comment by thenewgreen

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thenewgreen · 4575 days ago · link · · parent · post: "Genital mutilation is no joke"

Hitchens didn't have to "carry himself as a well-educated man", he was a well educated man. With that fact, there should be little debate.

very great evil has been done for profit and by the use of money. Does this mean that all money is bad, or simply that some people make use of money in harmful and destructive ways? The point that I've heard Hitchen's make a number of times is not that religion is without virtue but rather that the virtues it offers need not come from religion. Meaning that we don't need religion and all of the "human prescriptions of power" that come with it in order to have virtue and morality. Indeed, a world without the superstitions, fear mongering and disregard of factual knowledge that many religions espouse, embrace and encourage would be a good thing. Conversely, a world that truly embraced the teaching of Christ would also be a good thing imo. It's too bad the two have become intertwined. One is a byproduct of religion the other is the beauty of philosophy.

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kpettit · 4575 days ago · link ·

As a professor with a doctorate and two master's degrees in separate fields of study, I don't see how any person can credibly be considered well-educated and intellectual if they simplify so greatly such an important and diversified subject as religion. I agree with Jason Cowley who, in the Financial Times, said this: "[Hitchens'] will be remembered more for his prodigious output and for his swaggering, rhetorical style."

Although I believe that most thinkers of this world (including often myself) can be befuddled by the complex and nuanced realities in which we all exist, and although I believe that the simplification of subjects can lead to fruitful and deeper understandings of their essences, I also believe that Mr. Hitchens offered little to the debate over the negative or positive qualities of religion. Having studied his book God Is Not Great I feel confident in saying that Hitchens’ arguments concerning religion did help foster debate and controversy; however I believe that a more nuanced treatment of any subject as complex as monotheism is the only productive avenue for their discussion.

+discuss+discuss

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thenewgreen · 4574 days ago · link ·

By the way, welcome to Hubski. While we may disagree on some things, I enjoy the conversation.

+discuss+discuss

thenewgreen · 4574 days ago · link ·

As a professor with a doctorate and two master's degrees in separate fields of study -Shall I genuflect :-)

I agree with Jason Cowley who, in the Financial Times, said this: "[Hitchens'] will be remembered more for his prodigious output and for his swaggering, rhetorical style." -What you fail to include is the first word of the sentence you quote, which as you know was "unfortunately". The article you pulled it from was written by a man that obviously held Hitchens intellect in high regard. Context is king.

I believe that a more nuanced treatment of any subject as complex as monotheism is the only productive avenue for their discussion. -Of course you do, you are a believer. For many people it's not a complex issue at all, it's actually quite simple. For many people, religions omnipresence in our society and in our public policy is simply wrong. All topics are complex to those that are deeply engaged in them. Hemingway wrote extensively about the complexities and beauty of bull fighting but to most people its just a man painfully and slowly slaughtering a living creature. Monotheism is no different in that it appears complex until you take a step back and approach it from a high level, then what it is and why it exists becomes more simply observed. This is what Hitchens did well and it's hard for many believers to hear/read because their justification for irrationality lies within the nuance. What Hitchens also did well was use colorful language and humor to inflate his point to hyperbolic levels -No doubt about it.