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Hitchens Was Not Great
Townhall.com ^ | December 17, 2011 | John Ransom

Posted on 12/17/2011 5:32:02 AM PST by Kaslin

When Christopher Hitchens died this week, I trust that after he did so, something miraculous happened.

That’s what my faith tells me.

It’s not in good taste to speak ill of someone recently deceased. But in this case, I think Hitchens would approve, or at least shrug it off with indifference, many of the screeds written for or against him.

But, while reading the eulogies about Hitchens I get the feeling, more than anything else, of a life wasted on unbelief.

Everyone dies, and then…that’s it… or is it?

Is all that’s left behind for a writer like Hitchens a mass of manuscripts and his ability to endure- or not- over the generations?

Hitchens would argue so. But I would argue no.

Because I believe that the things you do in life to bolster faithfulness; the things you do in life to support belief in anything or even something are much more important, either way, than the things you stand against.

Faith is the most important part of life and probably the most neglected.

This is not merely a religious argument. It’s an argument against skepticism as an end rather than as a means to something. It’s an argument that understands that unbelief requires much more faith than faith does and provides us with little substance.

If Abraham Lincoln had merely been against the spread of slavery rather than also believing in the God-given equality of man, 45 million people could be in slavery today.

But let’s get back to Hitchens.

His view of the miraculous is a good example of how faith is the most extraordinary part of human existence.

He dismisses our existence as a mere accident of…well he doesn’t know what.

But if we are just an accident that happened, sentient beings with the ability to know right from wrong, of knowing the natural law from right here in our heart, of comprehending our own existence and even rejecting our existence, well that’s probably the greatest miracle of all.

Is more improbable that man with knowledge of natural law was created by a knowing and loving God or just on accident? It certainly would require a great deal of faith to believe that it was on accident.

I’m not a mathematician, but I’m guessing the odds of me being here, occupying this space and time, on accident, would be quite astronomical.

Reverse engineer the "Infinite Monkey" theory that says that if you have an infinite number of monkeys on an infinite number of typewriters that one monkey will accidentally bang out the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. This is a much-used thought experiment that deals in big number probabilities.

In Hitchens' universe, William Shakespeare was that improbable, infinite monkey, as are you. In fact, in Hitchens universe, Shakespeare is even more improbable than our infinite monkey, because our infinite monkey only accounts for the odds of creating Shakespeare's works, rather than creation of Shakespeare himself.

What atheists would have you believe is the improbable multiplied by infinity by accident.

That's why I think increasingly advances in biology and physics suggest that an accidental creation is the most improbable faith of all.

For example, the theory in quantum mechanics called the Uncertainty Principle- which so far is consistent with what has been observed in physics- increasingly suggests that everything remains only a probability until it is actually observed. Without observation, nothing actually exists.

If that’s true- Einstein rejected the possibility of the Uncertainty Principle- none of us really exist nor does the universe exists without an all-seeing being. There is just no other explanation for the universe.

In Hitchens’ universe, a universe without an all-knowing being, freed from bonds of both time and space, would suggest that our existence is only a probability, not a reality.

The awareness of our own existence, our self-consciousness therefore makes belief in a sterile universe without a Creator, an unknowable act of faith.

But instead of faith all you are left with is the certainty of doubt.

The lesson you find has the moral authority of a South Park episode.

And none of the humor.

That’s not great.

That’s an episode of The View.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: atheists; christopherhitchens; faithandphilosophy; hitchens
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To: Kaslin

I would pray for Mr. Hitchens but at this point it would do him no good. When he was alive there was hope, because where there is life there is hope. He is dead and there is nothing more we can do for him. his fate is sealed and judgement will be rendered, our desires for his salvation are just not relevant...


61 posted on 12/17/2011 11:50:20 AM PST by ColdSteelTalon (Light is fading to shadow, and casting its shroud over all we have known...)
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To: Mr Ramsbotham
Aristides the Rhetor, who writes, "Eleusis is a shrine common to the whole earth... it is both the most awesome and the most luminous. At what place in the world have more miraculous tidings been sung, and where have the dromena called forth greater emotion, where has there been greater rivalry between seeing and hearing?"
62 posted on 12/17/2011 12:16:20 PM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Dysart

Thank you, Dysart, for sharing Larkin’s poem “Aubade”. It was starkly beautiful, in a horrifying kind of way, but reassuring to see that there are others who wrestle with and agonize over death.

