Hitchens death bed conversion (not)

Well the inevitable has happened, an evangelical Christian claims that Hitchens was considering becoming a Christian before his death. Apparently nothing is sacred to a Christian.Dying Christopher Hitchens considered Christianity, new book claims

There was a denial posted yesterday: Christopher Hitchens’s Atheism, Intact

quote:

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I knew Christopher Hitchens. For more than 20 years he was my close friend. There is simply no truth to the rumor that he was shaky in his atheism toward the end of his tragically short life.

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Follow the link to read the complete "letter to the editor".

I remember hearing of Bertrand Russell's "conversion", albeit not on his death bed but rather when he was sick with a high fever. The story was spread by his nurse, who was a very pious Christian. While sick, Russell was reportedly speaking praises to God non-stop. In reality, he was spewing an endless string of profanity which she had mistaken for pious utterings.

It was my impression when Hitchens died that he hadn't changed from his atheism, so my reaction to hearing about this book was pretty skeptical. Of course Christians hope for a change of heart in anybody, and Hitchens did make friends with Christians so it's natural that they wish him a happy eternity and look perhaps too closely for signs of it.I found a review of the book by Douglas Wilson, a pastor who spent time with Hitchens a few years ago, who surprised me by heaping superlatives on the book. I would have expected him to think it wishful thinking, but no, he thought it an extremely well written and respectful account of Taunton's friendship with Hitchens, and treats the idea of his seeking salvation at the end as a realistic enough possibility -- based mostly on the impression that Hitchens did share personal feelings with Christian friends he might not have with atheist friends.But if he was saved it would have to have been a very private matter between him and God and nobody else, and that in itself is problematic, because as soon as we become believers we know we are to confess it to others. Since that didn't happen I remain unconvinced that he had a change of heart.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

Every fundamentalist used to be an atheist. Every atheist converts on his deathbed.

Another link on this issue:
Taunton vs. Krauss on Hitchens’s conversion

The same claims were made of Darwin. Many stated that he had a death bed conversion as well. There is no proof of that either. Although in Darwin's case it was more related to his work on evolution rather than his belief system.This is nothing new. But regarding Hitchens, how about we hear from the man himself:I think that pretty sums things up nicely.