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Christopher Hitchens- atheist or anti-theist?

Tinfoil Hater

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I was under the assumption Christopher Hitchens was an atheist- but he has described himself as an anti-theist. What's the difference?

There is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching Christopher Hitchens debate apologists for radical Islam or Christianity, and tear them to shreds..
 
When I think about the difference between a-theist and anti-theist, the best comparison I come up with is symmetry. In group theory, you can talk about something that is symmetric (with mirror-like properties, i.e. one side goes up, the other side goes up). There is anti-symmetry, where the properties go opposite each other (one side goes up, the other goes down). Then there is a-symmetry, where the two sides have no relationship at all (one side goes up, the other side...goes sometimes up, sometimes down).

So we have things that are

Symmetric - having the property of symmetry
Antisymmetric - having the property of opposing symmetry, and
Asymmetric - without the property of symmetry

So I would say Hitchens, being an anti-theist, would have the property of opposing theism.
 
Hitchens has said that by anti-theist he means that not only does he think the existence of God is untrue, he wouldn't WANT it to be true, as opposed to some atheists who wish it could be true although don't believe it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auS-1IWZ0Q0

Go to 1:07 for him speaking about this.
 
UKBoy1977 said:
Hitchens has said that by anti-theist he means that not only does he think the existence of God is untrue, he wouldn't WANT it to be true, as opposed to some atheists who wish it could be true although don't believe it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auS-1IWZ0Q0

Go to 1:07 for him speaking about this.
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Additionally, one could hold the view that God doesn't exist, but look at all the wonderful things religion provides: inspiration, hope...etc.

Being anti-theist, and here I'm inferring from the many Hitchens' debates I've watched, includes the idea that religion itself, irrational belief structures, is intrinsically harmful: crusades, witch burning, genital mutilation...etc.
 
pgwenthold said:
When I think about the difference between a-theist and anti-theist, the best comparison I come up with is symmetry. In group theory, you can talk about something that is symmetric (with mirror-like properties, i.e. one side goes up, the other side goes up). There is anti-symmetry, where the properties go opposite each other (one side goes up, the other goes down). Then there is a-symmetry, where the two sides have no relationship at all (one side goes up, the other side...goes sometimes up, sometimes down).

So we have things that are

Symmetric - having the property of symmetry
Antisymmetric - having the property of opposing symmetry, and
Asymmetric - without the property of symmetry

So I would say Hitchens, being an anti-theist, would have the property of opposing theism.
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I don't mean to be rude, but isn't this difference inherent in the definitions of the prefixes "anti-" and "a-" (respectively, "against", and "without")?
 
Philosaur said:
I don't mean to be rude, but isn't this difference inherent in the definitions of the prefixes "anti-" and "a-" (respectively, "against", and "without")?
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Well....yeah.

OTOH, some people seem to have problem understanding that concept when it comes to theism, so I bring up another example of where X, antiX, and aX are used in a distinct manner.
 
Antitheism to me is anti doctrine. It does not necessarily deny the possible existence of a God or gods, it rather says that we know nothing about Him/them if He/they does/do exist, and therefore should not pretend to know something that we do not.

That's my definition, as an antitheist. Other definitions may vary.
 
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UKBoy1977 said:
Hitchens has said that by anti-theist he means that not only does he think the existence of God is untrue, he wouldn't WANT it to be true, as opposed to some atheists who wish it could be true although don't believe it is.....
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I hope you also recognize those of we atheists who just recognize god beliefs are silly. I don't care that people believe in gods, except I do care that god believing people are poorly skilled at rational thinking when it comes to god beliefs.

But why would atheists wish gods existed? If I was going to wish anything along this line, I'd wish I were a god. Why would I want other gods to exist?
 
TraneWreck said:
Additionally, one could hold the view that God doesn't exist, but look at all the wonderful things religion provides: inspiration, hope...etc.
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Oh puhleese. Religion provides none of those things. People who have inspiration and hope may channel those beliefs through a religion. But the religion is not responsible for those things.
 
In other words, he's against (anti) the whole notion of a big daddy supernatural bossmanship that intervenes and meddles in the affairs of humans as conceptualized in certain major religions. In his book, Hitchens equates theism with totalitarianism-- a nasty, controlling, celestial dictatorship that creates you sick and commands you to be well (thereby demanding the impossible).

In this sense, I would consider myself an anti-theist as well.
 
Titanic Explorer said:
I was under the assumption Christopher Hitchens was an atheist- but he has described himself as an anti-theist. What's the difference?

There is nothing quite as enjoyable as watching Christopher Hitchens debate apologists for radical Islam or Christianity, and tear them to shreds..
Click to expand...

You know . . . I disagree with Chris (I know he hates to be called Chris) when he talks about the Bible. I cheer him on when he talks about religion, which I myself loath. I wish I could speak and write like he can. I see good sense in him choosing the term anti-theist over the, in my opinion, moronic term, atheist. He smokes and drinks and cusses and makes obscene jestures at creationists and subjected himself to water boarding. He knows politics which is to me as bad, if not worse, than religion.

I like the son of a *******.

Isn't that interesting? I cant type ***** in the stead of bitch, but if I type bitch the JREF will - I assume - type *****.

Although it may not apply to that particular word, I'm testing it.

People are crazy! I'm a person.
 
Titanic Explorer said:
I despise religion-ALL religions are cults.
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[Laughs]

Duh! Yeah, they are synonymous. A cult is only used typically as an indication of being a religion in oppisition to the one you subscribe to. It's like Pagan.

The Christians were pagan (meaning outside of) the Romans and the Romans were pagan (meaning outside of) the Christians.

It depends upon what side of the word you are on. Unless you don't know what the hell you are talking about and then, well, oddly enough, it depends upon who you agree with . . .

Good job! You fit right in with everyone else. Does it really matter if we call you Griffendorf or something else?

Think about it.
 
David Henson said:
[Laughs]

Duh! Yeah, they are synonymous. A cult is only used typically as an indication of being a religion in oppisition to the one you subscribe to. It's like Pagan.

The Christians were pagan (meaning outside of) the Romans and the Romans were pagan (meaning outside of) the Christians.

It depends upon what side of the word you are on. Unless you don't know what the hell you are talking about and then, well, oddly enough, it depends upon who you agree with . . .

Good job! You fit right in with everyone else. Does it really matter if we call you Griffendorf or something else?

Think about it.
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I think he was using Cult in the modern perjorative sense. I agree with him. If you can't see what we mean, maybe you should try getting in touch with this organisation:
http://www.caic.org.au/
 
Brainache said:
I think he was using Cult in the modern perjorative sense. I agree with him. If you can't see what we mean, maybe you should try getting in touch with this organisation:
http://www.caic.org.au/
Click to expand...

From that site: World religions such as Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism etc are NOT cults!


So, no it doesn't seem to be a worthwhile resource ...


Also:


(This article was written by a former Jehovah's Witness who came to know the reality of God's Grace)
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It's just the big religions fearing they may lose influence to any of the smaller religions. Painting the smaller ones in the light of "dangerous cults" and pretending that there are significant differences is not a new tactic at all.
 
Rasmus said:
From that site: World religions such as Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism etc are NOT cults!
Click to expand...

Tell me the differance between a religion, a cult and a sect.

Someone who doesn't know what they are talking about said:
(This article was written by a former Jehovah's Witness who came to know the reality of God's Grace)
Click to expand...

A Jehovah's Witness KNOWS or at least should know what that is all about. It means nothing.
 
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