The Dark Side Of Religion | Christopher Hitchens @ FreedomFest 

This man is one of my heroes. Even in death he continues to inspire me and many other people who are now just finding his lectures and debates. His books have changed my life for the better and I hope for the rest of you. Thank you Mr Hitchens you are greatly missed.

It's tragic that this man had to leave us so prematurely. Potentially we have missed another 20 years of this man's work.

One of the many great things about this man is when he discovers/feels he made a mistake/error in judgement he has no problem admitting it. He articulates everything so wonderfully. There are not many people who can write and speak at such a level as Mr. Hitchens.

Hitchens was the greatest, he was amazing and every thing that came out of his mouth sounded like poetry spoken.

The world needs more people like Chris Hitchens.

Thanks for posting. Great video. People who accuse CH of being arrogant haven't listened to him acknowledge, as he does here, that he once endorsed the wrong man and it was a mistake. Always pursuing the truth, doing his research and bringing it to the world, Hitchens brought nobility to the profession of journalism.

The world really does wallow around in a quagmire of religious nonsense. Hitchens and his like have done a very good job to encourage some intellectual honesty and remove the stigma of being a contrarian and vocal about it.​

This man left us with great insight. This life is all we have. Live it to the most, it's all we have.

"It's nice to have a heterosexual scandal in the Roman Catholic Church every now and then." - Savage... :-)

The world must stop teaching mythology to the young. Then it will just fade away.

A true Giant of a MAN A man who teached the real truth

Loving "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" theme on someone's phone at 1:39

I love these videos, and totally appreciate the effort that you've put into editing them down. My only, very gentle, suggestion is that it would be nice if you put a link in the description to the full debates. Apart from that, nice work, dude!

He presents so much most of us have given little or no thought to.

Sometimes you have to thank God. That there isn't really a God. Just believe in the goodness, that the human mind, can give humanity.

Thank you for posting this, FFreeThinker.

Just watched this video three times in a row. Didn't get sick of any of it

A Brilliant Brilliant man....RIP....

God is not great Hitchens is ♢

I'm the same way...can watch/listen to/ read Hitch over and over.

Did anyone else hear the theme from "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?"

Indeed, that fully represents the facts and reason behind Hitchen's philosphy, morality, and humanism.

Excellent observations!

Why is it so bloody hard to understand that there cannot be a God in the sense as described in these 'holy' books!? We live, we die: end of story. The arrogance to believe that there must be an after-life or even a meaning to our lives? The universe gives a crap about whether we exist or not. Everything is randomly existing.

I dont even got my trousers off and shes calling time. shit.... this is my new favorite line.... Im gonna try to pull it off in front of my parents.

Does being religious make you a "Better," "More moral..?" I can't get past the simple Fact that the very place on Earth that there are the most Christians just so happens to be the same place with the Most incarcerated citizens...

Who, on Earth, will possesses the eloquence to replace this brilliant thought leader if he succumbs to his illness and leaves us prematurely? The question saddens me.

Great video 👍😋

There never was a "Christ". Perhaps there was a Jew called Yeshua .(whom Christians call Jesus). Faith in Yeshua cannot give you "eternal life"! He's been dead for 2.000 years and we never heard from him again!

1:39 The good the bad and the ugly

Good luck to you, I hope the weather holds out!

No second coming of Hitchens, but his teachings will outlast all religions.

I liked "The Good Band and Ugly" theme that snuck quietly through for a short while. Or I may have had a flashback to the 60s.

Joseph Campbell talks about man's Mythologies Bill Moyer did a excellent program on him filmed at the "Star Wars Ranch"!

I love Hitchens, he was so much more than an atheist, and I think he wants to be remembered for his mind, his writings, he was a world traveler, he met so many leaders, in all fields. Yes, he was a atheist, but he was more something else.

The Vatican is a bit like the Jedi Council in the third Star Wars movie totally unaware of the really bad things

man I miss hitch.... hard shoes to fill....

Who chopped up Hitch? Don't edit the author, not a syllable is wasted when he speaks.

Brilliant Christopher

How do we get rid of the (seemingly innate) desire for dictatorship?

