Christopher Hitchens - Christopher Hitchens is an author, journalist and literary critic. Now living in Washington, D.C., he has been a columnist at Vanity Fair, The Nation and Slate; additionally, he is an occasional contributor to many other publications.
Rev. Al Sharpton Jr. - Al Sharpton Jr. is a Pentecostal minister, a political activist, civil rights activist and film actor. In recent years, Sharpton has also become a perennial candidate in his quest for the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States. Author of Go and Tell Pharaoh: The Autobiography of the Reverend Al Sharpton.
A Debate: God Is Not Great with Al Sharpton and Christopher Hitchens.
Taking on possibly the greatest issue of our time - the malignant force of religion in the world - Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion through a close and learned reading of the major religious texts, citing numerous historical instances in which sexual repression and outrageous acts of violence have been committed in the name of God. He argues for a more secular life based on science and reason, in which hell is replaced by the Hubble telescope's awesome view of the universe, and Moses and the burning bush give way to the beauty and symmetry of the double helix.
Join The New York Public Library as the Reverand Al Sharpton and author Christopher Hitchens debate faith, religion and God.
I was in the audience at this debate and while Hitchens was interesting there weren't enough "sparks" between them to make it the brawl one would expect. Sharpton mounted a fairly garden variety defense of "God" and was too generally in agreement with Hitchens' criticisms of religion. Hitchens' refusal to refer to Sharpton as "Reverend" notwithstanding, most "clashes" there were between them were more in the line of friendly jabs.
Rather unfortunate that the "Rev" Al Sharpton was chosen as the candidate to defend God. Surely he should be way too busy defending himself on numerous issues.
It is hoped, or feared, that someday computers will become so sophisticated that they will attain sentience. Some theoretical physicists are inclined to theorize that there exists an entity *in* the universe that may very well be aware of its own existence. This implies something separate from, above, or outside the “creation.” Theoretical physics is communicated as mathematical formulae. Imagine a mathematical formula so sophisticated that, like the future computer, it is aware of itself. Mankind has not begun to approach the level of sophistication to understand mathematics at this level. But that does not mean that this will not happen eventually. I would rather have the opinion regarding this possibility from Stephen Hawking than the Pope, Mr. Hitchens, or most certainly the “Rev.” Al.
I was extremely disappointed with Sharpton's performance in this debate. Mr. Hitchens, whom I have seen debate three or four times, is very clear about his stance.
However, Al Sharpton, although he claims to be an ordained protestant minister, never addresses any of the exclusive truth claims that Christianity makes on the God he wants so fervently to focus on. The woman who poses the last question is spot on. In the end I come away from this debate feeling that Sharpton is some type of plural-relativist rather than someone who claims to represent, what the scriptures he unanimously endorses as the revealed truth of God state is the, "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Cor. 1:3)
Furthermore, even as he attempts to move the debate toward a much more abstract discussion about God, he still fails miserably to even superficially persuade any rational person that this generic Godexists. He simply resorts to criticizing the fact that Hitchens names his book 'God is not great' and then focuses on specific religions who claim to be the truth about that God.
It's pathetic. There are so many more eloquent and well reasoned intellectuals who could have challenged Hitchens. How about finding someone with even just a little more background in philosophy.
Sharpton is so stupid. He has no idea of the mechanics of debate whatsoever. A classic example of someone who is a believer because they are too dumb to think for themselves.
I'm re-watching and I can't believe I was frustrated before at Sharpton's stupidity - he is EXACTLY the kind of buffoon we need to see more of on TV, repeating his meaningless drivel and exposing the fallacy of Christianity, and religion in general.
Still would be nice to see someone who could debate Hitchens without looking stupid though. No one has come close, sadly.
Hitchens was on the ball right from the start, however this debate, unlike most of his others that I've seen he was much more civil than usual, which is good I suppose. He countered every point that Sharpton attempted to make but I was disappointed that Sharpton didn't make any points himself, as if he was on the defensive all the time and everytime he got passed the ball so to speak he just passed it back. Very weak performance on the part of the Reverend. I don't know why understanding morality without a God is that hard to fathom. Pretty much take anything that causes someone pain, or illegitimately removes something from someone who deserves it and you have a basic moral code. Doesn't take cloud people to come up with that.