Arguing in favour of the motion are Archbishop John Onaiyekan and the Hon. Ann Widdecombe MP. Arguing against the motion are Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry. Christopher Hitchens asserts that any argument trying to identify the merits of the Catholic Church must begin with a long list of sincere apologies for its past crimes, including but not limited to: the Crusades; the Spanish inquisition; the persecution of Jews and the forced conversion of peoples to Catholicism, especially in South America. Stephen Fry concedes that his opposition to the motion is a deeply personal and emotional one. He criticises the Catholic Church
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Professor Grayling maintains that since 9/11, the nature of the debate on religious commitment has become far more serious. He distinguishes between atheism, secularism and humanism. He refutes Moore’s suggestion that atheists cannot fully understand the complexity of the religious experience, insisting that many atheists understand it all too well, having been brought up in a religious family or community. Richard Dawkins defines fundamentalism as the following: blind obedience to scripture regardless of evidence, allied to extremism. He argues that far from being entrenched fundamentalists, atheists have a commitment to exploring evidence, and a readiness to embrace change, and that
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Is Christianity The Problem? The Kings College, NY On Monday, October 22, at 7:30pm, The King’s College sponsored a debate between cultural critics Dinesh D’Souza and Christopher Hitchens at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, 64th Street and Central Park West, in New York City. The debate will address the question, “Is Christianity the problem?” The debate is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7 PM. Hitchens, a staunch critic of Christianity, has recently gained much attention for his bestselling 2007 book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. Known for his sharp wit and fiery atheism, Hitchens is a
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At the Westminister Theological Seminary, Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilsons debate on the existence of God. These two men happen to have befriended each other over the course of their discussions, and were recently involved in the making of a compelling documentary entitled Collision. Check it out as well: http://www.collisionmovie.com. October 30, 2008 at the Empire State Building Topic: The Existence of God Video: http://www.wts.edu/flash/media_popup/media_player.php?id=462&paramType=video Post-debate interview: http://www.patrolmag.com/times/914/christopher-hitchens-vs-douglas-wilson