Christopher Hitchens: Religion Is Insanity

Christopher Hitchens VS After Rabbi

Harold Kushner On Circumcision

To illustrate a little bit the topic, which is quite hot in San Francisco.

Christopher Hitchens: David Mamet’s Right-Wing Conversion

As eloquent as always, here’s a pice of Christopher Hitchens’ review of David Mamet’s new book (via The New York Times):

This is an extraordinarily irritating book, written by one of those people who smugly believe that, having lost their faith, they must ipso facto have found their reason. In order to be persuaded by it, you would have to be open to propositions like this:“Part of the left’s savage animus against Sarah Palin is attributable to her status not as a woman, neither as a Conservative, but as a Worker.”Or this:“America is a Christian country. Its Constitution is the distillation of the wisdom and experience of Christian men, in a tradition whose codification is the Bible.”

Here’s the entire article.

Christopher Hitchens - Mother Teresa Was A Fraud

Christopher Hitchens: HitchSlap

To Religion On Homosexuality

Christopher Hitchens Wins National Magazine Award for Columns About Cancer

Vanity Fair reports:

Vanity Fair’s parent company, Condé Nast, was well represented at last night’s National Magazine Awards, held in New York and hosted by Katie Couric. Our sister titles GQ, W, and The New Yorker all came away with one “Ellie” each (the name comes from the Alexander Calder–designed trophy’s elephant shape), as did Vanity Fair, for a trio of brave, bitingly honest columns by Christopher Hitchens concerning his ongoing cancer treatment.
V.F. editor Graydon Carter began the evening with a heartfelt tribute to Tim Hetherington, a contributing photographer at this magazine, and Chris Hondros, who were killed last month in Misrata, Libya. “Their sacrifices ennoble our work,” he said. “Let us make sure they are not forgotten.”
Among the other major winners were National Geographic(Magazine of the Year); New York, Los Angeles, and Scientific American (General Excellence in varying categories); and Harper’s,which upset Rolling Stone in the Reporting category. Congratulations to all the winners.

Well deserved.

Christopher Hitchens: Hitchslap - Has Serious Illness Shaped Your View Of The Afterlife? 

(Via Atheist Media)

Christopher Hitchens In Confidence

Here’s another brilliant Laurie Taylor’s interview to one of the “Mind Emancipators” and one of the “Four Horsemen of the New Atheism”, and a personal hero of mine.

Christopher Hitchens: Atheist, Journalist, British-American, Debater, Cancer Fighter, Author - A Living Proof

Today 62 years ago, in Portsmouth, England was born a hero of mine: Christopher Eric Hitchens.

This British-American journalist and writer has been not just a mere critic of society. He’s witnessed most of the revolutionary upraises of the last four decades. Has met memorable political and religious figures. And names like Tony Blair, Tariq Ramadan,  Chris Hedges, Rev. Al Sharpton, Frank Turek, Jay Richards, Laura Ingraham, Douglas Wilson, George Galloway, Ann Widdecome, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, Bill O’Reilly & John Haldane are just a few of the people that Hitchens has debated throughout his brilliant career, giving him a credibility that not many are equally deserving. 

Considered one of the “Four Horsemen” (a long with his friends and Atheist colleagues Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris & Daniel Dennett), Hitchens has made a great case for the New Atheist movement by writing books like “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” and “The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings For The Non-Believer”. But the battle against Religion has not being a unique work on his long curriculum. His contributions to Slate, Vanity Fair, Free Inquiry, The Nation, The Atlantic, among others; have made resonance in the political debate in both sides of the Atlantic, and even beyond the Western frontiers. His public support of the War in Iraq, and new positions in the political spectrum (from left to moderate) have made feel threaten the arguments of even the most eloquent experts that oppose him. And now as a cancer patient, thou he finds himself in the middle of a rough battle against time and many odds and probably indeed the hardest struggle of his life, his legacy and courage (that keep on building) give hope to have him among us longer than we could deserve. As Joseph Heller put it: “I regret he has only one life, one mind, and one reputation to put at the service of my country”.

 An inspiration for many of us, a headache for others. A mind emancipator for many of us, a road block for others. Hitchens is without a doubt the most interesting, eloquent and engaging reading you will ever have. My loyalty to his work has been a great influence on my blog.  

It is only fare to share and recommend to read his extensive work, specially his memoir “Hitch 22” (where also reveals his homosexual experiences when he was younger). And only then you’ll be able to understand much better the genius behind the Journalist.

Happy Birthday to Christopher Hitchens. 

Song Of The Day: Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man

In Christopher Hitchens’ honour.

The Four Horsemen: Dawkins, Dennett, Harris & Hitchens

If you’ve got some time free (over an hour), this is totally worth it to watch.

Christopher Hitchens on Islam

Authors @Google: Christopher Hitchens

Always entertaining, funny & eloquent; here’s a presentation by Christopher Hitchens (a personal hero) at a Google conference back in 2007 for his “God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” book tour. If you’ve got an hour to invest, this is totally worth it.