Christopher Hitchens Speaks at Google

By Daniel Miessler on September 3rd, 2007: Tagged as Atheism | Google | Hitchens | Philosophy | Religion
  • Carl M.

    A portion of the first amendment of the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”.

    While I agree with much of what Hitchens says (and with what YOU say, Daniel); while I agree that it is an insult to humanity to assert that morality is impossible without God; while I agree that religious views have no place in science classes; and while I agree that MUCH of evil has its roots in the minds of religious zealots, I would not go so far as to conclude that religion is (in an of itself) a problem that needs to be fixed. Hitchens asserted (in his reference to MLK Jr.) that the “good” of religious people (those that are indisputably good) does not necessarily stem from their religiosity. While true, it does not follow that the good of religious people does not SOMETIMES stem from their religiosity. It seems quite clear to me that (at the very least) SOME good comes from religiosity.

    In any case, if we believe in the values contained in the Constitution and its ammendments, then it seems to me that what We (the people) require of Congress ought also be expected of Us.

  • Carl M.

    A portion of the first amendment of the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”.

    While I agree with much of what Hitchens says (and with what YOU say, Daniel); while I agree that it is an insult to humanity to assert that morality is impossible without God; while I agree that religious views have no place in science classes; and while I agree that MUCH of evil has its roots in the minds of religious zealots, I would not go so far as to conclude that religion is (in an of itself) a problem that needs to be fixed. Hitchens asserted (in his reference to MLK Jr.) that the “good” of religious people (those that are indisputably good) does not necessarily stem from their religiosity. While true, it does not follow that the good of religious people does not SOMETIMES stem from their religiosity. It seems quite clear to me that (at the very least) SOME good comes from religiosity.

    In any case, if we believe in the values contained in the Constitution and its ammendments, then it seems to me that what We (the people) require of Congress ought also be expected of Us.

  • gaten

    Very nice, thank you for sharing that.

    I have always believed that only the truly wicked need the threat of hell-fire to shape their morality.

  • gaten

    Very nice, thank you for sharing that.

    I have always believed that only the truly wicked need the threat of hell-fire to shape their morality.


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