Hitchens titled chapter 2 of his book “Religion Kills”. That is kind of funny when you think about it. I had not clue that an abstract thing could commit a capital offense. I guess we better watch out for other abstract objects like numbers. I wonder if the number 4 is wanted for any crimes?
What I love about books like this is that they basically cut off their own foundation. Let me give you just two examples of how he attacks religion, and by religion he means Christianity, which inevitably cuts out the ground underneath his feet.
1) He says on page 16, “Why does such a belief not make its adherents happy?” By “such a belief” he is describing a quasi form of Christianity. It is close enough for the purposes of what I am saying that I do not have to attack his pseudo-definition of my world-view. So back to the statement. There are two answers I would give to him:
a) It does. I have found more happiness and joy in Christ than anywhere in the world. I guess he has only been examining those who really don’t understand the grace of our Lord Jesus for him to be able to say it doesn’t make us happy. But there is a better answer and that is my next point.
b) What do you mean by happy? This is an important question. It seems as if by “happy” he means “to leave others alone” or “keep your private belief private”. But wait a minute. I want to ask, “How come your belief doesn’t make you happy?” That is, how come you aren’t leaving us alone? Why aren’t you keeping your private belief private? I mean, after-all, you just spent how much time and money writing a whole book that you want everyone to read to tell people to leave each other alone? And they accuse Christians of being hypocrites!!!
2) On page 17 he states, “And it does not have the confidence in its own various preachings even to allow coexistence between different faiths.” I just want to bang my head on a wall at this point. Again we have to ask, What do you mean by “coexist”? There are two options:
a) Continue to hold your worldview while respectfully disagreeing with others. You can have open debate and even leave still in disagreement but each man still have his freedom of speech and is not in fear of his life being taken for such a belief. If, by coexist, this is what you mean then I affirm WE CAN and WE DO!!!
b) Accept a contrary belief as equally true as yours and do not try to engage in evangelism. If, by coexist, this is what you mean then I cry HYPOCRITE. Is not Mr. Hitchens engaged in evangelism through this book? Surely he is trying to convert me (and you) to his belief. He has noticed that my belief is contrary to his and has decided to try and persuade me to change my belief through logical arguments. He is in violation of his own definition. He hasn’t considered Christianity as equally true as atheism nor should he. If we thought both beliefs were true then we have ceased to think logically and began walking into the absurd.
If religion kills the only thing it kills is illogical mumbling like we have found in this book. Please pass the logic, I am tired of this watered down garbage known as atheism.
What I love about books like this is that they basically cut off their own foundation. Let me give you just two examples of how he attacks religion, and by religion he means Christianity, which inevitably cuts out the ground underneath his feet.
1) He says on page 16, “Why does such a belief not make its adherents happy?” By “such a belief” he is describing a quasi form of Christianity. It is close enough for the purposes of what I am saying that I do not have to attack his pseudo-definition of my world-view. So back to the statement. There are two answers I would give to him:
a) It does. I have found more happiness and joy in Christ than anywhere in the world. I guess he has only been examining those who really don’t understand the grace of our Lord Jesus for him to be able to say it doesn’t make us happy. But there is a better answer and that is my next point.
b) What do you mean by happy? This is an important question. It seems as if by “happy” he means “to leave others alone” or “keep your private belief private”. But wait a minute. I want to ask, “How come your belief doesn’t make you happy?” That is, how come you aren’t leaving us alone? Why aren’t you keeping your private belief private? I mean, after-all, you just spent how much time and money writing a whole book that you want everyone to read to tell people to leave each other alone? And they accuse Christians of being hypocrites!!!
2) On page 17 he states, “And it does not have the confidence in its own various preachings even to allow coexistence between different faiths.” I just want to bang my head on a wall at this point. Again we have to ask, What do you mean by “coexist”? There are two options:
a) Continue to hold your worldview while respectfully disagreeing with others. You can have open debate and even leave still in disagreement but each man still have his freedom of speech and is not in fear of his life being taken for such a belief. If, by coexist, this is what you mean then I affirm WE CAN and WE DO!!!
b) Accept a contrary belief as equally true as yours and do not try to engage in evangelism. If, by coexist, this is what you mean then I cry HYPOCRITE. Is not Mr. Hitchens engaged in evangelism through this book? Surely he is trying to convert me (and you) to his belief. He has noticed that my belief is contrary to his and has decided to try and persuade me to change my belief through logical arguments. He is in violation of his own definition. He hasn’t considered Christianity as equally true as atheism nor should he. If we thought both beliefs were true then we have ceased to think logically and began walking into the absurd.
If religion kills the only thing it kills is illogical mumbling like we have found in this book. Please pass the logic, I am tired of this watered down garbage known as atheism.
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