Posted on 12/16/2011 5:22:24 AM PST by markomalley
Cancer weakened, but did not soften Christopher Hitchens. He did not repent or forgive or ask for pity. As if granted diplomatic immunity, his minds eye looked plainly upon the attack and counterattack of disease and treatments that robbed him of his hair, his stamina, his speaking voice and eventually his life.
I love the imagery of struggle, he wrote about his illness in an August 2010 essay in Vanity Fair. I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient.
Hitchens, a Washington, D.C.-based author, essayist and polemicist who waged verbal and occasional physical battle on behalf of causes left and right, died Thursday night at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston of pneumonia, a complication of his esophageal cancer, according to a statement from Vanity Fair magazine. He was 62.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
i respected and enjoyed this gentleman’s work. He will be missed.
As well a little late.
Great responses on this thread. I second the sentiments.
Too late for that.
I prayed that Hitchens would come to repent and know Jesus, and for physical healing even though he said not waste our time doing so.
Sad...Hitchens was never one at a loss for an opinion.
Too late for that.
I prayed that Hitchens would come to repent and know Jesus, and for physical healing even though he said not waste our time doing so.
If an unbeliever can redeem himself in such manner, he must have done that.
We'll all find out on Judgment Day.
Now comes the march of those who absolutely cannot stand anyone who can’t be bullied into kow-towing to their Imaginary Friend. How dare the man have the dignity to ignore all those threats of Hell — the spiritual equivalent of “pass on this chain letter or you’ll have bad luck.” But some people just can’t be intimidated by the myths of any culture, and it really galls those who are.
Really? You are that certain? Perhaps, you know something that God does not? Did someone die; and leave you as 'Final Judge'? Or do you just believe Christopher had/has no 'soul' to judge?
Cannot imagine making 'assumptive judgments' such as this.
If I were God; were not take 'kindly' to someone assuming to do my job; or speak for me; much less making serious 'final judgments' in my name.
(And certainly a good bit of all; on this and other 'Hitchens' threads.)
>>I prayed that Hitchens would come to repent and know Jesus<<
I like to believe in deathbed conversions.
May God rest his soul.
Hitchens has found out that God is great.
Did you know that you just wrote that on FRee Republic?
Sadly, he wont be expressing an opinion now. Arrogance and pride quail before a holy God, no matter how glib and full of earthly wit you are.
Hitchens was not an atheist.
Hitchens was an anti-theist.
Consequences.
“If an unbeliever can redeem himself in such manner, he must have done that.”
He cannot. Only the saving grace of Jesus Christ could have saved him, BEFORE (physical) DEATH. He may have done so in his last moments on this earth, but I doubt it. Too late now. Praying for his soul now, would be a waste of your time.
Personally, I liked him. When sober, he was intellectually entertaining. His rabid disdain for God will cost him eternal torment. I can only hope that he didn’t influence too many others to accept his views.
I’ve been a Freeper for 10 years, and I love Free Republic. But there are two contingencies on here I cannot stand: the teacher-bashers, and the smug Christians who pop up on threads informing us all of who is going to Hell.
“Now comes the march of those who absolutely cannot stand anyone who cant be bullied into kow-towing to their Imaginary Friend. How dare the man have the dignity to ignore all those threats of Hell the spiritual equivalent of pass on this chain letter or youll have bad luck. But some people just cant be intimidated by the myths of any culture, and it really galls those who are.”
Excellent post. He represented what is best in Western society (Feedom of Speech and Thought). His was a formidable intellect. RIP
If an unbeliever can redeem himself in any manner whatsoever then the sacrifice of Christ was in vain.
If Hitchens redeemed himself, then Jesus is irrelevant.
Go say it on the mountain. Cheers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.