Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-19T19:03:01Z

CaptainAmerica789: they were both atheists, and both died from unhealth lifestyle choices, it may just be a coincidence but it's an interesting factoid

[[Image:Hitchens,_Stanford.jpg‎ |right|thumb|200px|Christopher Hitchens]]
'''Christopher Eric Hitchens''' (April 13, 1949 - December 15, 2011) was a journalist, author and literary critic. Hitchens received degrees in philosophy, politics and economics from [[Oxford University|Balliol College]], [[Oxford]], in 1970. From 1971-1981, he worked in [[Britain]] as book reviewer for ''The Times'' newspaper. He emigrated to the United States in 1981, and has written regularly, or been a contributing editor for ''Harper's'', ''Vanity Fair'' and [[Nation (magazine)|''The Nation'']]. He was an avowed [[Atheism|atheist]] and [[Antitheism|antitheist]]. Hitchens has a younger brother, [[Peter Hitchens]], who is also a journalist, author and critic. Mr. Hitchens was one of the more prominent spokesperson for the [[New Atheism]] movement.

Christopher Hitchens was a member of the International Socialists and an active [[Trotskyist]] during his youth. Before his death he claimed to be "on the same side as the neo-conservatives," but does not consider himself a conservative. He supported [[George W. Bush|George W. Bush's]] foreign policy, but has a negative attitude towards Bush's support of [[intelligent design]]. Hitchens made himself unpopular, even among fellow atheists for his support of the Iraq War, which was motivated by his hatred of religion - in his own words, he supported the Iraq War simply because Iraqis were Muslim, which has been compared to endorsement of racially-motivated [[genocide]].

He was a harsh critic of [[Ronald Reagan]], and considered [[Henry Kissinger]] a [[war criminal]]. Mr. Hitchens was also known for having a history of heavy drinking.<ref>http://www.counterpunch.org/mccarthy02212003.html</ref>

Christopher Hitchens was being treated for esophageal cancer caused by [[alcoholism|drinking]] and [[smoking]] up until his death on December 15, 2011.<ref>http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/07/video-extended-interview-hitchens-on-cancer-and-atheism/</ref>, only two days apart from the death of [[Kim Jong Il]].

== British atheist and evolutionist Christopher Hitchens on bestiality ==

''See also:'' [[Christopher Hitchens on bestiality]] and [[Atheism and bestiality]] and [[Evolutionary belief and bestiality]]

[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal.

At the end of [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[William Lane Craig]] vs. atheist Christopher Hitchens debate there was an audience question and answer period.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU VIDEO] The first audience member to ask a question twice asked Christopher Hitchens to label bestiality as an immoral act, but he refused to do so.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU Christopher Hitchens vs William Lane Craig - Does God Exist Debate]</ref> Dr. Craig said the question posed to Hitchens was a good one and it helped illustrate that atheism cannot offer objective moral standards (see: [[Atheism and morality]]).<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU Christopher Hitchens vs William Lane Craig - Does God Exist Debate] </ref>

==Opposition to Islam and Support of the War on Terror==

Christopher Hitchens became an activist against [[Islam]] when Ayatullah Kohmeini declared a [[fatwa]] against his personal friend [[Salman Rushdie]]. The event has led him to become very vocal in his support of the war in Iraq and heavily critical of Muslim society and ethics.

==Insults toward Jerry Falwell==
In a TV interview with Hannity and Colmes a day after [[Jerry Falwell]]'s death, Christopher Hitchens expressed his anger over Fawell's legacy, calling the media coverage of his death uniform in its "stupidity" and calling Fawell himself a "vulgar fraud and crook"<ref name=FAL>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doKkOSMaTk4</ref>. Hitchens went on to state such comments as "we have been rid of an extremely dangerous demagogue who lived by hatred of others and prejudice", "that it's a pity there isn't a hell for him to go to", "the evil he did will live after him", and "and I think his death is a deliverance" <ref name=FAL/>. [[Hannity]] said that such comments were "crude", "thoughtless", "mean", and "hateful."

