Atheist Hitchens skipping prayer day in his honor http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100920/ap_on_re_us/us_christopher_hitchens_cancer
at least you can tell that he sincerely believes what he believes. whether he's right or wrong, who knows. perhaps we'll find out when we're in a similar situation ourselves. perhaps we'll never find out. I know many Christians are praying for him - but really, they're hoping that he crumbles and succumbs to the fear of the unknown, and accept the Lord as his Saviour on his death bed. that would be quite a coup for them.
Maybe I should do the same for christians and hope they become atheists. I don't know why they need to impose their viewpoints onto him. When people say they are praying for me, I just say "Thanks, but you should pray for yourselves instead". And it's rather self serving that they are praying for him to hope he crumbles... very self serving. I don't think using religion as a tool for personal satisfaction is a good thing at all.
Hitchens seems the type to, if the situation called for it, cut off his nose to spite his face. I don't see any kind of death bed switcheroo, and even if the thought crossed his mind, I can see it immediately followed by "**** it, I won't give them the satisfaction." In all seriousness though, I wish him nothing but the best in his fight.
Nah. What you should really hope for is that there is a god, the rapture happens, and all the true believers of all faiths are brought up to heaven (or wherever), and the world is left to the rest of us. Works out best for everyone.
I like Hitchens. I have always enjoyed reading his stuff, with the exception of "God is Not Great" which is a hugely inaccurate and almost inane bit of non-sense, but in a debate I say him in, when it was pointed out the many wild inaccuracies and over exagerrations of the book, he pointed out that he was a polemicist and was trying to get people's attention, and wasn't all that interested in fact. I can live with that, and I generally admired the man for being brave and a defender of freedom of democracy who could write circles around most people. If I offer up prayers for Hitchens and I hope for anyone that does, then it will be out of deep concern and compassion for a man who is facing a very difficult situation, not because I somehow hope that another peg goes in the God bin. Even though I disagree with Hitchens on some things, the world will be a lesser place without him.
Forget prayers, we need to do shots for him, I did a shot when I found out about his cancer, I will try to remember every time I go out drinking to do a shot in his name! Does anyone know what his favorite drink is?
He drinks an assortment, but has often stated a preference for Scotch (being a decent human being). Johnnie Walker is his daily sipper.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP51NnoVErA"]YouTube - Christopher Hitchens' Favorite Whiskey[/ame]
I'll see YOU in Hell! I would have preferred something along the lines of "It will be quite the surprise for both of us should we meet there".
Figures that the evil heathen atheist would go for Johnnie Walker. Joking, joking. I raise a glass of my 12 year old Macallan to the improvement of his health!
are you suggesting that the modern-day atheist does more for the betterment of the planet than the modern-day Christian, on average? if that's your view, on what do you base it?
You find the notion of a believing person praying for you - regardless of the circumstances - insulting?
I probably bring down the Atheist average, the only thing I do is recycle. It would be hard to tell, over all there are more bad and good Christians in the world, so Christians may do more good and more bad in total. (Like most Narcos in Mexico are devout Roman Catholics). Incarceration rates also show a higher percentage of Christians than of Atheist, but I highly doubt we should use that as a metrix. http://www.adherents.com/misc/adh_prison.html So it depends on how "the betterment of the planet" is defined. Ecological? economical? Entertainment? Wars? Is not really insulting, just unnecessary, is like me saying I am going to watch an hour of TMZ in your name, it is just a waste of time, I much rather someone plant a tree for me if I get sick, it has as much as a chance of helping as praying, and if it does not work, then we helped the planet.
Absolutely. I think there would be less conflict and wars if fewer people were religious (notice I didn't say specifically Christian). More atheists would make the world a better place. And tell me, if you believe that Christians are better for the planet, what do you base that on? I'm assuming you believe the opposite as I do.
but your first post said specifically Christian... and you didn't address the basis for your view. why do you think there would be less conflict? do you view all conflict as bad? are there conflicts that result in greater understanding and better peace?
in what way is praying for someone self-serving? and most Christians aren't praying of Hitchens to "crumble"; they are praying that he will understand that there is a God who loves him. that isn't crumbling, unless you think that knowing somebody loves you is a weak link in your chain.
Then I will correct myself. So I think that of most religions... Some conflict is inevitable, but a lot is fueled by religious reasons and can only end in dire results. I think humanity needs to focus on peace and avoid wars, and I view religion as a detriment to that. Still, you haven't justified why you asked that... do you think Christians are better than Atheists?
That's very self serving. Yes, that he will convert to their viewpoints. So I guess your viewpoint in god is more valid than my atheism? It isn't about love. It's about being self serving and hoping a rival crumbles to your religious viewpoint. I've had people say they are "praying for me", as well as saying that I stop living a "life of sin"... even though I did not welcome that at all. It's selfish. Plain and simple.