'''Christopher Eric Hitchens''' (April 13, 1949 - December 15, 2011) was a [[Journalism|journalist]], [[author]] and literary critic. Hitchens received a degree in PPE ([[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 of America|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 [[Marxist]], [[Atheism|atheist]] and [[Antitheism|antitheist]]. Hitchens has a younger brother, [[Peter Hitchens]], who is also a journalist, author and critic. Hitchens was a prominent founder and spokesperson of 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 [[Neoconservatism|neo-conservatives]]" concerning various military interventions, but did 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 many fellow atheists for his support of the Iraq War, which was motivated by his hatred of Islamacists, Islamic terrorism, religion and his desire to see secularism advanced.<ref>Book Review: [http://inconvenienthistory.com/archive/2010/volume_2/number_1/christopher_hitchens_and_his_critics.php Christopher Hitchens and His Critics: Terror, Iraq and the Left], edited by Simon Cottee and Thomas Cushman, New York University Press, 365 pages, 2008. L.A. Rollins</ref><ref>[httphttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/hitchens-weak-defense-of-_b_69553.html Hitchens' Weak Defense of "Islamo-Fascism"] by
Richard (RJ) Eskow, Huffington Post, posted 10/23/2007</ref>
''See also:'' [[Atheism and cancer]] and [[Atheism and health]]
Mr. Hitchens was known for having a history of heavy drinking and chain-smoking.<ref>http://www.counterpunch.org/mccarthy02212003.html</ref><ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[httphttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/17/christopher-hitchens-desp_n_685021.html Christopher Hitchens: Despite Cancer, I'd Drink & Smoke Again]</ref> Christopher Hitchens was being treated for esophageal cancer which was likely 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><ref>[http://healthblog.ctv.ca/post/Why-did-Hitchens-continue-to-smoke-during-his-treatment.aspx Why did Hitchens continue to smoke & drink during treatment? -CTV News]</ref> Despite his esophageal cancer, when asked by interviewer Charlie Rose if in retrospect he would have engaged in heavy drinking and smoking knowing his present cancer condition, Hitchens said he think he would have done things the same.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/> Hitchens also had problems with being overweight during his life (see: [[Atheism and obesity]] and [[New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight]]).<ref>[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3UXl0oMYPLs/SXgxH_-MgFI/AAAAAAAAAF4/EU-wzxEjOmc/s1600-h/atheist-reason.jpg Picture of an overweight Christopher Hitchens smoking a cigarette]</ref> According to the [[National Cancer Institute]], "[[obesity]] is associated with increased risks of cancers of the esophagus."<ref>[http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/obesity National Institute of Health - Obesity and Cancer Risk]</ref>
Matthew C. Nisbet wrote in his article ''Hitchens and Ebert on Atheism and Dying'':
[[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 (see: [httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FofDChlSILU VIDEO]).<ref name="ReferenceA">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRGOJmD8yYA Atheism and Bestiality - portion of Craig vs. Hitchens debate - audience participation period]</ref> 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 name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB">[httphttps://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 name="ReferenceB"/>
== Christian patience, forgiveness and long-suffering towards Christopher Hitchens ==
Hitchen's personified the wasted life. A life lived as a fool. To live as one who embraces the [[philosophy]] of [[Naturalism (philosophy)|naturalism]] is to live a wasted life void of any originally intended and designed significance. It is the most closed-minded philosophy imaginable. Such a description is the legacy of Christopher Hitchens - a wasted life. A life spent as one fighting the ultimate reality.
And just as all those who lived between the time Jesus walked the earth and now, it may be stated correctly, Christopher Hitchens died in 2011 A.D., the year of our Lord.<ref>[httphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHxjNcBZ9Tg Christopher Hitchens - A wasted life]</ref>}}
==Opposition to Islam and Support of the War on Terror==
==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 Falwell's legacy, calling the media coverage of his death uniform in its "stupidity" and calling Falwell himself a "vulgar fraud and crook".<ref name=FAL>httphttps://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 ==