true happiness because it must come to an end, nor do thought and love lose their value because they are not everlasting. Many a man has borne himself proudly on the scaffold; surely the same pride should teach us to think truly about man's place in the world. Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cosy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigour, and the great spaces have a splendour of their own.”

I was reading about his passing this afternoon. It has been on the cards a while so is no great surprise, but sad nonetheless. Hitchens had a lot of interesting views. I didn't always agree with him on current events, but do like his work on theology. He was one of those men that always seemed to become even more erudite after having a drink. I wish I had that ability. Like most I slip a little whilst under the influence.

I've watched lots of his deabtes on youtube. He was the P4P no.1 arguer. Just brilliant.

I'm not really a fan of Hitchens' religious views but he had some more Libertarian political views which I liked and when he was on "Real Time with Bill Maher" he didn't kiss Bill Maher's ass like all the other bed wetting liberals that go on his show.


.....fucking awesome

He also wrote an anti-Nanny State article which I loved, speaking about his dabbling in drugs and booze and how he wished to live life and enjoy it and how some government interventionists wanted to control every single iota of people's lives.

Brilliant man

Never heard of him

Originally Posted by VictorCharlie

Never heard of him

I'm surprised. Listen to a few interviews and then maybe check out some of the books.

Hitchen's was a provocateur, but intellectual with his views. Very good in debate.

Haha, very funny video Lyle. He had likely had one of his drinks and did his 'miles driving a car' impersonation. I disagreed with Hitchen's a lot politically. He had a lot more common ground with Bilbo than me in that area. And theologically we both then start to stamp on Bilbo. It's strange how the world works.

Hitchens was a self described "Atheist for Bush". Unlike most atheists Hitchens attacked ALL religions not just Christianity which was great in terms of being consistent, he really took it to Islam.

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Hitchens was a self described "Atheist for Bush". Unlike most atheists Hitchens attacked ALL religions not just Christianity which was great in terms of being consistent, he really took it to Islam.

Or he was a moral weakling when it came to foreign policy. He was married to an American, he was curtailed by short skirts.

Originally Posted by miles

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Hitchens was a self described "Atheist for Bush". Unlike most atheists Hitchens attacked ALL religions not just Christianity which was great in terms of being consistent, he really took it to Islam.

Or he was a moral weakling when it came to foreign policy. He was married to an American, he was curtailed by short skirts.

Well not everyone can acheive your level of misanthropy

Originally Posted by miles

Haha, very funny video Lyle. He had likely had one of his drinks and did his 'miles driving a car' impersonation. I disagreed with Hitchen's a lot politically. He had a lot more common ground with Bilbo than me in that area. And theologically we both then start to stamp on Bilbo. It's strange how the world works.

Peter is the truly great Hitchens.

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by miles

Haha, very funny video Lyle. He had likely had one of his drinks and did his 'miles driving a car' impersonation. I disagreed with Hitchen's a lot politically. He had a lot more common ground with Bilbo than me in that area. And theologically we both then start to stamp on Bilbo. It's strange how the world works.

Peter is the truly great Hitchens.

I am sure that Peter would be really chuffed with you for spelling his surname wrong and bigging him up on the day of his brothers death. You are a very callous evil little shit so puffed up with pride and malice that I almost wish there were a hell, just for you. You cunt.

Bilbo has sure been making a lot of friends lately.

Originally Posted by CFH

Bilbo has sure been making a lot of friends lately.

It's weird. I'm like Bilbo's best friend these days.