Hitchens was the consummate individual, intellectually admirable, and true to himself.


63 posted on 12/17/2011 12:29:20 PM PST by ladyrustic
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To: Theo
I am criticizing a 'title'. . .and what is really; a 'damning' judgment, of a man's entire life.

What amazes me; is the quality of judgments that come from Christians who by turn; would be the first to say - quote - 'Judge Not'. . .

There is a difference between an opinion; a criticism; and what appears; as 'final judgment'; offered by those who simply cannot be the 'final arbiter' of another man's life. A little humility would help, and have to say 'little' humility observable.

Think Ransom's conclusions about Hitchens' life; is at least, unfortunate. Perhaps; had he just 'couched' an adjective or two. . .or had 'any' appreciation. (He could thank Hitchens for inspiring him to clarify the importance of Faith; by which Ransom, may touch someone elses life; who is not yet clear. . .)

64 posted on 12/17/2011 12:55:08 PM PST by cricket (/get the 'Occupier' out of our White House!/ and Newt 'in'. . .and it is NOT just the economy!)
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To: Future Snake Eater

If they consider god one god/one person then they have no explanation for the existence of universal, invariant, abstract entities upon which logic is predicated. So, if you ask the Jew why is logic logical they should reply because God is logical. Now the process begins of examining their god. If that god isn’t triune then it fails in providing for unity and diversity. Without unity and diversity we cant even converse.

The Christian says that logic is logical because it reflects the nature and thinking of the triune God as revealed in scripture. When that God is then examined, His Trinitarian nature provides the preconditions necessary for unity and diversity which leads to understandable language, math and scientific inquiry.

Without a triune God, how do we account for unity, diversity and harmony? If he is one god/one person then where did the diversity come from? If he is many gods, then where did the unity come from? If many gods with many ideas then where did the harmony come from? The father, son and spirit are diverse yet always in agreement (unity and harmony). God has been revealed to us in Holy writ.


65 posted on 12/17/2011 1:31:29 PM PST by crghill (Silly Mormons, God is triune.)
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To: sodpoodle

Hitchens was a troubled figure, although none of the questions he raised were beyond answer. People believe in all manner of invisible things, like breezes or radio waves, not because they ever saw one but because they saw its effects. If the standard Judeo-Christian story about a fallen creation and a future eternity which embraces both hell and heaven seems a little too pat for some people, it at least handily deals with the objection of why terrible or wonderful things seem sometimes to occur to those who would look to deserve them least on earth. Christians and many Jews will tell you that it’s like a camera film being developed or a butterfly that hasn’t yet gotten out of its cocoon. It is only the future that will show the complete story.

Upon coming to the verge of the last asking of the Final Question, did Hitchens finally drop his doubt? Every charitable person not in a position to know hopes he did, but it is among the dreadful possibilities that God has permitted to every man to lock himself into hell and throw the key outside the door, if he means it.

Atheism makes too little sense to me for me to believe in it. It would take too much faith.


66 posted on 12/17/2011 1:49:50 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: Graybeard58

It may be a regionalism e.g. British.


67 posted on 12/17/2011 1:50:25 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: crghill

Old Testament scriptures which do not directly preach a trinitarian Godhead still carry hints of the Christian conception of God, such as God playing multiple roles in a single situation, and we Christians should not be foolish enough to say that God can’t be even more than a three-personal God. What we can say is that God is not less than a three-personal God.


68 posted on 12/17/2011 1:55:39 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: ladyrustic
You're welcome and nicely said. While it's true that "Aubade" isn't inspirational or uplifting in an ordinary sense, and answers no questions or provides guidance, it's hauntingly profound and the poet's voice rigorously honest. The reader almost feels like he is peering in on his own apprehensions.

And I have to think the pensive Hitchens really did wrestle with these primal fears despite his bluster, and it's possible he may have found hope someday given more time. He's RIP now.

69 posted on 12/17/2011 1:57:39 PM PST by Dysart
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To: Dysart

Is he R’ing in P, or did the devil RIP him a new one... beyond mortal ken.


70 posted on 12/17/2011 2:01:27 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: tet68

Some might jokingly call it a redneck heaven, but a serious Christian knows that the Christian redneck is telling Jesus hey this “bread” and “wine” is better than anything that ever got labeled “Bubba” on earth.


