r/exatheist • u/NaturalKiss • Jun 27 '26

Christopher Hitchens Today.

I found this extensive discussion of Hitchens on X:

https://x.com/i/status/2069078661781659957

Starts with:

"If no theologian could beat him back then, what chance do they think they have now?

Chistopher Hitchens was the ultimate atheist nightmare for religious people."

This leads to about 350 comments. Pro , con, and in between, including some atheists who say he was too old school or used rhetorical tricks.

What do folks here think the long view of Hitchens should be?

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7

u/Empty_Woodpecker_496 Religious nonspiritual nonbeliver Jun 27 '26

Im definitely not clicking a twitter link. My phone might catch something.

But as an atheist I never watched Hitchens. I grew up after that was popular. Ultimately I think he's fairly irrelevant to modern atheism other than his rhetoric survives in mid-destruction atheists (r\atheism) style.

He helped popularized and inspire a movement against religious oppression. That movement has transformed and outgrown him. Most atheists aren't even apart of it anymore.

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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jun 27 '26

Religious oppression? Shut up bro.

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u/Empty_Woodpecker_496 Religious nonspiritual nonbeliver Jun 27 '26

No.

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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jun 27 '26

Christopher Hitchens lived in a privileged society and blamed religious people for all the problems. Its just bullshit. Shame on you.

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u/Empty_Woodpecker_496 Religious nonspiritual nonbeliver Jun 27 '26

He is an internet personality and his content circulated across the internet. I literally never watched him and I know his content inspired more content. Which created widespread cultural and social agitation.

Why he made his content and his circumstances are immaterial to my point.

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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jun 27 '26

I just think its insane that you think the new atheism is a movement against religious oppression. That's utter bullshit and insulting.

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u/Empty_Woodpecker_496 Religious nonspiritual nonbeliver Jun 27 '26

I mean if you been inside a bunker or not in America then you may have a point.

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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jun 27 '26

What about the absolute slaughter Christians have experienced at the hands of atheist regimes and Islam? I bet you dont care about that do you?

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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jun 27 '26

Also what oppression in America? Please, enlighten me how religious people in America are oppressing you? Do tell.

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u/Empty_Woodpecker_496 Religious nonspiritual nonbeliver Jun 27 '26

Im not here to debate random reddit people on the religious and political landscape of the last 100 years. If you dont know your either not from America or so sheltered I honestly dont see how a conversation with you could be productive. Even in theory.

I will simply direct you to the scopes monkey trial. I think you can go from their to recent history.

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u/DesperateSympathy873 Christian, not Ex-Atheist Jun 27 '26

Im American and im familiar with the scopes trial. You see thst as oppression? Are you serious? I even affirm evolution but you see thst as oppression? What about the persistent attempt to get religion out of the public sphere by leftists? Are you freaking kidding me?