Modesty is one of my great virtues, and that is why I am always worried when people praise me too much. I'm starting to become concerned I'll end up like that atheist megalomaniac Nietzsche, whose autobiography Ecce Homo contains such chapter titles as "Why I Am So Wise" and "Why I Write Such Good Books."
This past weekend I debated atheist Christopher Hitchens, author of God Is Not Great, at the FreedomFest conference in Las Vegas. Hitchens is probably America's leading atheist and is widely regarded as unbelief's best debater. Richard Dawkins raves about Hitchens' oratorical prowess. Entering the debate, the odds seemed stacked against me: the organizers warned me that the vast majority of the 1,000 libertarians in the audience would be in Hitchens' camp.
Yet when the debate was finished the moderator called for a vote on "who won the debate." By a show of hands, I did! In order to be magnanimous, I said that what really mattered was how many people were on each side prior to the debate. But Hitchens burst in to say that he would have lost anyway! Later several atheists came up to me and said that although they were rooting for Hitchens, they had voted for me because they felt I had prevailed decisively.
I also spoke at a special luncheon event at FreedomFest. My talk was introduced by atheist Michael Shermer, the eidtor of Skeptic magazine and author of Why Darwin Matters. Shermer commented that with the passing of William F. Buckley, I am one of the leading defenders of conservatism and freedom in America. He also added, "Whatever your beliefs, you should read Dinesh's book What's So Great About Christianity. It is the best defense of Christianity that has ever been published."
In addition to dealing with atheist accolades, I also have to contend with the same from fellow conservatives and Christians. The July-August issue of the American Spectator contains a review of my book written by Matthew Kenefick. With the title, "C.S. Lewis, Move Over," the reivew begins this way: "In his new book What's So Great About Christianity Dinesh D'Souza stakes his claim as one of the great Christian apologists." The review ends thus: "In any case, D'Souza has written a book that both G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis would have appreciated and that perhaps even Billy Graham and Pope Benedict XVI could agree is a masterpiece of modern apologetical writing destined to set the standard for years to come."
With comments like this, I am in serious danger of getting a big head and losing my reputation for self-effacing modesty. I suppose I should take consolation from the fact that I have some vitriolic detractors on this blog. But what credibility do these poor fools have with their unimaginative insults and wishful "Hitchens owned you!" declarations? Then an audience biased in favor of Hitchens votes me the winner and Hitchens himself admits that he lost the debate!
Atheists like to think of themselves as akin to champions of the round earth, confronted by religious ignoramuses who keep insisting that the earth is flat. But is it even conceivable that a round-earth advocate should lose a debate to a flat-earth advocate? To put the question differently, if atheists are truly the party of reason, and believers like me are truly the party of "blind faith," how come reason keeps getting its butt kicked?
Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 22)
31. I found Dr McGrath to be modest in a similar debate with Hitchens but certainly not D'Souza. Crikey! What an egomaniac.
Andrew Fuller at 7:32PM on Jul 14th 2008
32. The biggest egomaniacs always see themselves as being modest, along with every other good thing. It's inconceivable to them that they're really shallow and self-centered. That's why they are.
Godless Heathen Brian at 7:39PM on Jul 14th 2008
33. truly modest ppl don't have to blog about how modest they are.
Devynn at 7:50PM on Jul 14th 2008
34. Question?
Since this installment is so lame I don't feel bad about changing the subject.
Scientology - how do Christians deal with it or does it ever come up in your theological discussions as perhaps the most recent example of an emerging religion? What about LDS and other break away groups from the 19th and 20th centuries?
My only agenda here is that I am truly curious.
Steve at 8:05PM on Jul 14th 2008
35. "You are incorrect assuming that philosophy supports belief."
'philosophy' huh? you sum up all philosophic thought: historic, modern, eastern, western, all different branches, call it 'philosophy' and claim 'it' doesn't support belief in god? If you have a few years of extra time on your hands maybe you can expand on that.
I'm no philosophy buff, maybe Renzo or Jesse can help you with that, but common sense says that that was a hasty post.
I said "And philosophically the arguments 'for' are very strong", and they are. I didn't say all philosophies support the notion of god. Sheesh, I have a hard enough time defending what I DO write...
bigTuna at 8:11PM on Jul 14th 2008
36. Onay a true egomaniac would title a blog like this one is titled and expect people to not think he's an egomaniac.
Of course, he knows that it will annoy. That's why he did it. He loves to stir his pot. He doesn't care that it looks bad. That it looks like he's shallow. He IS shallow! He get's paid, and that's what matters to him.
Godless Heathen Brian at 8:12PM on Jul 14th 2008
37. Sheesh, I have a hard enough time defending what I DO write...
bigTuna at 8:11PM on Jul 14th 2008
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For very good reason.
Godless Heathen Brian at 8:13PM on Jul 14th 2008
38. "Onay a true egomaniac would title a blog like this one is titled and expect people to not think he's an egomaniac."
I'm wondering how many different ways you can rephrase and post this same complaint. You've admitted you have an ego problem as well. I'm wondering if it's possible your ego is bruised because DD might have a bigger ego than you. Is it ego envy?
bigTuna at 8:22PM on Jul 14th 2008
39. What sort of idiot, i.e. Dinesh, thinks that truth is determined by a vote?
If we voted that Dinesh is a child molester, would that make him one?
He has to be consistent and say yes. If not, he's a hypocrite.
Knight_of_BAAWA at 8:24PM on Jul 14th 2008
40.
bigTuna you do very well defending your statements.
JefFlyingV at 8:31PM on Jul 14th 2008
41. Tuna - "philosophically the arguments 'for' are very strong"
What philosophical argument do you consider the strongest?
A Thinking BUM at 8:53PM on Jul 14th 2008
42.
Since Jeff Hoard shut down his blog and a replacement hasn't been sought, wouldn't it be interesting if Hitchens could start up a blog in his place?
JefFlyingV at 8:40PM on Jul 14th 2008
43. You do realize how hypocritical it is to glorify your own modesty, don't you Dinesh?
John at 8:44PM on Jul 14th 2008
44. I'm no philosophy buff, maybe Renzo or Jesse can help you with that
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Oh yes, bring on the big guns. The Obfuscator-In-Chief and the Vice-Liar. They blow more smoke than a california wildfire on a windy day. Yes, you do well to seek their help, young Tuna. The Dark Side is strong in them.
Godless Heathen Brian at 8:44PM on Jul 14th 2008
45. DD is awesome. At least there is one conservative blog on aol.
Matt DX at 8:52PM on Jul 14th 2008