Message 46 of 186 (644302) 12-17-2011 1:54 AM

Reply to: Message 43 by Dawn Bertot 12-17-2011 1:29 AM

That didn't make much sense either.

Message 48 of 186 (644304) 12-17-2011 2:20 AM

Reply to: Message 37 by Buzsaw 12-16-2011 10:30 PM

I was expressing an opinion which is a little different than saying that you or anyone else is essentially condemned to hell.

I'm sure you know the Bible backwards and forwards but I do believe that your way of understanding it is mistaken. This isn't a judgement but it is my opinion that your way of understanding the Scriptures leads to a false understanding of the nature of God and His plans for us and His creation.

However, we are both guilty of extremely bad taste in discussing this issue in this thread. If you want to discuss it further go to the thread "A Problem With the Literal Interpretation of Scripture".

I disagreed fundamentally with Chris Hitchens take on Christianity but he was a gifted passionate writer who believed strongly in what he was doing. I enjoyed reading what he had to say. Whether I disagreed with him or agreed with him his writings were thoughtfully written and always left me thinking over what he had to say. I’ll miss opening my morning paper and reading his columns.

RIP Christopher Hitchens

Message 49 of 186 (644309) 12-17-2011 4:11 AM

Reply to: Message 38 by Dawn Bertot 12-16-2011 11:37 PM

Nice. How terribly Christian of you. Jesus will be impressed.

Message 50 of 186 (644332) 12-17-2011 8:10 AM

Reply to: Message 22 by hooah212002 12-16-2011 1:47 PM

To wit: What not to say about Christopher Hitchens

I was curious about this man and also a bit curious about human nature and this inevitable quarrel between religious believers/fanatics and atheist/humanist freethinkers. During his life, Hitchens himself was often happily immersed in this controversy. As one of the blogs said,... but all this was part of the same battle he’d waged all his life — “It was, if I can phrase it like this, a matter of everything I hated versus everything I loved. In the hate column: dictatorship, religion, stupidity, demagogy, censorship, bullying, and intimidation. In the love column: literature, irony, humor, the individual, and the defense of free expression.”

So I vote to keep this EvC obituary open in the defense of free expression, allowing the religious and secular thinkers alike to continue their ongoing tirade against each other, in this topic at least...in honor of a man of expression and literary skill, dying with his beliefs intact.

Oh BTW Hooah, I thought you might enjoy this:

(comment from blog: Shortly after Christopher Hitchens’ passing in the wee hours of Thursday-into-Friday, the Reverend Rick Warren tweeted, “My friend Christopher Hitchens has died. I loved & prayed for him constantly & grieve his loss. He knows the Truth now.”

(comment from reader of blog, about Warren)
..."So odd that so many seemed to take his criticisms of religions personally. Why did they even care what he thought? It's not like reading his book would cause them to lose their faith. Comments like Warren's are petty, as if he views faith as nothing but a game with winners and losers."

Message 51 of 186 (644340) 12-17-2011 8:38 AM

Reply to: Message 49 by Tangle 12-17-2011 4:11 AM

Run back through just this thread alone (not to mention all the others)and look at the verbage, bellitlement and outright blasphemy of the God of the Bible

Why would we consider such justified comments about a worm like Hitchens, unjustifed?

You fellas have not the slightest hestitation to demean the God of the Bible, you even seem to take pleasure in it, with your heros like Hitchens

Irepeat he was a piece of Garbage and a piece of dung, especially compared to the entity that created and has and has maintained your worthless existence. There si a difference in people who do things in ignorance and those like Hitchens that flaunt thier blasphemy in the open

These comments are justified concerning such a person

Dawn Bertot

Edited by Dawn Bertot, : No reason given.

Message 52 of 186 (644343) 12-17-2011 8:46 AM

Reply to: Message 1 by Tangle 12-16-2011 3:52 AM

These are the quotes I think best sum up Hitch and his approach.

“I try to deny myself any illusions or delusions, and I think that this perhaps entitles me to try and deny the same to others, at least as long as they refuse to keep their fantasies to themselves.”

“And here is the point, about myself and my co-thinkers. Our belief is not a belief. Our principles are not a faith. We do not rely solely upon science and reason, because these are necessary rather than sufficient factors, but we distrust anything that contradicts science or outrages reason. We may differ on many things, but what we respect is free inquiry, openmindedness, and the pursuit of ideas for their own sake.”

“Everybody does have a book in them, but in most cases that's where it should stay.”

“Beware the irrational, however seductive. Shun the 'transcendent' and all who invite you to subordinate or annihilate yourself. Distrust compassion; prefer dignity for yourself and others. Don't be afraid to be thought arrogant or selfish. Picture all experts as if they were mammals. Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”

“What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence.”

Message 53 of 186 (644344) 12-17-2011 8:47 AM

Reply to: Message 51 by Dawn Bertot 12-17-2011 8:38 AM

What would Jesus say.......?

Message 54 of 186 (644347) 12-17-2011 8:59 AM

Reply to: Message 51 by Dawn Bertot 12-17-2011 8:38 AM

The problem with pig-ignorant, hate-filled and downright unpleasant 'Christians' like you is that you don't even live by the book that you say you revere so much. If you did, I'd at least respect your delusions; as it is, you're just a nasty piece of work and a disgrace to Christianity.

Ephesians 4:31-32
English Standard Version (ESV)
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Message 55 of 186 (644348) 12-17-2011 8:59 AM

Reply to: Message 53 by Straggler 12-17-2011 8:47 AM

Concerning men like Hitchens, I believe he said

Matt 18:6

Dawn Bertot

Message 56 of 186 (644350) 12-17-2011 9:03 AM

Reply to: Message 54 by Tangle 12-17-2011 8:59 AM

You fellas really dont pay any close attention to the verbage and disrespect you pay to the God of the Bible in your communications, do you

But when someone offends you in the slightest, you respond like children

Look at your own words and terminology then start throwing stones

Dawn Bertot

Message 57 of 186 (644352) 12-17-2011 9:07 AM

Reply to: Message 55 by Dawn Bertot 12-17-2011 8:59 AM

Is it just Hitchens who you think should be drowned or would you extend that to anyone who criticises Christianity and faith based thinking?

Message 58 of 186 (644353) 12-17-2011 9:13 AM

Reply to: Message 51 by Dawn Bertot 12-17-2011 8:38 AM

A couple of points.

1) Does God need us to defend Him? Does He expect us to condemn those who mock Him?

2) Is there any better ways to defend the faith rather than attacking those who freely express themselves in opposition to it?

Edited by AdminPhat, : change adminphat to phat

Message 59 of 186 (644354) 12-17-2011 9:15 AM

Reply to: Message 56 by Dawn Bertot 12-17-2011 9:03 AM

Perhaps you could go and find something I have actually said before you accuse me of saying it?

However, whatever is said and by whoever, how does that excuse you of behaving so appallingly?

Walk the talk or stop pretending to be a Christian.

Message 60 of 186 (644356) 12-17-2011 9:27 AM

If people vilified Hitchens during his life I see no particular reason why they should cease to do so upon his death, provided that they are sincere.

If, on the other hand, they are merely trolling, well that is both pathetic and despicable. Such people reveal themselves in their own words. Best ignore them.

Mutate and Survive