In the aftermath of the recent wave action in the Indian Ocean, even the archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williamson [sic], proved himself a latter-day Voltairean by whimpering that he could see how this might shake belief in a friendly creator. Williamson is of course a notorious fool, who does an almost perfect imitation of a bleating and frightened sheep, but even so, one is forced to rub one's eyes in astonishment. Is it possible that a grown man could live so long and still have his personal composure, not to mention his lifetime job description, upset by a large ripple of seawater?
Christopher HitchensIf we have free will, by definition we cannot be granted it. We can't be given it. My [-audio-recording-distorted-] paradox states that 'Of course we have free will, we have no choice.' To say that it's a gift is to negate the whole concept of free will on its face. So, if that isn't self-evident, I can't think of anything that would meet the definition of being self-evident.
Christopher HitchensTo what faults do you feel most indulgent? To the ones that arise from urgent material needs.
Christopher Hitchensit is interesting to find that people of faith now seek defensively to say that they are no worse than fascists or Nazis or Stalinists
Christopher HitchensThe secular argument, or the liberal argument, is to as much as possible remove taboos so things do not become unmentionable; to let some air into the discussion.
Christopher HitchensYou notice how liberals keep saying, 'If only Islam would have a Reformation' - it can't have one. It says it can't. It's extremely dangerous in that way.
Christopher HitchensThe offer of certainty, the offer of complete security, the offer of an impermeable faith that canโt give way, is an offer of something not worth having. I want to live my life taking the risk all the time that I donโt know anything like enough yet; that I havenโt understood enough; that I canโt know enough; that Iโm always hungrily operating on the margins of a potentially great harvest of future knowledge and wisdom. I wouldnโt have it any other way.
Christopher Hitchens