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.
Most intelligent thing you ever said :)