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→Unhealthy lifestyle and death
A majority of the founders of the New Atheism movement have engaged in unhealthy behaviors which have upon occasion caused them significant health problems (see: [[New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles]]).
A majority of the founders of the New Atheism movement have engaged in unhealthy behaviors which have upon occasion caused them significant health problems (see: [[New Atheism leaders and unhealthy lifestyles]]).
=== Contemplation of Christian conversion before death ===
Hitchens developed a close friendship with the evangelical Christian Larry Taunton and took two road trips with Taunton near the end of his life. He was contemplating converting to Christianity at this time. During one of the road trips Hitchens read aloud the Gospel of John and discussed the book with Taunton.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XXZwwipNys
"I discovered Christopher is not defined by his atheism," Taunton said. "Atheism is a negative and you can't build a philosophy around a negative. Christopher was searching for a unifying system of thought. They're accusing me of saying he converted. I make no such claim. It's not my claim that Christopher converted, it's that Christopher was contemplating conversion. I think I substantiate it in the book."
More than anything, Taunton said, Hitchens' stay at Taunton's house leading up to his first debate in Birmingham had an effect on him. "There are fans of Christopher Hitchens who think that Christopher hated people of religious belief," Taunton said. "I know for a fact that wasn't true."
Hitchens met Taunton's adopted, HIV-positive daughter, Sasha, and was deeply moved by her life and faith. "Sasha's impact on him was huge," Taunton said. "It's because of her own innocence. He was powerfully moved by her, an argument he couldn't refute... At the end of the day, the most powerful apologetic is love."...
"Christopher was in a difficult place," Taunton said. "He's a dying man. He asked me why I thought he didn't convert. I said, 'You've created a global reputation as an atheist, your fortune, your reputation is based on it. I can't imagine how hard it would be to admit you were wrong. You created a prison for yourself.'"<ref>[http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/04/christian_authors_book_on_famo.html Christian author's book on famous atheist gets him on Fox, MSNBC]</ref>}}
== Christopher Hitchens' death and the decline of the New Atheism movement ==
== Christopher Hitchens' death and the decline of the New Atheism movement ==