==Select bibliography ==
*''Callaghan: The Road to Number Ten'' (Cassell, 1976)
*''Hostage to History: Cyprus From the Ottomans to Kissinger'' (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1989)
*''Imperial Spoils: The Case of the Parthenon Marbles'' (Hill and Wang, 1989)
*''Blood, Class and Nostalgia: Anglo-American Ironies'' (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990)
*''The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice'' (Verso, 1995)
*''Prepared for the Worst'' (Hill and Wang, 1989)
*''For the Sake of Argument: Essays & Minority Reports'' (Verso, 1993)
*''No One Left to Lie To: The Values of the Worst Family'' (Verso, 2000)
*''God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything'' - outside the US, published with the alternate subtitle ''The Case Against Religion'' (Atlantic, 2007)

Some other titles include: “Letters to a Young Contrarian,” “The Trial of Henry Kissinger (2001)” and his memoir, “Hitch-22. [http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/12/christopher-hitchens-a-reading-list.html#ixzz1gi8RBrKh]

<blockquote>
“Stranger in a Strange Land”: In this piece that The Atlantic published two months after the attacks of 9/11, Hitchens summed up his break from the establishment left over the attacks and the war on terror that was then only beginning. [[Ibidem]]
</blockquote>

==Death==
Christopher Hitchens died on December 15, 2011. The media has reported that the cause of his death was pneumonia, a complication of oesophageal cancer.<ref>Minzesheimer, Bob. "Writer Christopher Hitchens dies at age 62." USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-12-16/obit-hitchens/51999910/1</ref> The cancer was likely caused by his heavy drinking and smoking.

===Atheism and Hitchens' cancer===
The possiblity that Hitchens' unfortunate death from cancer could have been directly or indirectly influenced by his [[atheism]] remains open. In the indirect sense, it is known that the atheistic philosophy of apathy and the meaninglessness of life leads to vices and mental unwellness. Atheists and secular Americans are known to have higher rates of drug abuse (which in a broad sense could include smoking and drinking as well), and regular churchgoes are known to have much lower rates of mental illness and depression. The depression that atheism causes could easily result in using harmful matericalistic pleasures like tobacco and alcohol as a coping mechanism, since an avowed atheist like Hitchens would never consider seeking spiritual health, such attending a Christian church or looking for answers in the Bible. This provides much evidence that atheism could have been the roots of Hitchens' bad habits, which lead to his cancer death.

Whether Hichens' cancer death was influenced in any direct sense remains more uncertain. While a Christian should not speak directly for God, 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.

And on the flip side, God has been shown to bestow mercy on those who are sick and seek His help. The many stories of [[Jesus]] healing the blind, crippled, and ill are the first examples. Even during today's times, there have been claims of modern day miracles as well, such as the possible "curing" of a person's cancer by a Roman Catholic priest, through the power of prayer - something which Hitchens likely rejected to his deathbed. <ref>http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-cancer-cure-miracle-vatican-071510,0,6569863.story</ref> Again it would be presumptuous for a Christian to speak directly on God's behalf, as is Hitchen's most obvious [[hell|eternal fate]] according to the Bible (for only God knows for a fact whether or not he repented on his deathbead) nevertheless the possibilities are a good topic of discussion among Christians and non-Christians alike.

==External links==
*[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1662757,00.html "Why Christopher Hitchens Is Wrong About Billy Graham"], Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, ''[[Time magazine]]'' Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2007

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchens, Christopher}}
[[Category:Authors|Hitchens, Christopher]]

[[Category: Journalists]]
[[Category: Atheists]]
[[Category: Evolutionists]]
[[Category: New Atheism]]
[[Category: Atheism]]

Kim Jong Il

2011-12-19T19:02:06Z

CaptainAmerica789:

