Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens

A British-American author, journalist and literary critic. He is known for his iconoclasm, atheism, antitheism and anti-monarchism.
 
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Unmoderated Tag: Television Rating: Ok Hits: 157 Comments: 0 Big Think: Penn Jillette's Bullshit Detector Big Think: Penn Jillette's Bullshit Detector According to atheist magician Penn Jillette, the most important thing is to feel about things you should feel about -- and think about things you should think about. You should not feel about the speed of light or evolution and you should not think about love. You should feel "I love you," you should think about reality. Transcript -- You know, my bullshit detector works first of all...if there's something you really want to believe, that's what you should question the most. I don't question bad news very much. I don't question things that go against what I believe very much. But boy, the stuff that I really want to believe, I really question a lot. Now, I was taught -- I grew up as a Christian. I suppose at some level I wanted to believe someone was watching over me. But when I want to believe something, that's when I want to question it the most. That's when I have to be the most careful. And I feel a little bit disingenuous with that answer because I don't think I any longer want to believe in God. My friend, who I miss very much, Hitch, Christopher Hitchens, said that wanting there to be a god was like wanting to live in North Korea, to give away all of your freedom. And for someone who loves freedom and loves people, I don't think you should hope for God at all. So I guess my detector on God is that whenever someone uses what they feel as evidence instead of what they think as evidence or what they can prove as evidence, I'm very, very skeptical. The most important thing is to feel about things you feel about -- should feel about -- and think about things you should think about. You should not feel about the speed of light or evolution and you should not think about love. You should feel "I love you," you should think about reality. And when someone says they feel the universe was created by a God, that's nonsense, just like saying, you know, "I've thought about it and maybe I should love you." Don't mix those two. And a lot of people seem to think that -- that feeling cheapens the science, that if you feel something it cheapens it. And there's not enough said about how it cheapens the emotion. You know, if you're spending your time feeling that the earth was created, instead of... by intelligent design, you should be spending your time feeling love, feeling compassion, feeling generosity and loyalty and all the stuff you should feel in your heart. Even anger, even disappointment. But that doesn't change the world. You should think about the world and feel about your heart. Directed / Produced by Jonathan Fowler & Elizabeth Rodd Mar 19, 2013 11:55 PM







Headline Tag: Politics Rating: Amazing Hits: 1704 Comments: 13 30 Renowned Writers Speaking About God 30 Renowned Writers Speaking About God Speakers in order of appearance: 1. Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Science Fiction Writer 2. Nadine Gordimer, Nobel Laureate in Literature 3. Professor Isaac Asimov, Author and Biochemist 4. Arthur Miller, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright 5. Wole Soyinka, Nobel Laureate in Literature 6. Gore Vidal, Award-Winning Novelist and Political Activist 7. Douglas Adams, Best-Selling Science Fiction Writer 8. Professor Germaine Greer, Writer and Feminist 9. Iain Banks, Best-Selling Fiction Writer 10. José Saramago, Nobel Laureate in Literature 11. Sir Terry Pratchett, NYT Best-Selling Novelist 12. Ken Follett, NYT Best-Selling Author 13. Ian McEwan, Man Booker Prize-Winning Novelist 14. Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate (1999-2009) 15. Professor Martin Amis, Award-Winning Novelist 16. Michel Houellebecq, Goncourt Prize-Winning French Novelist 17. Philip Roth, Man Booker Prize-Winning Novelist 18. Margaret Atwood, Booker Prize-Winning Author and Poet 19. Sir Salman Rushdie, Booker Prize-Winning Novelist 20. Norman MacCaig, Renowned Scottish Poet 21. Phillip Pullman, Best-Selling British Author 22. Dr Matt Ridley, Award-Winning Science Writer 23. Harold Pinter, Nobel Laureate in Literature 24. Howard Brenton, Award-Winning English Playwright 25. Tariq Ali, Award-Winning Writer and Filmmaker 26. Theodore Dalrymple, English Writer and Psychiatrist 27. Roddy Doyle, Booker Prize-Winning Novelist 28. Redmond O'Hanlon FRSL, British Writer and Scholar 29. Diana Athill, Award-Winning Author and Literary Editor 30. Christopher Hitchens, Best-Selling Author, Award-Winning Columnist User: spam_vigilante Jan 24, 2012 1:54 PM






Headline Tag: Politics Rating: Amazing Hits: 1329 Comments: 4 Christopher Hitchens: Best of the Hitchslap Pt 2 Christopher Hitchens: Best of the Hitchslap Pt 2 I have been working on this video for some time, and had planned to upload it today as the rendering completed just yesterday morning. When I heard the sad news of Professor Hitchens' death late in the evening, I struggled with the thought of canceling this upload. It seemed somehow opportunistic to release a video so soon after, even if this coordination was not intentionally planned in advance. The beginning of this video especially carries a different meaning now that this news has reached all of us. In the end, I decided I could cope with this feeling of unease in order to share more of his thoughts, provide a moment of reflection, and pay humble tribute to the man that is an inspiration to me and so many others. If the first video was a general critique of religion, this edition is aimed at responses to common complaints non-believers hear again and again. Mr. Hitchens, your contributions to the struggle for liberty, equality, rationality, and freedom will never be forgotten. Your forcefulness, wit, and intelligence gave me the strength and courage to argue for these ideals in my own life. That you have done the same for so many is your great and immortal contribution to mankind. These seemingly small victories are what change the world; one action, one mind at a time, until the tide cannot be held back any longer. Your actions and words have moved us ever closer to that point. Thank you. Dec 16, 2011 10:50 AM

 
Tags: Andrew Motion, Roddy Doyle, Harold Pinter, Norman MacCaig, Jose Saramago, Philip Roth, Theodore Dalrymple, Tom Metzger, Martin Amis, Howard Brenton, Scotland, Ian McEwan, Matt Ridley, Lawrence Krauss, Arthur Miller, John Metzger, Margaret Atwood, Debate, Phillip Pullman, Nadine Gordimer, Tariq Ali, Michel Houellebecq, Redmond O'Hanlon, Big Think, Germaine Greer, Terry Pratchett, Ken Follett, Intelligent Design, Iain Banks, Diana Athill, Wole Soyinka, North Korea, Christian Religion, Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Gore Vidal, Salman Rushdie, George Orwell, Douglas Adams, Kim Jong-il, Mormonism, Tony Blair, New Rules, Mitt Romney, Christopher Hitchens, Ireland, Richard Dawkins, Racism, Interview, Penn Jillette, Jesus, Bill Maher, Homophobia, Atheism, England, Evolution, Highbrow, Iraq, Cults and Religions, Sci-Fi and Fantasy, Science, Celebrities, Politics, Television, Video Clips

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