Christopher Hitchens doesn't mince words nor beat around the bush. His latest book is called "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything," and it looks like a doozy. I've not read any of his books before, but I plan to pick this one up. Slate is currently posting excerpts from the book, and for the most part I liked what I read so far. I've added this book to my Amazon.com wish list, and hope to pick it up soon.
Unfortunately, Wikipedia describes him as having a temporary alliance with neo-cons. Well let's hope that this new book of his focuses on atheism and steers clear of politics as much as possible. Neo-conservatism is very high on my political hate list.
6 comments:
Looks like Islam and Mormon bashing (fun exercise for apologeticists...I don't believe in either cult). But a game of enemy of my enemy is my friend will have to wait till I'm done with my homework. :-)
Aaron, it's a good book. Very witty and elegant. So far not a word about conservatism.
"Neo-conservatism is very high on my political hate list."
The Jewish mothers in the community where I grew up had a thing about their kids using the expression "hate". I think the idea was that your hatred hurt you more than the object thereof. Anyway, they used to say "Hate is for Hitler" who, as we know, was a.... Oh yeah. Never mind.
I plan to pick this one up too. I hadn't heard about the neocon thing, but it doesn't sound like that will be a big part of this book. I suspect his book will do well just as Dawkins' and Harris' books have done well. Clearly, this is a good time to be writing atheist-oriented books. I just hope we will continue to see quality and not diluted commercialism.
I have to admit that I'm not a Hitchens fan. He seems like the Anti-Bush, but one who is just as dangerous. Hear me out for a minute.
Bush is Christian, yes. Hitchens is atheist. Both have a "kill all the heretics" approach to those who don't believe the way that they do.
Hitchens tends to describe those who are religious, particularly Catholics, in much the same way that Rummy would describe a Muslim. Dangerous. And dangerous people can't be allowed their own private dealings because it may lead to more...
Just different flavors of the same faith-based philosophy. One is based in the belief that something exists and the other is based on the belief that it does not. Both want to impose their views on everyone else, by force if necessary. Both hate a group of people. Both scare the crap me.
peas:
I think Hitchens sees religious fundamentalism of any stripe to be dangerous, and I tend to agree with him on that.
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