{{Dictator bio
| image =[[Image:Bvdy76.jpg|200px]]
| name =Kim Jong Il
| birth =February 16, 1941 Vyatskoye, Russian SFSR, [[Soviet Union]]
| parents =[[Kim Il-sung]] Kim Jong-suk
| religion =Atheist
| education =Kim Il-sung University
| spouse =Kim Young Sook Song Hye-rim Ko Young-hee Kim Ok
| children =Kim Sul-song Kim Il-soon Kim Jong-nam Kim Jong-chul Kim Jong-un
| death =December 17, 2011
| deathmanner =n/a
| burial =n/a
| country =[[North Korea]]
| military =n/a
| rank =None
| polbeliefs =Communism
| party =Workers' Party of Korea
| dictatordate =July 8, 1994
| war =Minor skirmishes with South Korea
| deathnumber =2,000,000 to 3,000,000+
}}
'''Kim Jong Il''' ([[Hangul]]:김정일; [[Hanja]]:金正日) (born February 16, 1941, in Vyatskoye, Russia; died December 17, 2011<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10745725</ref>) was the dictator of [[North Korea]]. He came to power in 1994 and died in 2011. He was also the leader of the North Korean [[Communist Party|Communist]] party (officially, the Worker's Party of Korea). He was criticized for extensive [[human rights]] abuses in North Korea. Over one million people in North Korea have starved to death as a result of his corrupt government, disastrous agricultural polices, and refusal to accept international aid.

He came into power in 1994, after his father [[Kim Il Sung]] died, remained the North Korean leader until his death. He was an [[atheism|atheist]] and an intense persecutor of [[Christians]] and other organized religions. He was in conflict with the world community over the building of nuclear weapons, but seems to relish the attention. Kim claimed North Korea has built a nuclear weapon.

Kim was only 5 feet 3 inches tall,<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1907197.stm</ref> but styled his hair in an exaggerated fashion to appear to be taller leading some to speculate he had a [[Napoleon Complex]].

Kim Jong Il was also thought to be a hypochondriac, as well as his chronic fear of flying. He traveled by a custom built armored train. He was also famous also for his lavish lifestyle, having been known to have at one time abducted a Japanese sushi chef for the sole purpose of making sushi for his "high exaltedness".{{fact}} His death on December 17, 2011 was brought on by obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle. Seemingly coincidentally his death was only two days apart from that of atheist [[Christopher Hitchens]], who also died from cancer brought on by poor lifestyle choices, including heavy smoking and alcoholism.

==Cult of personality==
Although not to the same extent as [[Kim Il Sung]], North Koreans venerated Kim Jong Il under a similar cult of personality. Some examples of Kim Jong Il's personality cult:

*He was born under a double rainbow on the sacred Baektul Mountain in 1942. At the moment of his birth, a bright star lit up the sky, the seasons spontaneously changed from winter to spring and a double rainbow appeared in the sky. (In truth, he was born in Vyatskoye, Siberia in 1941.)<ref>http://asianhistory.about.com/od/profilesofasianleaders/p/BioKimJongil.htm</ref>
*At the age of four, "he smeared a Japanese map with black ink, then a stormy rain poured down on Japan."

== Also See ==
* [[Kim Il Sung]]

== References==
<references/>

== Links ==
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1907197.stm BBC Profile]

[[Category:Mass Murderers]]
[[Category:Dictators]]
[[Category:Communists]]
[[Category:Korea]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Lunatics]]

Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-19T18:19:23Z

CaptainAmerica789:

Essay: Atheism and Christopher Hitchens' death

2011-12-16T16:40:44Z

CaptainAmerica789: posting this here

'''Christopher Hitchens''' died on December 15, 2011, the cause of his death was cancer which resulted from heavy drinking an smoking.

The possiblity that Hitchens' unfortunate death from cancer could have been directly or indirectly influenced by his [[atheism]] remains open. In the indirect sense, it is known that the atheistic philosophy of apathy and the meaninglessness of life leads to vices and mental unwellness. Atheists and secular Americans are known to have higher rates of drug abuse (which in a broad sense could include smoking and drinking as well), and regular churchgoes are known to have much lower rates of mental illness and depression. The depression that atheism causes could easily result in using harmful matericalistic pleasures like tobacco and alcohol as a coping mechanism, since an avowed atheist like Hitchens would never consider seeking spiritual health, such attending a Christian church or looking for answers in the Bible. This provides much evidence that atheism could have been the roots of Hitchens' bad habits, which lead to his cancer death.