There are Christians who are lightly brought up thus, who dont give it much thought, go to church on occasionally sundays and dont REALLY believe, inside. And.. there are fierce christians who are crazy, and consider everyday events to be miracles and rant in the streets and think prayers work. They may pray for their leg to get better after a fall; it does, quite naturally, but- to the mind of the crazy christian, its no more than a prayer induced miracle. 'Well let's concentrate on this one 'miraculous' success, and completely ignore the fact that most people who die of cancer are prayed for so hard, by so many, that the hands of their loved ones actually hurt from the pressure...''

There is a God and He is Saucy, not bloody. His Meatballs are large beyond comprehension. The Fountain of All Flavors, His Noodliness will soon overcome the false prophets who venerate the torture device. Al dente will be revealed as His Truth, above Cheesy Crust!

I have heard this a few times and never heard that +1 on you friend thanks much, it adds a bit of something.

he is spot on.

I've seen an awful lot of Hitch on youtube but that was one of the very best clips. Fabulous arguments, evocative phrases - "the insanitary consequences of his being allowed out of his cage" lol - and plenty of wit. The world needs him back. God, could you please.....just kidding.

If only he were alive today to witness some of his truths of Putan

We miss Hitchens!!!

God bless him

Christianity: God sent himself to die for himself to save us from the punishment he himself will sentence us to. lol

"I've barely got my trousers off and she's already calling 'Time!'" xD OH, your intelligence, insight AND rapier wit will be missed, Hitch... But at least, hopefully, some of that intelligence, some of that insight, and maybe even a dash of that wit will live on in us, the next generation of free thinkers!

I became an atheist in 1958, and, under the influence of Chris, an anti-theist in 2017 .... I am an ex Englishman living in the US as a citizen, and I could not have done this without Chris coz US religiosity is crushing and I get told I have no moral core...

How wise that man was

I look forward to seeing the new generation of those whom have taken Hitch's eloquent arguments into consideration. Often, I've read comments that criticize his stridency. That being said, let's not forget the stridency of "The Parties of God" when superstition and religious indoctrination hold sway. We have a duty to ourselves and those who come after to shed these hideous death-cults in modern society. Please, believe as you will, as there are many in parts of the world that risk their lives to protect those rights. "Rights" people... How many will be scorned or sacrificed for people's "rights" to harm others due to indoctrination? Speak up!!! These various "religions" seek to see the end of the world in the wishful "faith" in a better one. Do you? If so, ignore this post at your great-great-great-great-great Grand-children's peril (if we get that far). I hope against their fatalistic hope. Wish-thinking is something I think we all share. It's time to move "wishes" aside and look things in the face of evidence. Could I change my mind? Ofcourse! If I were to see these fictional characters assembling on Earth and defeating, through reason and demonstration of their supernatural reality the ills of our planet, I might be persuaded. So far, all I see is genocide, racism, sexism, tribalism and sexual hysteria... Etc, etc.. I don't care what consenting adults do to sexually amuse themselves in private. It holds no bearing on their opinions of public interest. We've all seen "benevolent" rapists before. While that is concerning, the idea of public religious contrition, rather than a true and reasonable one in the face of misconduct as being the moral high-ground is absurd. "I have sinned against You, My Lord" just doesn't cut to the heart of the problem. You contributed to the ruination of lives and made a profit from it Falwell. Disgusting. "Liberty University"??? Isn't that a contradiction in terms if not an out-right misnomer in that case? Rant over... For now... 9ish.

Giving and wanting a blessing is what religion is built on "I'll be get a blessing later, or get back 10 times" then turn around and judge everybody and other religious factions !

I wonder what would happen if those carrying on Christopher's work were to take the discussion beyond "religion is illogical" and to provide the religious-but-becoming-curious person with a roadmap to intellectual recovery, akin to a 12-step program and AA. I advocate: Don't just preach a position, but help people adopt it, embrace it, own it. Empathize with them, make them feel welcome and connected, part of a larger group with a shared understsnding.... oh, I just advocated providing all the ancilary benefits of religion to those contemplating leaving religion... It might help. Food for thought!

