Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Hitchens, Christopher


Hitchens, Christopher "God is not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" Twelve: 2007

Hitchens says in his acknowledgments: "I have been writing this book all my life and intend to keep on writing it..." And later in his first chapter: "The argument with faith is the foundation and origin of all arguments, because it is the beginning-but not the end-of all arguments about philosophy, science, history, and human nature." Hitchens feels "religion poisons everything." He spends this entire books pointing out all of the things many readers have wondered about consciously and unconsciously about their religion and question the basis for the use of religion itself. He tears apart all religions and he states that he will continue to do this because although he is content to go to their children's bar mitzvahs, to marvel at Gothic cathedrals, to respect the Muslim beliefs and to interest himself in other religions such as Wicca, Hindu and Jain consolations the members of those faiths are incapable of leaving non-believers alone. People of faith in their different ways are planning the destruction of people who different from their beliefs.

As for me, I have very strong beliefs in the Eternal and do not have for religions as a rule although I read in Buddhism and Taoism. To be a Buddhist, is to question everything in the Dharma as the Buddha (Gautama) instructed so many years ago. He said never believe anything anyone tells you, even me, until you run it by your heart and mind and if it still rings true accept it. That was what attracted me to Buddhism in the first place years ago. It is an inner directed religion in which the truth is arrived by my consulting my Spiritual Center through meditation and not by a static book or person such as a holy man. I also believe that this pathway is right for me and not necessary right for anyone else. It works for me. Truth is relative.

I was raised a Christian and there was much about the Christian religion that did not make sense for me and other religions. This books explores these cracks with a very strong magnifying glass. Buddhism does not escape this magnifying glass. No religion does. The author calls all religions "organized hypocrisy" where rules are made and then ignored. We have all noticed this hypocrisy and it did my heart and mind good to actually see it in print. We have all been under the thumb of organized religion and built up a resentment of sorts to those who would make us submit to the authority of religion or as the author quotes Michael Prest states making us to attend prayers but not force us to pray.

I bought this book second-hand and someone who owned it previously had thoughtfully included an article from Vanity Fair September 2007. The article details surprising support for an attack on religion. This book ended up as a best seller as many bought this delightfully funny but informative book and devoured it in the shadows of their homes. Many people are atheists but are afraid to admit it. I think there are people like myself who are not atheists in the pure sense of the word but are atheists in religions but have very strong beliefs in God, Higher Power, Eternal, The Tao, whatever but not in the man-made stuff (sex intended).

Christopher Hitchens is a brilliant man and he is a gifted writer. His book is a joy to read. He is funny. He is also easy to understand and the anger he feels is translated into a wonderful book that the believer can understand. I also recommend it to all members of any religion so that they can understand their commitment to a religion that is faulty at best. Truth is a state of mind. It is a sword that cuts through lies and holds no favors to anyone. It has nicked the author as well as those he uses it against. This shows in his book if the reader pays attention. Still, if someone is really a strong believer in his or her religion one can come out of this book a stronger and more realistic believer than before.




Name of author: Christopher Eric Hitchens
Dates of birth and death (if applicable): April 13, 1949
Place of birth: Portsmouth, England UK
Education: Balliol College, Oxford
Literary movement associated with author: New Atheism, Polemicism, journalism, essays, biography, literary criticism. He has been a columnist and literary critic at Vanity Fair, Slate, The Atlantic, World Affairs, The Nation, Free Inquiry, and a variety of other media outlets.

Hitchens is often regarded as one of the most prominent exponents of modern atheism and is described as part of the "new atheism" movement. Hitchens along with fellow atheists Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett have often been referred to as "The Four Horsemen". He is a secular humanist and anti-theist, and describes himself as a believer in the philosophical values of the Age of Enlightenment. His main argument being that the concept of God or supreme being, is a totalitarian belief that destroys individual freedom, believing that free expression and scientific discovery should replace religion as a means of teaching ethics and defining human civilization. (Wikipedia)


Nationality: British/American
Notable award(s) or ideas (s): See above
Books and years when published:


As sole author

As sole editor

As co-author or co-editor

As a contributor

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