Sharpton / Hitchens Debate - The Persistence of Religion

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Sharpton / Hitchens Debate - The Persistence of Religion

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17 жыл бұрын

Complete video at: fora.tv/2007/05/07/Al_Sharpton...
Author Christopher Hitchens debates the Reverend Al Sharpton on the persistence of religious belief in a world of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement.
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A Debate: God Is Not Great with Al Sharpton and Christopher Hitchens.
Taking on possibly the greatest issue of our time - the malignant force of religion in the world - Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion through a close and learned reading of the major religious texts, citing numerous historical instances in which sexual repression and outrageous acts of violence have been committed in the name of God. He argues for a more secular life based on science and reason, in which hell is replaced by the Hubble telescope's awesome view of the universe, and Moses and the burning bush give way to the beauty and symmetry of the double helix. -- NYPL
Christopher Hitchens is an author, journalist and literary critic. Now living in Washington, D.C., he has been a columnist at Vanity Fair, The Nation and Slate; additionally, he is an occasional contributor to many other publications.
Al Sharpton Jr. is a Pentecostal minister, a political activist, civil rights activist and film actor. In recent years, Sharpton has also become a perennial candidate in his quest for the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States. Author of "Go and Tell Pharaoh: The Autobiography of the Reverend Al Sharpton."

Пікірлер: 705

@Gintonious 10 жыл бұрын

There is no "belief" required for evolution, you either understand it or choose to ignorantly ignore it.

@djk102391 14 жыл бұрын

"why did the best man I know get cancer of the throat" Did anyone else notice that?

@writersblock26 13 жыл бұрын

Thank you for posting this, ForaTv.

@ronniez456 17 жыл бұрын

Thank you for what you do, Christopher Hitchens.

@ItsMeMarley13 17 жыл бұрын

thanks! you're approval means so much

@Shilpusuresh 17 жыл бұрын

Thanks for putting this on here Nice posts too

@BASSPLAYE17 17 жыл бұрын

Love it Kitepilot! I was in fact very happy of how much knowledge Hitchens did have on multiple religions and his experiences to bring him to the conlusions that he stands for today. For every bible pushed in my face, I now push Hitchens book back in yours!

@craighorton1545 3 жыл бұрын

Well done Mr. Hitchens. Thanks Sir.

@showbizjosh40 14 жыл бұрын

Very nicely put! I like this answer!

@PAVANZYL 15 жыл бұрын

Absolutely right! I wish more people would see it this way.

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

How do you go about eradicating fanatic beliefs?

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

you're right, I went off on a tangent. What do you think is the right plan of action to take regarding the situation in the middle east?

@camcan004 14 жыл бұрын

"I don't love our enemies" - Christopher Hitchens= Priceless lol

@unematrix 11 жыл бұрын

which one is that?

@HappyBunny97100 11 жыл бұрын

I've written 6 for your information. I've been invited to 3 global debates, all three of which I turned down because the persons who requested my attendance had no idea what they were talking about. I sincerely suggest that you take a look at both your mental and spiritual wellbeing, for the good of both you and the world.

@PAVANZYL 15 жыл бұрын

Absolutely right, I wish more would see it this way - the world would be a much better place!

@DrixDZanth 17 жыл бұрын

Good response :) Agreed.

@makano1 12 жыл бұрын

@Area51UFOGynaecology norge danmark sverige eller finland ?

@BASSPLAYE17 17 жыл бұрын

that is awesome! At times I wondered if I was alone with my feelings of being a self proclaimed antitheist, and ive learned i am not. I have found Hitchens book to be the blueprints to my feelings on the matter of religion and creation.

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

"support such action"

@pradtheprophet 15 жыл бұрын

I moved to the MidWest heartland recently .... and I feel the same way...

@JayCity10 14 жыл бұрын

Agreed! I love the quote of turning a enemy into a friend. Well how is that possible, with love? By giving him money? By stop being successful? By stop caring about my friends and family? By going somewhere and hiding? How? Well the bottom line is that a enemy is a person who is jealous of you. I say forget the enemy, because he is still going to hate you in the end. He still has a mind, that is filled with history, and so do you. Only your mind is filled with happiness, and not failure.

