Oh, that Hitchens
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- September
- 23
I can’t help thinking that too much has been made of the so-called “new atheist” movement.
Sure, four or five authors have written best-selling books explaining their non-believing ways. But dozens of religious books (that get far less attention because there’s no novelty) are published every week.
Yes, polls show that 15% of Americans don’t identity with any religious movement. But few of them say they are atheist or even agnostic. They simply don’t like organized religion or they don’t think about it.
Still, I couldn’t resist the opportunity yesterday to hear Christopher Hitchens debate the existence of God with Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete, a very smart and funny Catholic theologian. I’ve read many of Hitchens’ words of the years, but had never seen him up close.
I happened to be standing near the entrance to the main room at the ritzy Pierre Hotel when Hitchens returned from the bathroom and got his face powdered by an assistant. He was ready to perform and perform he did.
He spoke fast and left little doubt that he despises religion, especially Christianity (only mentioning Islam, which he also detests, briefly). He mocked the idea that Christ offers salvation to everyone, those who deserve and those who don’t.
Albacete provided a unique foil. Rather than return fire at Hitchens, he said that he wrestles with his faith every day. He gave a nuanced and demanding reading on how complicated real faith is, baffling Hitchens at time. Hitchens wanted to take aim at particular Christian beliefs, while Albacete only talked about grappling with the impulse that is faith.
The whole thing, put on by the Templeton Foundation, nearly got derailed before it started. Host Sally Quinn of the Washington Post said during the introductions that both speakers had revealed that they would rather talk about sex than religion…
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 am by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
