Christopher Hitchens has died

Morlar · 16-12-2011 12:13PM

He had principles and was not afraid of anyone person /group /advocacy lobby. Respect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMxleCC5VVg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMAAiS5Ljsw

AnonoBoy · 16-12-2011 12:16PM

Someone should make a movie of his life. That Will Smith one was terrible.

--Kaiser-- · 16-12-2011 12:39PM

Christopher Hitchens: There is no God

God: There is no Christopher Hitchens

:pac:

Seriously though, RIP. He was a very clever and witty man

Logical Fallacy · 16-12-2011 12:52PM

af_thefragile wrote: »

He was a mega-arrogant messiah of the atheists.
And was pretty right-wing at the same time.

Honestly, i always found Hitchens to be the least arrogant of the well known atheists. The guy was possessed of an extreme level of confidence in his abilities to debate and in his understanding of issues...both of which were born of hard work and research into the subjects that interested him.

Stovepipe · 16-12-2011 01:02PM

Hi all
@LogFal, nice one. that's it exactly. Worse than Hitch out there, by a long shot. "God is not great" is a great book.
RIP

Stovepipe

Elliemental · 16-12-2011 01:11PM

TheChizler wrote: »

Well it does derive from what's said at the end of a funeral: "may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace". Just sayin...

And are funerals "religious" by nature? Do you think we Atheists are content to chuck our dead on a bonfire and have done with it? Several of my relatives have had perfectly decent, totally non-religious funerals. We even said things like "rest in peace".

hidinginthebush · 16-12-2011 01:37PM

I can't say I had ever known about him, but I watched the mother teresa document someone put up, he seemed like he wasn't worried about stepping on toes and going against the grain, which I always respect.

I'll give that "God is not great" book a pop, he doesn't come across as being arrogant like Richard Dawkins, so maybe I'll be able to finish this one

Morlar · 16-12-2011 01:42PM

I agree. I find dawkins to be extremely intellectually arrogant and conceited in a way that Hitchens never was. There is a youtube clip somewhere (looks to be filmed in the back of a cab from what I recall) where Hitchens discusses dawkins in a not very flattering manner. I believe he found Dawkins sinister and chilling. If anyone can find the link I'd be interested in seeing it again.

AnnyHallsal · 16-12-2011 01:53PM

Hitchens has to be a shoe-in for that ideal dinner party in the sky. Another thing I loved about him, he was fun.

Paparazzo · 16-12-2011 02:04PM

AnnyHallsal wrote: »

Hitchens has to be a shoe-in for that ideal dinner party in the sky. Another thing I loved about him, he was fun.

Hitchens and pope john paul would be great.

psychward · 16-12-2011 02:07PM

TheChizler wrote: »

Well it does derive from what's said at the end of a funeral: "may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace". Just sayin...

It's meaning has gone far beyond that. But taken at face value to me it looks almost like an atheistic acknowledgement of nothingness after death. Why would someone choose to ''rest'' for eternity if they could do some fun stuff instead ?

Saganist · 16-12-2011 02:16PM

RIP hitch. No more hitchslaps :-(

Technocentral · 16-12-2011 02:19PM

Sad to lose such a brilliant thinker and a great atheist, like some of the other posters here I didn't agree with him on the Iraq war and some other issues but it was always great to listen to him and read his articles especially on the subject of Kissinger and atheism, in a world overrun by superstition and dangerous religious dogma he was a breath of fresh air.

Da Shins Kelly · 16-12-2011 02:21PM

A fantastic writer, speaker and intellectual. Controversial, and I don't agree with everything he said, but I admire the conviction and articulacy with which he said it.

His autobiography is well worth reading for anyone who is interested in learning more about his education, how he developed his ideas and the friends he made and lost over the years. It's a very interesting and beautifully written book. One of the best autobiographies I've read.

I will remember him first and foremost as a wonderful writer, really an inspiration on that front.

RIP. He will be sadly missed.

Black Cow · 16-12-2011 02:22PM

LOL @ all the atheists using "R.I.P." - an initialism commonly found on the grave of Catholics, and derived from the burial service of the Catholic Church.

I'm an atheist, BTW - but I also try to be consistent.