@broaddusmarines 17 жыл бұрын

I watched the whoooole 1 1/2 hour debate and was initially thinking to myself, of all the people to debate Mr. Hutchens (a brilliant man) on God, why Al Sharpton? I figured there were more seasoned religious intellectuals. But surprisingly Al held his own and I was impressed with his rebuttals.

@Zerph21 16 жыл бұрын

"Thus I came...to a deep religiosity, which, however, reached an abrupt end at the age of 12. Through the reading of popular scientific books I soon reached a conviction that much in the stories of the Bible could not be true....Suspicion against every kind of authority grew out of this experience...an attitude which has never left me." ~~Albert Einstein

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

You are exactly right.

@sgreen71778 14 жыл бұрын

Why can't we just ACCEPT that we don't know certain things (yet).

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

That's awesome. But what does that have to do with what we are talking about. Or are you just attempting to list miscellaneous info?

@randotastic 16 жыл бұрын

'why are those children being killed? it's because someone who believed in god thought they had it coming'... wow that's awesome! what a statement.

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

Okay, Tom. Thanks for speaking out, for responding. You seem to care about this situation.

@xinlo 14 жыл бұрын

@Kan2209 Nope, I even copy pasted it: "Why haven't I seen any?" I can't see any comment of you using the phrase "Come to think of it." And in the same comment that you say you haven't been looking at all, your last sentence is, again copy pasted, "Show me to one." Your words are against you at this point.

@consciousmess 15 жыл бұрын

Well said, Hitchens nailed it at the end!

@1wordmanymystycs 13 жыл бұрын

Yes, I agree.

@everything543210 14 жыл бұрын

Hear, hear... well said.

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

Why is it an oversimplification?

@hairyreasoner 15 жыл бұрын

"His enemies should do to him what he wants to do to them!! " They are trying to. That's his point.

@buukute 12 жыл бұрын

Iphone, Ipod, PS3, Tv, CAr ... where are they came from

@purphanz 12 жыл бұрын

I would have loved to see Terrance Mckenna debate Hitchens.

@Venomousse 15 жыл бұрын

In fact, we had a lesson dedicated to religion on philosophy class the other day. We all ended up laughing it up over creationism in particular, the teacher included :>

@eoriol1955 13 жыл бұрын

screenflicker, Thank you..It always feels good when someone else agrees.

@matt605 13 жыл бұрын

Hitch says we're on a "cooling" planet. Which is it? Warming or cooling?

@qigong1001 16 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

oh yes, I forgot... love is very important, hugs and lots of support, too

@biggtk 16 жыл бұрын

" is like creating a speed limit on a non existing freeway before the automobile was invented" How so?

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

You're right, I didn't make myself clear. It's not the "environment," I was actually referring to the body. Your body clears cancer cells all the time. I worked with a man whose specialty was cancer patients, and he's seen it reverse too many times to deny it. They took ALL measures- laugh therapy, an alkaline living foods cleansing diet, deep breathing, remove all stress, apply wheatgrass pulses, etc. We treat our bodies really horribly in the U.S.

@racer42O 15 жыл бұрын

well said friend

@SeanofAllTrades 17 жыл бұрын

Although I disagree with his points on the war his points on religion (the topic really being debated) are spot on.

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

I'm not sure you're continuing with any of the discussions I've been involved with. I agree, that ungrounded basis for teaching personal responsibility needs to go.

@rocifier 17 жыл бұрын

He gave up himself. He gave up his glory. He gave up his Holyness to be with sinners and die a sinner's death. He put himself down to our level. That requires great humbleness, compassion, love, and grace. There is no love greater than laying your life down for someone. We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered.

@NewMexico1912 14 жыл бұрын

oh who cares about that, it wasn't a debate directly for Sharpton, it was a community debate and as such he was addressing the community and Sharpton

@pithie84 15 жыл бұрын

What the hell is that guy with that glasses doing at the bottom of the screen when the guy is asking his question at the start of the video, put it to full screen and watch, I don't mean to sound crude but it looks as though he's playing with himself and trying to get his face in the camera view at the same time.

@RPFS2008 15 жыл бұрын

If people thought that this is the only life we have there would be a lot less wars and a whole lot more respect for the lives of others.

