Post by KNOWTHIS on Oct 27, 2007 18:34:55 GMT -5
www.booktv.org/program.aspx?ProgramId=8788&SectionName=&PlayMedia=No
I’ve been watching a debate on Christianity on Book TV on C-SPAN 2.
Christopher Hitchens (whom I don’t always agree with on other issues) discussed his views on Christianity, which he refers to as a “celestial dictatorship”, and whether or not mankind’s morality actually stems from God and religion, as most believers would tell us.
Paraphrasing Hitchens:
Name one moral statement or stance attributed to a religious person that could not also be attributed to a secular person. Now name one immoral action that could be attributed solely to one’s religious belief system. Hitchens explained that out of all of the speeches that he has ever given he has yet to receive an answer to his first question. On the other hand most people have no trouble thinking of many answers for the second.
He also explained the unhealthy dichotomy of expressing compulsory love and hate simultaneously to the same God. Would someone or something that truly loved you also ensure that you were just as fearful of him/her/it? Think about that in terms of raising your own child. “If you don’t love and obey me unconditionally I’ll punish you severely my son”. Now does that sound like a healthy relationship to you? It sounds quite abusive to me.
Debate on Dinesh D'Souza's "What's So Great About Christianity?"
Authors: Dinesh D'Souza; Christopher Hitchens; Marvin Olasky
About the Program
From The King's College in New York, Dinesh D'Souza, author of "What's So Great About Christianity," and Christopher Hitchens, author of "God Is Not Great," debate the question Is Christianity the Problem? The debate is moderated by Marvin Olasky, The King's College Provost and World magazine editor-in-chief.
Authors: Dinesh D'Souza; Christopher Hitchens; Marvin Olasky
About the Program
From The King's College in New York, Dinesh D'Souza, author of "What's So Great About Christianity," and Christopher Hitchens, author of "God Is Not Great," debate the question Is Christianity the Problem? The debate is moderated by Marvin Olasky, The King's College Provost and World magazine editor-in-chief.
I’ve been watching a debate on Christianity on Book TV on C-SPAN 2.
Christopher Hitchens (whom I don’t always agree with on other issues) discussed his views on Christianity, which he refers to as a “celestial dictatorship”, and whether or not mankind’s morality actually stems from God and religion, as most believers would tell us.
Paraphrasing Hitchens:
Name one moral statement or stance attributed to a religious person that could not also be attributed to a secular person. Now name one immoral action that could be attributed solely to one’s religious belief system. Hitchens explained that out of all of the speeches that he has ever given he has yet to receive an answer to his first question. On the other hand most people have no trouble thinking of many answers for the second.
He also explained the unhealthy dichotomy of expressing compulsory love and hate simultaneously to the same God. Would someone or something that truly loved you also ensure that you were just as fearful of him/her/it? Think about that in terms of raising your own child. “If you don’t love and obey me unconditionally I’ll punish you severely my son”. Now does that sound like a healthy relationship to you? It sounds quite abusive to me.
