I like this review by Bruce DeSilva of Christopher Hitchens’ latest book, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything. DeSilva writes, “Christopher Hitchens is an essayist and pundit who loves a good fight and is never afraid to pick on someone his own size; but this time he’s outdone himself. He’s picked on God. . . . Hitchens has nothing new to say, although it must be acknowledged that he says it exceptionally well.”
I love Hitchens, and agree with him some of the time. But not this time. I look forward to the day Hugh Hewitt interviews him. They’ve been dancing around this subject for some time now.
I’m long tired of this imaginary dichotomy between ‘religion’ and ‘reason.’ These arguments are based on the idea secular humanism isn’t a religion. In my opinion it is; and thus the whole case falls flat. (I prefer the term worldview.)
– I notice in books of this type the author rarely (if ever) defines the word religion. In my opinion (having been taught one must always define one’s key terms) this makes the claims of the author meaningless.
– in my opinion communism is a religion, as is socialism, Humanism, etc.
– in it’s original sense religion meant to be bound by an oath.
– it’s sin that poisons ‘everything’ not ‘religion.’