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07-06-2010, 11:46 AM
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Location: Michigan
29,377 posts, read 53,420,435 times
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News that raging atheist Christopher Hitchens canceled his book tour for his Hitch-22 memoir to deal with throat cancer, has prompted some hot debate on conversions in dire distress. (Yes, I know, the phrase is "deathbed conversions," but, please, he's just begun treatment.)
Atheist Christopher Hitchens' cancer news prompts conversion debate - Faith & Reason |
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07-06-2010, 11:54 AM
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Location: The Milky Way Galaxy
2,256 posts, read 6,701,395 times
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Lol! I'm waiting for the first post on this thread -- "See! I told you so".
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07-06-2010, 12:33 PM
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This is funny. Why would Hitchens convert after getting cancer, when he uses the existence of cancer as evidence of there being no all-loving god as described by most religious people today.
It makes no sense - "Oh now I have cancer, that must mean God exists!" 
It's just some religious guy with wishful thinking who brought up the 'conversion debate'.
From the article:
"Of course, there probably are no qualitative studies on deathbed conversions -- for obvious reasons. The studies tend to show people don't necessarily take a sudden turn to a spirituality they never held before, although some fallen-away believers may revive the faith they once followed and find comfort and strength within it." |
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07-06-2010, 02:28 PM
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Location: Mississippi
6,712 posts, read 13,120,825 times
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As someone whose read enough Christopher Hitchens and watched many debates with him, he certainly strikes me as the person who wouldn't even give the religious the satisfaction of knowing he converted.
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07-06-2010, 03:28 PM
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Location: Metromess
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And even if he does, it won't prove anything except that he clutched at straws in his last days. I think it's extremely unlikely that he will.
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07-07-2010, 02:43 PM
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I was very saddened to read about Mr Hitchens' diagnosis. He is a fantastic writer and I love listening to his sharp, witty interviews.
I wish him all the best.
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07-07-2010, 04:39 PM
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I dearly hope Mr. Hitchens recovers. The forces of reason sorely need him out there on the front lines.
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07-07-2010, 08:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mgt04
Lol! I'm waiting for the first post on this thread -- "See! I told you so".
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Well . . . it did attack his throat!  This really isn't an appropriate topic for joking tho. God bless him and ease his pain . . . whether or not he appreciates the sentiment. |
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07-07-2010, 09:00 PM
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Location: Rome, Georgia
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Best wishes to Hitchens for a speedy recovery, regardless of my disagreements with him.
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07-08-2010, 07:08 AM
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Location: Western Cary, NC
4,348 posts, read 7,137,130 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GCSTroop
As someone whose read enough Christopher Hitchens and watched many debates with him, he certainly strikes me as the person who wouldn't even give the religious the satisfaction of knowing he converted.
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I agree troop, he might get on a soap box to prove he is retaining his values.
I find it strange so many have put him in a grave already; his cancer is treatable, with cure rates at or around 20%. |
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