Whether Hichens' cancer death was influenced in any direct sense remains more uncertain. While a Christian should not speak directly for God, 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.

And on the flip side, God has been shown to bestow mercy on those who are sick and seek His help. The many stories of [[Jesus]] healing the blind, crippled, and ill are the first examples. Even during today's times, there have been claims of modern day miracles as well, such as the possible "curing" of a person's cancer by a Roman Catholic priest, through the power of prayer - something which Hitchens likely rejected to his deathbed. <ref>http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-cancer-cure-miracle-vatican-071510,0,6569863.story</ref> Again it would be presumptuous for a Christian to speak directly on God's behalf, as is Hitchen's most obvious [[hell|eternal fate]] according to the Bible (for only God knows for a fact whether or not he repented on his deathbead) nevertheless the possibilities are a good topic of discussion among Christians and non-Christians alike.

==References==
<references>

Essay: Atheism and Christopher Hitchens' death

2011-12-16T16:39:47Z

CaptainAmerica789: reposting here

Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-16T16:34:59Z

CaptainAmerica789: /* =Atheism and Hitchens' cancer */

[[Image:Hitchens,_Stanford.jpg‎ |right|thumb|200px|Christopher Hitchens]]
'''Christopher Eric Hitchens''' (April 13, 1949 - December 15, 2011) was a journalist, author and literary critic. Hitchens received degrees in philosophy, politics and economics from [[Oxford University|Balliol College]], [[Oxford]], in 1970. From 1971-1981, he worked in [[Britain]] as book reviewer for ''The Times'' newspaper. He emigrated to the United States in 1981, and has written regularly, or been a contributing editor for ''Harper's'', ''Vanity Fair'' and [[Nation (magazine)|''The Nation'']]. He was an avowed [[Atheism|atheist]] and [[Antitheism|antitheist]]. Hitchens has a younger brother, [[Peter Hitchens]], who is also a journalist, author and critic. Mr. Hitchens was one of the more prominent spokesperson for the [[New Atheism]] movement.

Christopher Hitchens was a member of the International Socialists and an active [[Trotskyist]] during his youth. Before his death he claimed to be "on the same side as the neo-conservatives," but does not consider himself a conservative. He supported [[George W. Bush|George W. Bush's]] foreign policy, but has a negative attitude towards Bush's support of [[intelligent design]]. Hitchens made himself unpopular, even among fellow atheists for his support of the Iraq War, which was motivated by his hatred of religion - in his own words, he supported the Iraq War simply because Iraqis were Muslim, which has been compared to endorsement of racially-motivated [[genocide]].

He was a harsh critic of [[Ronald Reagan]], and considered [[Henry Kissinger]] a [[war criminal]]. Mr. Hitchens was also known for having a history of heavy drinking.<ref>http://www.counterpunch.org/mccarthy02212003.html</ref>

Christopher Hitchens was being treated for esophageal cancer caused by [[alcoholism|drinking]] and [[smoking]] up until his death.<ref>http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/07/video-extended-interview-hitchens-on-cancer-and-atheism/</ref>

== British atheist and evolutionist Christopher Hitchens on bestiality ==

''See also:'' [[Christopher Hitchens on bestiality]] and [[Atheism and bestiality]] and [[Evolutionary belief and bestiality]]

[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal.

At the end of [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[William Lane Craig]] vs. atheist Christopher Hitchens debate there was an audience question and answer period.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU VIDEO] The first audience member to ask a question twice asked Christopher Hitchens to label bestiality as an immoral act, but he refused to do so.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU Christopher Hitchens vs William Lane Craig - Does God Exist Debate]</ref> Dr. Craig said the question posed to Hitchens was a good one and it helped illustrate that atheism cannot offer objective moral standards (see: [[Atheism and morality]]).<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU Christopher Hitchens vs William Lane Craig - Does God Exist Debate] </ref>

==Opposition to Islam and Support of the War on Terror==

Christopher Hitchens became an activist against [[Islam]] when Ayatullah Kohmeini declared a [[fatwa]] against his personal friend [[Salman Rushdie]]. The event has led him to become very vocal in his support of the war in Iraq and heavily critical of Muslim society and ethics.

