Author/Journalist and self styled anti-theist Christopher Hitchens is due to debate former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair on the subject of faith on Nov 26th in Toronto. The debate will center around the statement:
“Be it resolved, religion is a force of good for the world.”The debate will be open to the public and be streamed online.
Tony Blair has been a controversial figure during his time in politics, with criticism mainly focused on his decision to move forward with the invasion of Iraq, a decision which Christopher Hitchens fully supports. However, since leaving number 10 downing street behind, Tony Blair has embarked on a new career, chairing and establishing The Tony Blair Faith Foundation. It is Tony Blair's conversion to Catholicism, and subsequent campaigning of Religious Ideology in many parts of the world which signal a conflict of interest between the two men.
Christopher Hitchens is a long and established critic of Faith/Religion, penning the best selling book "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything". The decision by Hitchens, often referred to as "Hitch" to debate the ideas outlined in his book publicly with prominent religious voices, has earned him great acclaim, and a reputation for his straight talking, no punches pulled style of rhetoric.
Christopher Hitchens has made headlines recently for other reasons, due to his diagnosis of esophageal cancer. The news came when he became ill during the promotion of his memoirs, Hitch-22. This has lead to questions regarding whether Christipher Hitchens may change his stance on God, in light of this recent news, and succumb to a "Deathbed Conversion".
Details of this debate can be found at www.munkdebates.com where it will be streamed live. What are your views on the careers of both these well established public speakers? What, if any impact did faith have in the decisions made by Tony Blair whilst in government? Do you think religious faith is a force for good in the world? Please use the comments section below to have your say.
This should be an interesting clash. Tony Blair is an articulate, intelligent indivudual, used to answering questions publicly, and under pressure. It's just a shame this couldn't have been done when Hitch was at full health. Here's hoping a Hitch at less than 100% can still make it clear to Blair that religion is a destructive force in the world, and his bronze aged beliefs should not be taught to Children.
ReplyDeletePlease support the gay struggle against heterosexual power. We, the gay brotherhood, are determined to rule the world. Join us verbaly and economicaly. Make people change there mind about us and tell them to se us as natural leaders. We have great influence in media and will change the agenda to put down the heterosexual sociaty. Never buy products or services from heterosexuals (worked fin in the village in the 70th, we banished the hetros). Christianity and all religions are heterosexual constructions and neds to be changed to benefit homosexual supremacy. Help christian homosexuals to infiltrate and tear down the historical and todays christianity. Make the gay network global "you must keep networking".
ReplyDeleteMake the religious people hesitate their beliefs, say that their god and profets are gay, bring a yes-sayer with you (always) that stand on your side, its make it easyer to convince them. Stand in front of a mirror to train speach with confidence, train to say a convincing no if somebody understand that the queer-theory is facistic ideology. The christians made it with the romans 2000 years ago let that inspire us.
Interesting. You mentalist.
ReplyDelete