"Christian God? Jewish God? Or no God?" This was the topic of a very lively Orange County debate between atheist Christopher Hitchens, the Jewish radio host Dennis Prager, and me. The debate was held in the spring at the Bat Yahm Synagogue, and the audience was predominantly Jewish, with a fair representation of Christians and atheists.
This debate is finally online, and you can watch it here.
One might think that this three-way format would benefit Prager and me, because we were the two theists against the atheist. But Hitchens, who is perhaps the most supple debater on the atheist side, did his best to drive a wedge between Prager's position and mine.
For instance, Hitchens hammered Prager on the history of Christian anti-Semitism, leading Prager to make one of the most extraordinary defenses of Christ that I have heard, a defense even more remarkable for its synagogue setting.
Hitchens also tried to get me to dispatch all the Jews in the audience to hell. Aren't you claiming--he asked--that your religion is exclusively true and everyone else's is false? I noted that all three of us on the podium were claiming some form of exclusivity. After all, if Hitchens is right about his atheism it follows that all religions in the world are false. So Hitchens is just as much of an exclusivist as any religious fundamentalist.
Moreover, I noted that Christianity is the only religion that holds another religion, Judaism, to be true. That's why Christians essentially incorporated the entire Old Testament into the Christian Bible. While I believe that Christ is "the way, the truth and the life," I for one am not willing to judge anyone or expel anyone from heaven.
Hitchens on the other hand has said that he doesn't want to go to heaven, which he views as a kind of celestial North Korea. I suspect heaven is full of people who chose God and prayed to Him, "Thy will be done." Hell is reserved for those who by their own free choice refused God and to whom God eventually said, "Thy will be done."
I notice that after posting all my early debates on his website, Richard Dawkins has stopped featuring my recent debates. This is perhaps an indication of how the atheists are faring. Of late I also haven't heard any of these guys call themselves "brights."
If Hitchens can't get the job done, who can? While the pusillanimous Dawkins won't debate me, at least Hitchens keeps trying. My re-match with him is on September 10 in St. Louis, and tickets are available here.
Reader Comments ( Page 32 of 32)
466. I'm all dressed up and have no where to go.
Terry Pratchett: The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to the presence of those who think they've found it.
TJ at 12:04PM on Aug 26th 2008
467. I don't really understand why religons care what other religions think, because they don't even think for themselves! They only know what they've been told. Is that not blaspheme or what? I mean you have your own spirit on (loan) correct? Why are you looking to everyone else to know your Father! You don't even know yourself's how can you know your Father? I would be careful who you pick as your Father though. I testify that my Father is not a wrathful God. He is not even a God! He is far greater he is our Father! He certainly is not a Jealous God! Look around you, who is their to be Jealous of! (you? or your wrathful, envious God?) Do not be foolish. He has no need of anyone. He is complete, pefect, not lacking anything. He bestows his love freely. He does not Judge, he is a helper. Their are many who have come and will who would love to Judge you, for their own glory, because they are in need and deficent. I'm a Christian, but I know the Father and he is not any of your God's for they are many. He is the Father of Jesus CHrist and he is my Father. He will become your Father too if you ask him. but you have freewill. He would not force you, that's not his way, but just know the Judge's have been Judged. Know yourself's! Return to the light! You are all God's!! Everyone's God is real! but that does not mean life. We are all brothers and sisters why do we fight? That is blasphmey agaist eachother, because we all have our Father's Spirit. When you curse others you are cursing yourself. Many of you have been stuck on Earth for many lifes. Aren't you ready to move on? Stop thinking like your Fathers! and lose your ego to think that your Father would be this nightmare your religions make him out to be, just because you are! He is light and in him is no darkness. He is not a divider. You choose to stay in darkness, because you do not know him. but your not going to listen, because man loves the darkness. He wants his God to be as ugly as him, because he does not know anything else. It certainly is not right to kill anyone, even in war. Why would a Father approve or be on anyone's side? A Father just wants all his children to come home. You all fall short of perfect. Still yet he does not judge you, you judge yourself with the God you choose. When you judge others, you are bringing judgment on yourself. You are only what you see in others (including your God!) It's kinda funny since you are better than your Gods. Awaken and you'll know the truth! You are the wealth living in poverty. Brake off your branches, and carry them home. None of you are perfect! He know's it! You know it! Now be perfect! Stop screaming lies! Speak what you know! You know right from wrong (at least you say you do, but act like you don't so you can do whatever you want, and use your religion in war!) Wow how could all of you fail so miserably? You know the truth! You do! So blame yourself if you find yourself Robbed again in the next life! How can you become better if your God is not better than this world? Whoever finds themself is not worthy of this world. Look to yourself! "Those who know all, but are lacking in themselves, are utterly lacking." "For this reason I say, if one is whole, one will be filled with light, but if one is divided, one will be filled with darkness." This is for everyone Christian, Jew, Muslim, ect. The OT God's are not the living Father! When you see the man who is not born of a women, this is your Father! Fall on your face and worship!!! The truth is he did not create you to worship him though (truthfully he was not responsible for material creation (Your flesh!) Prison, but you do have his Spirit because of your Mother. He is not that peddy! He praises himself! He wants you to be perfect, so you can become like him. You are the one who needs some deity to worship, thats why you are in the postion that you are in now. The best slave is a slave who thinks he is free! Sorry if my english is not correct.
Laura at 12:22AM on Jan 27th 2009