71 posted on 12/17/2011 2:04:56 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: Kaslin
We'll know more later but I think Christopher Hitchens was a believer as he lay dying. I would bet on this. Anyways Ch Hitchens was an agent of God. His thrashing around confirmed the faith of many. I highly doubt he converted many to atheism.

To me he was right on many things but wrong on The One Big Thing. But it's all good as far as C Hitchens is concerned. He did good (God). Rest in peace.

Sean Hannity liked him and told a good story last night. How Hitchens and Ann Coulter had a public argument at CPAC a few years back. Attendees surrounded them as they debated. Chris Hitchens smoking a cigarette and drinking a glass of scotch and getting better as he drank more.

In my hour of darkness, in my time of need Oh Lord, grant me vision, oh Lord, grant me speed Oh Lord, grant me vision, oh Lord, grant me speed
--Graham Parsons sung with Emmylou

72 posted on 12/17/2011 2:13:16 PM PST by dennisw (A nation of sheep breeds a government of Democrat wolves!)
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To: miss marmelstein

I know. But he really seems to have developed a bit of an obsession with his atheism towards the end, and that has somewhat blotted out his other work. Maybe it will emerge again later.


73 posted on 12/17/2011 2:21:19 PM PST by livius
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To: Kaslin
For example, the theory in quantum mechanics called the Uncertainty Principle- which so far is consistent with what has been observed in physics- increasingly suggests that everything remains only a probability until it is actually observed. Without observation, nothing actually exists.

If that’s true- Einstein rejected the possibility of the Uncertainty Principle- none of us really exist nor does the universe exists without an all-seeing being. There is just no other explanation for the universe.

Example number 57,923 of why people should not use material they don't understand as a point of argument or analogy.

The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle deals with the limits of exactitude at certain scales and with respect to certain properties. Quantum superposition (and the collapse of the wave function), which many people have heard of through Schrodinger's thought experiment (i.e. Schrodinger's Cat), are not the same thing (though they may derive from the same mathematics)!

So, basically, I have no reason to pay attention to this goof-ball, since it's obvious that he's writing about things that he has no understanding of whatsoever. Rather than being persuasive, his dive into this material merely makes him non-credible...

74 posted on 12/17/2011 2:27:38 PM PST by Charles H. (The_r0nin) (Hwaet! Lar bith maest hord, sothlice!)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Most intelligent thing you ever said :)


75 posted on 12/17/2011 2:29:03 PM PST by dennisw (A nation of sheep breeds a government of Democrat wolves!)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

We can only say what he is to the extent he has revealed himself and he’s revealed himself as one and three.


76 posted on 12/17/2011 2:34:00 PM PST by crghill (Silly Mormons, God is triune.)
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To: Charles H. (The_r0nin)

It’s interesting but I don’t know if it proves anything or not.

Here’s a situation I know more about. I have two cats who weigh the same. (All cats have gravity rays they can turn on whereupon, lying upon their humans in bed, they increase their weight by a random factor up to five.) During the night, when I’m asleep, Susie jumps on my feet. Or is it Timmy? I have the covers pulled over my face so I can’t see. It’s only when I beckon whichever cat it was to walk up to my face, that I can see if it was him or her.


77 posted on 12/17/2011 2:49:11 PM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Sometimes progressives find their scripture in the penumbra of sacred bathroom stall writings (Tzar))
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To: HiTech RedNeck
That sounds about right. I have five cats of varying weights. All can, however, instantaneously concentrate all of their weight into one paw (which just happens to be the paw they are standing on me with). So I'll be in bed and get the 700 lb. icepick-of-doom in my kidney... from a 10 lb. cat...
78 posted on 12/17/2011 3:00:12 PM PST by Charles H. (The_r0nin) (Hwaet! Lar bith maest hord, sothlice!)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
That sounds about right. I have five cats of varying weights. All can, however, instantaneously concentrate all of their weight into one paw (which just happens to be the paw they are standing on me with). So I'll be in bed and get the 700 lb. icepick-of-doom in my kidney... from a 10 lb. cat...
79 posted on 12/17/2011 3:00:24 PM PST by Charles H. (The_r0nin) (Hwaet! Lar bith maest hord, sothlice!)
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To: Kaslin

Hitchens wans’t great, but I give him credit for standing up to his fellow leftists and not bowing to political correctness.


80 posted on 12/17/2011 5:09:33 PM PST by Clintonfatigued (Illegal aliens collect welfare checks that Americans won't collect)
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