==Insults toward Jerry Falwell==
In a TV interview with Hannity and Colmes a day after [[Jerry Falwell]]'s death, Christopher Hitchens expressed his anger over Fawell's legacy, calling the media coverage of his death uniform in its "stupidity" and calling Fawell himself a "vulgar fraud and crook"<ref name=FAL>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doKkOSMaTk4</ref>. Hitchens went on to state such outrageous comments as "we have been rid of an extremely dangerous demagogue who lived by hatred of others and prejudice", "that it's a pity there isn't a hell for him to go to", "the evil he did will live after him", and "and I think his death is a deliverance" <ref name=FAL/>. [[Hannity]] said that such comments were "crude", "thoughtless", "mean", and "hateful."

==Select bibliography ==
*''Callaghan: The Road to Number Ten'' (Cassell, 1976)
*''Hostage to History: Cyprus From the Ottomans to Kissinger'' (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1989)
*''Imperial Spoils: The Case of the Parthenon Marbles'' (Hill and Wang, 1989)
*''Blood, Class and Nostalgia: Anglo-American Ironies'' (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990)
*''The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice'' (Verso, 1995)
*''Prepared for the Worst'' (Hill and Wang, 1989)
*''For the Sake of Argument: Essays & Minority Reports'' (Verso, 1993)
*''No One Left to Lie To: The Values of the Worst Family'' (Verso, 2000)
*''God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything'' - outside the US, published with the alternate subtitle ''The Case Against Religion'' (Atlantic, 2007)

Some other titles include: “Letters to a Young Contrarian,” “The Trial of Henry Kissinger (2001)” and his memoir, “Hitch-22. [http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/12/christopher-hitchens-a-reading-list.html#ixzz1gi8RBrKh]

<blockquote>
“Stranger in a Strange Land”: In this piece that The Atlantic published two months after the attacks of 9/11, Hitchens summed up his break from the establishment left over the attacks and the war on terror that was then only beginning. [[Ibidem]]
</blockquote>

==Death==
Christopher Hitchens died on December 15, 2011, the cause of his death was cancer which resulted from heavy drinking an smoking.

===Atheism and Hitchens' cancer===
The possiblity that Hitchens' unfortunate death from cancer could have been directly or indirectly influenced by his [[atheism]] remains open. In the indirect sense, it is known that the atheistic philosophy of apathy and the meaninglessness of life leads to vices and mental unwellness. Atheists and secular Americans are known to have higher rates of drug abuse (which in a broad sense could include smoking and drinking as well), and regular churchgoes are known to have much lower rates of mental illness and depression. The depression that atheism causes could easily result in using harmful matericalistic pleasures like tobacco and alcohol as a coping mechanism, since an avowed atheist like Hitchens would never consider seeking spiritual health, such attending a Christian church or looking for answers in the Bible. This provides much evidence that atheism could have been the roots of Hitchens' bad habits, which lead to his cancer death.

Whether Hichens' cancer death was influenced in any direct sense remains more uncertain. While a Christian should not speak directly for God, 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.

And on the flip side, God has been shown to bestow mercy on those who are sick and seek His help. The many stories of [[Jesus]] healing the blind, crippled, and ill are the first examples. Even during today's times, there have been claims of modern day miracles as well, such as the possible "curing" of a person's cancer by a Roman Catholic priest, through the power of prayer - something which Hitchens likely rejected to his deathbed. <ref>http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-cancer-cure-miracle-vatican-071510,0,6569863.story</ref> Again it would be presumptuous for a Christian to speak directly on God's behalf, as is Hitchen's most obvious [[hell|eternal fate]] according to the Bible (for only God knows for a fact whether or not he repented on his deathbead) nevertheless the possibilities are a good topic of discussion among Christians and non-Christians alike.