@TomWyn123 16 жыл бұрын

Because its basic debate rule one doesn't lead to the other. I used it as an analogy that by no means solicits the idea proving the analogy is plausible doesn't mean the topic is plausible there is no causal link between those two.

@MrKennyKRH85 14 жыл бұрын

Advancing in technology is the same as growing in knowledge.

@asmoen 14 жыл бұрын

Coreygames- I can't let this grammar slip go uncorrected either. And since this conversation devolved into silliness, you still appear to be mistaken. The correct word is indeed "who." Some example sentences. Who is going with us? ('Who' is the subject, so you wouldn't say, "Whom is going with us?") With whom are you speaking? ('Whom' is the object of this sentence, not the subject.) to be continued...

@DrixDZanth 17 жыл бұрын

I love hitch. However, I'm trying to figure out why he motions towards his head at 7:28-ish when referring to the adrenaline [sic] glands.

@Area51UFOGynaecology 13 жыл бұрын

@ppd8472 The "wave of reason" has yet to make the same impact in the US as it has here in Scandinavia. We are the most atheistic people in the world right now, with only about 10% of the populace(mostly immigrants)here identifying themselves with a religion. Strange that someone who has even opened a book about biology can even for a moment think that anything else can be more truthfull. I believe that in our lifetimes we will see enormous enlightenment spreading across the continents. Cheers!

@sam51092 14 жыл бұрын

@1milewski Thank you:)

@peaco1000 17 жыл бұрын

Elequently put.

@psychhubuk 11 жыл бұрын

Ummm... I don't believe in a god and nothing has appeared yet. What am I doing wrong?

@laggynewbie 17 жыл бұрын

people think hitchens has anger in him, but its just some one who is passionate, and has the guts to say something. for too long, non believes have shut up, and it has become expected of them.

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

However, one's view on "dis-ease" does have a commonality with one's view on religions, in terms of how to deal with it...

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

I never said I was taking Egyptian studies. I said like studying it, you know like on my own time? A noobie? No I'm not a noobie, I just accept things because someone said that their are similarities between different religions. Even though every Religion has similarities. But please can I get a source to these claims of yours?

@recencyeffect 15 жыл бұрын

Just a troll or do u care to say why?

@Lion117 15 жыл бұрын

No, of course, thats the whole point that i meant, some belief systems are better for certain purposes. like you have to accept, i wouldn't say believe, but accept the axioms and metaphysical postulates of mathematics, or a teacher that you're coming to learn from - that teaches science or philosophy and so on, but you do it from intuition, and not merely reason. then its not believing per-se, but something more creative which invovles intuition-perception .

@peterluvssouthpark 13 жыл бұрын

i like how he totally avoids the point. he begins by attacking the government for hiring 'chaplains', getting the audience on his side, totally avoiding the question of how religion affects people's lives and why it is growing. i find his whole 'arguing style' of patronism and avoiding the point insulting, to the point where he plays to the audience and makes a farce of the whole debate.

@xxMrBaldyxx 15 жыл бұрын

Hitchens is unbeatable on this topic, he owned Sharpton

@juniorB6 15 жыл бұрын

Because one is secure.

@ShakaUVM 16 жыл бұрын

Best part - Hitchens: Religious people should keep their ideas to themselves. Hitches: I hate my enemies, and want them dead. Sharpton: Wait, what? You want US to be quiet?

@confidential1035 15 жыл бұрын

Hitchens is the man!

@1wordmanymystycs 13 жыл бұрын

Should knowledge replace love?

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

It's the least I could do!

@tighttritenight 14 жыл бұрын

Its astonishing that the religious never do think in such a way. God is given all the credit for the good in the world but never held accountable for the bad.

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

Then why did you ask me, why do I believe in a God that kills people for simply not believing in him? Which one is it?

@flankspeed 16 жыл бұрын

Yes, that's more or less the point I'm trying to make. That social change often happens slower to whole societies than the people in charge of those societies would like, usually because old habit die hard. Political savvy often gets around this by clothing the new in the garb of the old. This is less effective in a modern, mass-mediaised (?) world, but it sure as hell worked for Christianity, for example by incorporating it's 2 main religious festivals into important pagan festivals.