MagicMarker · 16-12-2011 02:26PM

Black Cow wrote: »

LOL @ all the atheists using "R.I.P." - an initialism commonly found on the grave of Catholics, and derived from the burial service of the Catholic Church.

I'm an atheist, BTW - but I also try to be consistent.

Grass is commonly found on the grave of Catholics too, yet sometimes I still like to go to the park.

Standard Toaster · 16-12-2011 02:26PM

Superb tribute to Hitchens in the New Statesman (server getting hammered atm)

Twin-go · 16-12-2011 02:26PM

Thank you Christopher. You will be missed.

My name is URL · 16-12-2011 02:27PM

ffs people, he was far more than just a caricature of vocal atheists.

I disagreed with many of his views, especially those concerning the war in Iraq, but he spoke his mind and that's to be respected.

His writings on interrogation techniques used by the US military brought the likes of waterboarding into the public eye, and allowed for real discussion to be had on the matter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LPubUCJv58

Manach · 16-12-2011 02:29PM

Condolences to his family.

Black Cow · 16-12-2011 02:30PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

Grass is commonly found on the grave of Catholics too, yet sometimes I still like to go to the park.

Analogy holds no water. Try again.

Saganist · 16-12-2011 02:34PM

Black Cow wrote: »

Analogy holds no water. Try again.

I think he's trying to say.

So what if a lot of Atheists have used RIP in learning of Hitchens' death.

I mean, I'm an atheist, yet I still say, "Oh my god".. Am I being a hypocrite for doing that ?

Black Cow · 16-12-2011 02:42PM

Saganist wrote: »

I think he's trying to say.

So what if a lot of Atheists have used RIP in learning of Hitchens' death.

I mean, I'm an atheist, yet I still say, "Oh my god".. Am I being a hypocrite for doing that ?

Eh, by definition yes. What a dumb question - why do you say "Oh my God" if you don't believe or have a God? Do you pray too?

Twin-go · 16-12-2011 02:42PM

Black Cow wrote: »

Analogy holds no water. Try again.

Going to a church makes you no more a christian as standing in your garage make you a car.

hidinginthebush · 16-12-2011 02:45PM

My name is URL wrote: »

ffs people, he was far more than just a caricature of vocal atheists.

I disagreed with many of his views, especially those concerning the war in Iraq, but he spoke his mind and that's to be respected.

His writings on interrogation techniques used by the US military brought the likes of waterboarding into the public eye, and allowed for real discussion to be had on the matter.

That's who he was?! I always assumed, for better or worse, that the waterboard person was some right-wing Bill O'Reilly-type nut?

This man gets more and more intreguing the more I hear about him.

AnnyHallsal · 16-12-2011 02:46PM

Black Cow wrote: »

Eh, by definition yes. What a dumb question - why do you say "Oh my God" if you don't believe or have a God? Do you pray too?

Because it's a reflexive exclamation deep-rooted in English-speaking language and culture.

amacachi · 16-12-2011 02:46PM

Dudess wrote: »

Yep. Reeks of "I'm an atheist but I want to show how open-minded I am so I'll come up with some ludicrous way to ridicule atheists". We get it - some atheists are dicks to religious people, no arguments there.

This is easier than having to type it. :pac:

Saganist · 16-12-2011 02:46PM

Black Cow wrote: »

Eh, by definition yes. What a dumb question - why do you say "Oh my God" if you don't believe or have a God? Do you pray too?

How so? its a figure of speech. That's all. Get over it !

MagicMarker · 16-12-2011 02:46PM

Black Cow wrote: »

Eh, by definition yes. What a dumb question - why do you say "Oh my God" if you don't believe or have a God? Do you pray too?

I hope you don't use the words 'Thursday' and 'Saturday' also, you know, for the sake of consistency?

Or are you a big filthy hypocrite yourself?

Wattle · 16-12-2011 02:46PM

I admired him. I certainly didn't worship him. If you worship somebody you think they can never be wrong yet I disagreed with him about Iraq. He was a great debunker of charlatans yet he was ok with that nitwit George Bush. I admired his fierce intellect and the fact that he never stinted on his atheist beliefs even in the face of impending death. I hope I can be that strong when my time comes.

Christopher Hitchens has died

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