Holy Bejesus- Christopher Hitchens on Lou Dobbs

[Styrofoamdeity]

Wow, woke up this morning and the first thing I saw was Christopher Hitchen's face on CNN. Now his reputation is "excellent writer, poor public presenter", but this is the thing- Lou Dobbs loved him. Lou Dobbs made an appeal to his listeners for the book God is Not Great, "I read it, and I strongly recommend you do too. Terrific book....".

Hitchens does come over as a bit toad-like, possibly smelling of martinis and cigarettes, but he will move some books with this lengthy and sympathetic interview. Dobbs was so sympathetic that he showed a list of all the deities and historical personages claiming to have a "virgin birth", then engaged Hitchens in conversation about how that shows that the message of virgin birth is that there is something wrong with women themselves. The birth canal is somehow supposed to be a one way street.

Hitchens is likewise a sort of conservative, supporting the Iraq War, for example. He mentioned that he had just become an American citizen, which will have a nice appeal for the flag-waving old school conservatives that watch Lou Dobbs on CNN. (A bit of a joke I suppose for Dobbs' usual anti-illegal immigrant audience that instead of illegal immigration of hispanics they get a legally immigrated atheist).

Dobbs is an odd and sometimes enviable conservative. Perhaps an atheist? One wonders. He has also in the past focussed on church vs state issues such as the push to teach "intelligent design" in schools, though it was clear he did not understand the science (or pseudo-science) of the issue..

With Dawkins' The God Delusion now with 30 weeks plus on the New York Times Bestsellers List, we are kicking butt right now!

[cyris8400]

This thread needed some links, so I gots me some (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ_l3Utr670).

Loved this line from Hitchens: "Religion ends and philosophy begins, just as alchemy ends and chemistry begins and astrology ends and astronomy begins."

Much better than his interview with Jon Stewart, I think. You could tell that Dobbs read it (while Stewart, while I love him, probably read the Table of Contents and got someone to briefly summmarize the book's ideas for him) and was practically mesmerized by it.

[ond_magiker]

Hitchens came off a lot better than he have often done. He was probably less hung over than on, say, the Daily Show.

[Styrofoamdeity]

He was toad-like and sodden-looking to be sure, but Dobbs clearly was enamoured with him and the book. Remarkable. Atheism goes mainstream...

Now there is a "strong atheist" for both sides of the political divide. I may not agree with Hitchen's politics, but I am pleased that the traditional conservatives now have their own atheist icon.

[dettus]

Thank you Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Daniel Dennet for opening the door for the mainsteaming of atheism. Thank you to all those who spoke out. And a big nannynanny poopoo to all those who have suggested that rocking the boat does more harm than good.

/semi rant off

[Matty]

Nice job. Got the points across very cleanly without coming off like a booze sozzled arrogant arse as is often the case.

[Steve Schlicht]

Thank you Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Daniel Dennet for opening the door for the mainsteaming of atheism. Thank you to all those who spoke out. And a big nannynanny poopoo to all those who have suggested that rocking the boat does more harm than good.

/semi rant off

I agree...and you're welcome.

The civil manner in which all of the aforementioned writers address the issue of religion is to be lauded.

That said, the real mainstreaming of atheism comes from the grassroots level as well and it is my hope that more civil and articulate interaction with religious adherents will strengthen the notion that it is acceptable to be an atheist and, further, that empirical analysis of claims is preferable to providing benefit to the great human family.

In short, being overtly and intentionally offensive and rude will only be counter-productive and these examples support the idea that a more positive secular activism is necessary.

Steve

[dettus]

only be counter-productive

You mean sometimes be counter-productive for some but inspiring and productive for others.

[Steve Schlicht]

You mean sometimes be counter-productive for some but inspiring and productive for others.

Nope I mean counter-productive overall.

Falling for the religious bait of offending them merely provides religious adherents the emotional win.

In many cases that is all that is needed.

Steve

[Stacey Melissa]

I thought the Daily Show appearance was pretty good. This one was even better. Hitchens definitely seemed more personable this time around. Dobbs seemed a bit weak, but I dunno, maybe that's just his style.

[dettus]

I don't really care about what religonists think, I care about what us skeptics think and how to get more skeptics involved in the conversation. And with that said I am glad for those who try and reach religionists (and for the record I do my part in reaching religionists too).

[Steve Schlicht]

I don't really care about what religonists think, I care about what us skeptics think and how to get more skeptics involved in the conversation. And with that said I am glad for those who try and reach religionists (and for the record I do my part in reaching religionists too).

And that precisely is the common ground we share, dettus.

Now, which of our views better reaches "religionists" so that they might sample skepticism is the tricky bit.

:Cheeky:

Steve

[AdamWho]

The last bit when he had Lou Dobbs pin an American flag on him in commemoration for becoming an American citizen was a nice piece of symbolism.

[JamesABrown]

"Mr. Jefferson, build up that wall."

[Thanatoast]

Now there is a "strong atheist" for both sides of the political divide. I may not agree with Hitchen's politics, but I am pleased that the traditional conservatives now have their own atheist icon.Hitchens is no conservative, traditional or otherwise. He's a self-described socialist, and his politics are decidedly left-wing. That is, with the exception of the Iraq war/occupation.

His reasoning, IIRC, is that he is "anti-tyrany", and the removal of Saddam and his Baathist regime would have an overall-positive effect for the Iraqi people. I don't know if he's modified his opinion on the matter in the last four years or not, but he defiantly stuck to this view at the beginning. It was enough to get him booted from his writing job at The Nation.

[Jazz June]

Hitchens came off a lot better than he have often done. He was probably less hung over than on, say, the Daily Show.

I have to agree on that one. He didnt come across as very interesting when he did the daily show. I will have to go watch this cnn video now.

[blastula]

Dobbs is a friend to atheism? Who knew?!

[TXHumanist]

I thought the Daily Show appearance was pretty good. This one was even better. Hitchens definitely seemed more personable this time around. Dobbs seemed a bit weak, but I dunno, maybe that's just his style.

Was he wearing the same suit in both appearances? Pretty amusing.