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

How can you say that Jesus is not different, if the others think that He is not holy or Divine, but Christians think that he is both Holy and Divine?

@jesusgrc1762 15 жыл бұрын

You got that right. i heard that a rabbi had given that as a serious answer to explain why there were dinosaur fossils. This is the level of ignorance we're dealing with here. real scary stuff!

@TizzTv 14 жыл бұрын

one hell of a universe!

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

Sure you are.

@asmoen 14 жыл бұрын

...continued... "Them who know the truth" [should actually be "they who know the truth, incidentally.] Here, "who" is the subject. The "who" are the ones doing something, "knowing" to be specific. From here, your example (the he/she argument), would also be "reach he" since you would say "it will reach he who knows the truth." Think of the phrase "Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone." Same rule applies.

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

Please explain to me what Hate I was taught, and what in this world that I hate? And so I have to be all knowing and all powerful to make observations? Were Galileo, Darwin, Da Vinci, etc all powerful and all knowing just for simply making observations? I think not.

@dyobodiu 15 жыл бұрын

He nailed his reason ... I totally agree with that! He's a good comedian ... that's all.

@andywayne1 12 жыл бұрын

@RickZiis He gets tired and rests on Sundays. Infallible? What kind of super god gets fatigued?

@xxxMarzikinnsxxx 12 жыл бұрын

@NielasHellsing AND WHAT RERIGION TEATCH YOU??????????????.

@lightyear26 15 жыл бұрын

He also gestured to his throat when mentioning the pre frontal lobes. I wouldn't worry about it.

@undisputedgreatest 14 жыл бұрын

Agreed...and I thought that was incredible at about 6 minutes.

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

Why would I create another denomination when I have no, and desire no denomination?

@ofssk 15 жыл бұрын

of what ??

@Silhouette93 13 жыл бұрын

7:26 Oh shit.

@OMRLPdedicate 14 жыл бұрын

What religious people must never be allowed to forget is that if you credit God with the saving of one baby from a flood, then God immediately takes on responsiblity for all of the babies who weren't saved.

@alexanderhulse 12 жыл бұрын

@NielasHellsing exsacly so many religious people say that athiesm is a religion which is rediculous

@grengd 15 жыл бұрын

Then we are all done for !

@ClumsyRoot 17 жыл бұрын

Down to OUR level, that is.

@ProcInc 15 жыл бұрын

"Above quote by Proinc is from Mein Kampf" Well spotted. Although I was paraphrasing of course ;)

@crystalAura 16 жыл бұрын

I made the point that it's not just "granted" that you chop off a tumorous limb or infuse chemotherapy radiation, as you would see it fit to treat the Middle East. I spoke that there are alternatives (which in my opinion, are more effective, treating the cause, not just eradicating symptoms by any harmful means).

@atheist6in6a6foxhole 14 жыл бұрын

"well i don't love our enemies and i don't love people who do love them. i hate our enemies and i think they should be killed" fucking brilliant. you can't get any more blunt than that.

@sonicwingnut 14 жыл бұрын

I'd agree with this, although Hitchen's points are valid I'd say he's not entirely answering these simple questions (from the rather simple Sharpton) with a direct response, without such preference for prolix. For example Sharpton's theory regarding people seeking religion because of a realisation science dosen't yet have the answers is just as easily explained by 'those people are either too lazy or lack the mental capacity to fully comprehend scientific theory, in order to take them further'

@biggtk 17 жыл бұрын

I said the same thing to people who are against gay marriage, who say that they are not being prejudiced. Once again it's all observation.

@lifeofbob2896 14 жыл бұрын

"Why did the best guy I know get cancer of the throat?" Shit.

@billyweather 17 жыл бұрын

Poor Hitchens. Stuck in a debate with a lightweight like Al Sharpton. What a shame.

@mandolinroad 14 жыл бұрын

I am in no way religious but I do think the Rev. had a point. I think the main reason behind religiousness on a grander scale, is lack of education. But I do also, like Al, think that our need for knowledge and udnerstanding is a double-edged sword. It gave us science but it also continues to haunt us which might be why a lot of people seek the easy, comforting answers of religion.