==External links==
*[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1662757,00.html "Why Christopher Hitchens Is Wrong About Billy Graham"], Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, ''[[Time magazine]]'' Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2007

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitchens, Christopher}}
[[Category:Authors|Hitchens, Christopher]]

[[Category: Journalists]]
[[Category: Atheists]]
[[Category: Evolutionists]]
[[Category: New Atheism]]
[[Category: Atheism]]

Christopher Hitchens

2011-12-16T16:34:45Z

CaptainAmerica789: death - added new section and content

[[Image:Hitchens,_Stanford.jpg‎ |right|thumb|200px|Christopher Hitchens]]
'''Christopher Eric Hitchens''' (April 13, 1949 - December 15, 2011) was a journalist, author and literary critic. Hitchens received degrees in philosophy, politics and economics from [[Oxford University|Balliol College]], [[Oxford]], in 1970. From 1971-1981, he worked in [[Britain]] as book reviewer for ''The Times'' newspaper. He emigrated to the United States in 1981, and has written regularly, or been a contributing editor for ''Harper's'', ''Vanity Fair'' and [[Nation (magazine)|''The Nation'']]. He was an avowed [[Atheism|atheist]] and [[Antitheism|antitheist]]. Hitchens has a younger brother, [[Peter Hitchens]], who is also a journalist, author and critic. Mr. Hitchens was one of the more prominent spokesperson for the [[New Atheism]] movement.

Christopher Hitchens was a member of the International Socialists and an active [[Trotskyist]] during his youth. Before his death he claimed to be "on the same side as the neo-conservatives," but does not consider himself a conservative. He supported [[George W. Bush|George W. Bush's]] foreign policy, but has a negative attitude towards Bush's support of [[intelligent design]]. Hitchens made himself unpopular, even among fellow atheists for his support of the Iraq War, which was motivated by his hatred of religion - in his own words, he supported the Iraq War simply because Iraqis were Muslim, which has been compared to endorsement of racially-motivated [[genocide]].

He was a harsh critic of [[Ronald Reagan]], and considered [[Henry Kissinger]] a [[war criminal]]. Mr. Hitchens was also known for having a history of heavy drinking.<ref>http://www.counterpunch.org/mccarthy02212003.html</ref>

Christopher Hitchens was being treated for esophageal cancer caused by [[alcoholism|drinking]] and [[smoking]] up until his death.<ref>http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/07/video-extended-interview-hitchens-on-cancer-and-atheism/</ref>

== British atheist and evolutionist Christopher Hitchens on bestiality ==

''See also:'' [[Christopher Hitchens on bestiality]] and [[Atheism and bestiality]] and [[Evolutionary belief and bestiality]]

[[Bestiality]] is the act of engaging in sexual relations with an animal.

At the end of [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[William Lane Craig]] vs. atheist Christopher Hitchens debate there was an audience question and answer period.[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU VIDEO] The first audience member to ask a question twice asked Christopher Hitchens to label bestiality as an immoral act, but he refused to do so.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU Christopher Hitchens vs William Lane Craig - Does God Exist Debate]</ref> Dr. Craig said the question posed to Hitchens was a good one and it helped illustrate that atheism cannot offer objective moral standards (see: [[Atheism and morality]]).<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU Christopher Hitchens vs William Lane Craig - Does God Exist Debate] </ref>

==Opposition to Islam and Support of the War on Terror==

Christopher Hitchens became an activist against [[Islam]] when Ayatullah Kohmeini declared a [[fatwa]] against his personal friend [[Salman Rushdie]]. The event has led him to become very vocal in his support of the war in Iraq and heavily critical of Muslim society and ethics.

