Changes

===Atheism and Hitchens' cancer===

===Atheism and Hitchens' cancer===

The possiblity that Hitchens' unfortunate death from cancer could have been directly or indirectly influenced by his [[atheism]] seems likely, although many Godless scientists argue that it was the cigarettes and alcohol that did him in. In the indirect sense, it is known that the atheistic philosophy of the objective meaninglessness of life correlates with vices and mental unwellness. Atheists and secular Americans are known to have higher rates of drug abuse{{Citation needed}}(which in a broad sense could include smoking and drinking as well), and regular churchgoers are known to have much lower rates of mental illness and depression. The depression that sometimes persists alongside atheism could have conceivably influenced him to use harmful matericalistic pleasures like tobacco and alcohol as a coping mechanism, since an avowed atheist like Hitchens would not decide to seek spiritual health, attend a Christian church or look for answers in the Bible. This provides reason to speculate that atheism influenced Hitchens' bad habits, which lead to his cancer and death.

The fact that Hitchens' unfortunate death from cancer could have been directly influenced by his [[atheism]] seems likely, although many Godless scientists argue that it was the cigarettes and alcohol that did him in. In the indirect sense, it is known that the atheistic philosophy of the objective meaninglessness of life correlates with vices and mental unwellness. Atheists and secular Americans are known to have higher rates of drug abuse{{Citation needed}}(which in a broad sense could include smoking and drinking as well), and regular churchgoers are known to have much lower rates of mental illness and depression. The depression that sometimes persists alongside atheism could have conceivably influenced him to use harmful matericalistic pleasures like tobacco and alcohol as a coping mechanism, since an avowed atheist like Hitchens would not decide to seek spiritual health, attend a Christian church or look for answers in the Bible. This provides reason to speculate that atheism influenced Hitchens' bad habits, which lead to his cancer and death.

Whether Hichens' cancer death was influenced in any direct sense remains more uncertain. While a Christian should not speak directly for God, God is strangely silent, so it's only right that Christians explain his nature and enforce his will: the Bible does show that, in specific instances, God has been known to punish sinners and the unrepentant with disease.<ref>http://bible.cc/acts/12-23.htm</ref> The Bible has also made it clear that those who wish evil on others deserve no better themselves, and as Hitchens praised the sad and gruesome death of Rev. Jerry Falwell, the possibility of divine retribution remains as well depending on a Christians interpretation of God's word and actions.  

Whether Hichens' cancer death was influenced in any direct sense remains more uncertain. While a Christian should not speak directly for God, God is strangely silent, so it's only right that Christians explain his nature and enforce his will: the Bible does show that, in specific instances, God has been known to punish sinners and the unrepentant with disease.<ref>http://bible.cc/acts/12-23.htm</ref> The Bible has also made it clear that those who wish evil on others deserve no better themselves, and as Hitchens praised the sad and gruesome death of Rev. Jerry Falwell, the possibility of divine retribution remains as well depending on a Christians interpretation of God's word and actions.