Can you imagine the lectures he is giving them if he were in heaven.

Brilliant.

Wow. Your interpersonal skills are top notch. You sir, are a credit to your species. Please, teach your children to argue like you do so they can see what a fist to the jaw feels like. Maybe they will learn what you never have.

god bless him...

I stopped after the second time, but I can relate to that. I also feel a slight urge to show it to some friends and family - some are fundamentalist christians. Wouldn't expect much, but I'm interested in how they'll react and rationalize...

The Hitch at his best,long may he live

1:41 Ennio Morricone! Raise your volume folks!

There seem to be few examples of how religion can make us better. I am an atheist and I was very quick to contribute to relief funds for the Earthquake victims in Japan. That is just one example of many that people like me have done.

You are the one who keeps telling me that I am smart and that I know it all. I am just confirming what you say, with some amusement actually.

These guys come and go. Christianity has survived 2,000+ years. It will continue to survive.

Tell us what you know, not what you 'believe' you know.

Hitchens once said that he accepts that religion is here to stay,I believe this to be the case because most humans have something known as death anxiety.

Religion is the best and the wort. There is its beauty.

2 Days to think of that one well done. Not surprised though it must be hard to find the time from all of your LOLing. LOL

nice one! very clever comment. Keep it up lamerod

would you like to explore that? im curious

@TheEpicion Thanks for pointing it out, I thought I've had too much wine and was hearing things ;)

@SoverignCitizen Well said sir, the response from the" christian" says so much.

Did anyone hear the good bad and the ugly theme really faintly at 1:40-1:50 LOL I think I'm losing my mind.

I argued the same point when I was a believer. Then in Grade 6 I started to learn Science. I learnt what a Light Year was and the size of the Cosmos. I see 200 Billion Galaxy's through Hubble's eyes, Each with Billions of Suns. I understand the Cosmos has no idea we're here on this speck of dust. I understand this wasn't done for us. I looked at worlds your god still doesn't know exist through the eyes of a Microscope. I opened my mind to the Natural world and lost the supernatural.

true

@Probablyacowtbh Why, thank you!

So far, I would tend to agree...

Religion does not make people treat better, but it offers peace of mind. Some people prefer denial to the idea of inevitable non-existence. I would too, if I could.

Whenever reject an idea, you have to provide an alternative. So if you say religion is false, then tell me which is true. If the world didn't start the way the religion says, then tell me the way it did

I thought I was tripping but I heard the Good, the Bad and the Ugly theme too...

I don't think I ever had an agnostic phase, I went from an indoctrinated 12 year old, to an atheist 13 year old. But since I discovered Hitch, well, Hell! I'm antitheist now! I'm with R. Gervais on this one, religion is holding us ALL BACK.

@SpellboundSolution You have a valid point sir. I think I prefer Godwin's law on speed.

cool

9:00 yes, exactly

@yuo252 and so could i. what was your point?

How so?

the human brain is capable of amazing things if you just think...

there's a guy at my work who's super religious, but strangely he is so crooked, we in our group stay away from his customers cause they r often angry cause he lies to them a lot.

Can you demonstrate that we are something more than just physical?

@ketsan And Hitler was a religious man. He himself said that he was protected by the "Divine Providence" and that he was doing "God's will".

The Hitch!

anyone else hear the theme tune from "the good the bad and the ugly" at 01:40?!

I am a Christian, yet his argument does not even scare me because he mostly argues against powerful churches such as the Roman Catholic church and the Russian Orthodox church. As a Christian, I too see the corruption and such that could arise from such institutes and am very much against them.

That would be discernment...

whats with the cutting and pasting?

What are you talking about?

@raplena14 then the windows error tone afterwards. i was looking around my screens trying to find that error window for a good few seconds.

I miss Hitchens.

There have been many times in which I have watched debates between the theist/deist and anti-theist/atheist groups and for their own devices, will quote Darwin, Einstein, Hawking, Newton in an attempt to gain higher ground has if they have any to hold. When you put the entire quote into context by showing them what came before and after and WHY the person in question made the statement in the first place, it completely decimates their argument and you maintain your status at the intelligent.