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Atheist Hitchens: Prayers 'Touching'
Chicago Sun Times ^ | 8/14/10

Posted on 08/15/2010 4:29:13 PM PDT by marshmallow

The author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything says it is "touching" that many Christians are praying for his healing, both body and soul.

Iconoclastic atheist Christopher Hitchens, whose columns appear in the Chicago Sun-Times, has been stricken with esophageal cancer, a disease that leaves few survivors.

Conservative Catholic writer Thomas Peters has challenged readers of the American Papist website to join him in praying one Hail Mary a day on behalf of Hitchens for salvation and that "God will be with him at the hour of his death."

Hitchens told evangelical broadcaster Hugh Hewitt that he remains convinced these prayers "don't do any good, but they don't necessarily do any harm. It's touching to be thought of in that way."

Hitchens has warned his admirers that if he should cry out to the Almighty, they should ignore it.

(Excerpt) Read more at suntimes.com ...


TOPICS: Ministry/Outreach; Skeptics/Seekers
KEYWORDS: atheism; christianity; hitchens; powerofprayer; prayer; religion
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1 posted on 08/15/2010 4:29:15 PM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

Hitchens has warned his admirers that if he should cry out to the Almighty, they should ignore it.

Jeez you’d think a guy might lighten up.


2 posted on 08/15/2010 4:33:47 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1 Halfbaked 50c)
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To: marshmallow

He’s a tough cookie, but I will continue to pray for him. The most important prayer is that he will find Jesus, not that he will be healed (altho I pray for both). We all die of something. It’s what happens after wards that is the most important thing. May God bless him and touch his heart.


3 posted on 08/15/2010 4:34:39 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: marshmallow

I lost two of the most important people and one pet to cancer. I pray for a cure every time I pray. I also pray that God will give love and comfort to each person suffering from that awful disease, relief from the pain and if it is in his plan, to cure the afflicted. Doesn’t matter who has the disease. It’s awful!


4 posted on 08/15/2010 4:37:27 PM PDT by Sunshine Sister
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To: brytlea

His brother Peter Hitchens, a former atheist, has just published a book of his own conversion to Christianity.


5 posted on 08/15/2010 4:38:07 PM PDT by madameguinot (Our Father's God to Thee, Author of Liberty)
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To: mylife
Hitchens has warned his admirers that if he should cry out to the Almighty, they should ignore it. Jeez you’d think a guy might lighten up.

Betraying your beliefs in a moment of weakness is lightening up?

Believers don't seem to grasp that those of us who don't believe in God actually can be just as sincere in our feelings as those who do.

6 posted on 08/15/2010 4:42:06 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 ("Fanaticism is described as redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim."-G. Santayana)
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To: marshmallow

AT least he admitted he’s “touched” by people praying for him. He should be. You’d have to be a real stone cold character not to have even a bit of appreciation for people praying for your health and salvation.


7 posted on 08/15/2010 4:43:57 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (NO MOS-que)
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To: Darkwolf377

Well, That’s your choice.

Hardheaded and an Atheist.
Good luck with that.


8 posted on 08/15/2010 4:44:51 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1 Halfbaked 50c)
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To: marshmallow
Alcohol is a solvent. When hard liquor goes down the throat, it takes away some of the protective mucus and protective layers lining the throat. The tobacco smoke then has access to the delicate tissues, directly. Hitch has been a heavy smoker and drinker for decades, so the condition he now faces is not surprising. Yul Brenner died of lung cancer, IIRC, and he also had throat cancer. He was a heavy smoker and drank hard liquor, too. The connection between using hard liquor--a stron solvent on delicate tissues--and smoking has not been adequately delineated. Perhaps Hitch could make that contribution to society and publicize the horrific connections, since his hard drinking hard smoking father died of the same horrible disease Hitch now faces.

BTW, I am also among those praying that God heals Hitch and awakens his spirit. What a voice he could be if he got saved! I wrote a novella title 'TURNABOUT' in which a character much like Hitch goes from being an outspoken atheist to a saved person, following a near death experience. Would love for Hitch to that guy ...

9 posted on 08/15/2010 4:47:20 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Dem voters, believing they cannot be deceived, it is impossible to convince them when deceived.)
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To: madameguinot

Really? I would be interested to read that, thank you!


10 posted on 08/15/2010 4:51:15 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: A_Former_Democrat

Having lost my beloved father-in-law to this terrible type of cancer over a year ago, I know it is a daily battle to survive. My father-in-law’s faith is what carried him to the end of his fight, and he did so with the most dignity of anyone I know. For 9 months he could not eat anything just tube fed and for the last month not even able to swallow a spoon of water to moisten his mouth. My prayers are with Mr. Hitchens for him to hold the Lord’s hand when he needs it most.


11 posted on 08/15/2010 4:53:32 PM PDT by jerseyrocks
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To: Darkwolf377

I realize that Hitchens and Ayn Rand are both atheist and great thinkers,But for the life of me I can see how such bright people can be blind to the truth.

I have seen entire companys of people that cant get their act together, Entire Nations and Kings.

But somehow all the wonder in the world and in people hearts just “happened”?


12 posted on 08/15/2010 4:55:56 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1 Halfbaked 50c)
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To: mylife
Hitchens has warned his admirers that if he should cry out to the Almighty, they should ignore it.

He knows the score and that he will indeed cry out. He's just hedging his bet in case he recovers. Pride can have such a powerful influence on us.

13 posted on 08/15/2010 4:56:04 PM PDT by 1raider1
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To: brytlea
that he will find Jesus

Wow I didn't know he was missing......

14 posted on 08/15/2010 4:56:41 PM PDT by ninonitti
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To: brytlea

The Rage Against God: How Atheism Led Me to Faith

Peter Hitchens


15 posted on 08/15/2010 4:56:51 PM PDT by madameguinot (Our Father's God to Thee, Author of Liberty)
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To: marshmallow
“And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4)
If St. Paul of Tarsus can be converted there is even hope for Christopher Hitchens.
16 posted on 08/15/2010 4:57:05 PM PDT by Apercu ("A man's character is hs fate" - Heraclitus)
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To: Darkwolf377

I’m sure they are (and not all atheists feel the need to denigrate believers or even try to change their mind—I have a close family member who says that if it comforts someone, he wants them to stick with it). However, I continue to pray for people I know are atheists, as I strongly believe they are wrong. As Americans they have that right, however, as humans, I have great sorrow for what lies ahead for them. I hope one day He touches your heart.


17 posted on 08/15/2010 4:57:21 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: 1raider1

I pray that he sees the light.


18 posted on 08/15/2010 4:58:09 PM PDT by mylife (Opinions $1 Halfbaked 50c)
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To: marshmallow
Hitchens has been a stalwart defender of the war on Islamo-Fascism and was one of the very few people who would defend President Bush.

He would get right back in the smug faces of blame-America-first crowd in any forum. He could be counted on to shove the filth spewed by Bill Maher and his ilk right back down their throats .

He has been filling a hole in our defensive line vacated by Christians who sought a softer path, and he has my prayers whether he wants them or not.

19 posted on 08/15/2010 4:59:29 PM PDT by kbennkc (For those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know .F Trp 8th Cav)
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To: ninonitti

Sadly, for many people, He is.


20 posted on 08/15/2010 5:00:44 PM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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