Now that Hitchens is off his soap box...

I'll be honest, when I heard the name of Christopher Hitchens' book, God is not Great, the Catholic school boy in me came out and I knew I would have some issues with the speech tonight. Then when most of the crowd laughed at the mention of the Axis of Evil -and quite frankly anything to do with George W. Bush -I knew I was in for a long night.

Hitchens began his lecture explaining why President Obama shows great promise for the future. Because he might be a nonbeliever. He used examples from Obama's inaugural speech and the prayer breakfast. In each case, the newly-elected president addressed nonbelievers in a realm that few others before him have. Hitchens argues that Obama's inclusion of these groups offers proof he does not identify with a particular religion. Conversely, I would say the president was merely trying to include as many of his fellow Americans as possible. I do not profess to know the president's values or religious stances, but I do know he is arguably the greatest leader this nation has had in its highest-ranking position since JFK and with that comes the ability to reach all groups of people. What Hitchens looks forward to most with a 'nonbeliever' in office is that "men of God will no longer be called upon in times of crisis." To a believer, though, everyone is a man of God.

The basis of Hitchens' lecture was the importance of a separation between church and state. He had high praise for the United States and its ability to keep the two apart, especially compared to his home country of England. But he kept mentioning all of the people who want to instill religion in schools, making it sound as anyone who didn't advocate that couldn't actually be religious. As happy as I am that I attended a private catholic high school that stressed educating its students about many of the world's religions (as well as atheism and agnosticism), I do not believe it is the responsibility of public schools or other government institutions to do the same. Our reasons for that stance are very different, though. I expected to have differing opinions with Hitchens, but I did not expect him to so blatantly disrespect the religious members of the audience.

I accept that billions of people have different views on religion than me, including fellow Catholics. That is one reason I don't make a fuss about it, I don't promote my religion and my views unless prompted. Hitchens on the other hand came right out and said the teaching of religion is the teaching of superstition and nonsense. He reiterated and condemned the 'cult-like' nature of religion. Ironic, because I felt like I was in the center of his own cultish following.

He made several criticisms about religion that were unsubstantiated because he is not a religious person. The only example I will delve into was when Hitchens mocked the idea of an eternal father. He said if he was told, "You've got to carry on like this forever," he would not be happy. Ask that question to a religious person, more often that not they would want to live forever, but if not it would be because they wish to be in heaven with their loved ones.

Even still, one of his followers approached the microphone during the question-and-answer session and praised him for his optimism. Mercifully, Hitchens set the woman straight and said he was far from an optimist, but his tone suggested he took great pride in his negative attitude toward the world and what it has to offer him. An odd approach from my point of view, but just another example of why I do not think he is fit to be criticising religion.

Finally, my biggest beef with Hitchens was his stance on why people believe, and it is a sentiment I have heard before from doubters. He said believing there is a God who is all-knowing and all-seeing is the easy way out. He said it is easier to just say there is an all-mighty being that created everything than it is to seek out the scientific proof that concludes otherwise. I argue that it is easier to say science explains everything than it is to explain your belief in an unseen being. It takes a person of strong faith to stand by their beliefs when there can be no proof other than the Bible and other literature that so many people, including Hitchens, have written off as, "man-made," and "fabricated."