==Insults toward Jerry Falwell==
In a TV interview with Hannity and Colmes a day after [[Jerry Falwell]]'s death, Christopher Hitchens expressed his anger over Fawell's legacy, calling the media coverage of his death uniform in its "stupidity" and calling Fawell himself a "vulgar fraud and crook"<ref name=FAL>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doKkOSMaTk4</ref>. Hitchens went on to state such outrageous comments as "we have been rid of an extremely dangerous demagogue who lived by hatred of others and prejudice", "that it's a pity there isn't a hell for him to go to", "the evil he did will live after him", and "and I think his death is a deliverance" <ref name=FAL/>. [[Hannity]] said that such comments were "crude", "thoughtless", "mean", and "hateful."

==Select bibliography ==
*''Callaghan: The Road to Number Ten'' (Cassell, 1976)
*''Hostage to History: Cyprus From the Ottomans to Kissinger'' (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1989)
*''Imperial Spoils: The Case of the Parthenon Marbles'' (Hill and Wang, 1989)
*''Blood, Class and Nostalgia: Anglo-American Ironies'' (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1990)
*''The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice'' (Verso, 1995)
*''Prepared for the Worst'' (Hill and Wang, 1989)
*''For the Sake of Argument: Essays & Minority Reports'' (Verso, 1993)
*''No One Left to Lie To: The Values of the Worst Family'' (Verso, 2000)
*''God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything'' - outside the US, published with the alternate subtitle ''The Case Against Religion'' (Atlantic, 2007)

Some other titles include: “Letters to a Young Contrarian,” “The Trial of Henry Kissinger (2001)” and his memoir, “Hitch-22. [http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2011/12/christopher-hitchens-a-reading-list.html#ixzz1gi8RBrKh]

<blockquote>
“Stranger in a Strange Land”: In this piece that The Atlantic published two months after the attacks of 9/11, Hitchens summed up his break from the establishment left over the attacks and the war on terror that was then only beginning. [[Ibidem]]
</blockquote>

==Death==
Christopher Hitchens died on December 15, 2011, the cause of his death was cancer which resulted from heavy drinking an smoking.

===Atheism and Hitchens' cancer==
The possiblity that Hitchens' unfortunate death from cancer could have been directly or indirectly influenced by his [[atheism]] remains open. In the indirect sense, it is known that the atheistic philosophy of apathy and the meaninglessness of life leads to vices and mental unwellness. Atheists and secular Americans are known to have higher rates of drug abuse (which in a broad sense could include smoking and drinking as well), and regular churchgoes are known to have much lower rates of mental illness and depression. The depression that atheism causes could easily result in using harmful matericalistic pleasures like tobacco and alcohol as a coping mechanism, since an avowed atheist like Hitchens would never consider seeking spiritual health, such attending a Christian church or looking for answers in the Bible. This provides much evidence that atheism could have been the roots of Hitchens' bad habits, which lead to his cancer death.

Whether Hichens' cancer death was influenced in any direct sense remains more uncertain. While a Christian should not speak directly for God, 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.

And on the flip side, God has been shown to bestow mercy on those who are sick and seek His help. The many stories of [[Jesus]] healing the blind, crippled, and ill are the first examples. Even during today's times, there have been claims of modern day miracles as well, such as the possible "curing" of a person's cancer by a Roman Catholic priest, through the power of prayer - something which Hitchens likely rejected to his deathbed. <ref>http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-cancer-cure-miracle-vatican-071510,0,6569863.story</ref> Again it would be presumptuous for a Christian to speak directly on God's behalf, as is Hitchen's most obvious [[hell|eternal fate]] according to the Bible (for only God knows for a fact whether or not he repented on his deathbead) nevertheless the possibilities are a good topic of discussion among Christians and non-Christians alike.

==External links==
*[http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1662757,00.html "Why Christopher Hitchens Is Wrong About Billy Graham"], Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, ''[[Time magazine]]'' Tuesday, Sep. 18, 2007

==References==
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[[Category:Authors|Hitchens, Christopher]]

[[Category: Journalists]]
[[Category: Atheists]]
[[Category: Evolutionists]]
[[Category: New Atheism]]
[[Category: Atheism]]