Christopher Hitchens on what he's learned from debating religious people

You have to give him props for taking on all comers. It's not surprising that he hasn't been convinced by the arguments of his Christian opponents. Who has ever been argued into the kingdom of God?

I haven't yet run into an argument that has made me want to change my mind. After all, a believing religious person, however brilliant or however good in debate, is compelled to stick fairly closely to a "script" that is known in advance, and known to me, too. However, I have discovered that the so-called Christian right is much less monolithic, and very much more polite and hospitable, than I would once have thought, or than most liberals believe. I haven't been asked to Bob Jones University yet, but I have been invited to Jerry Falwell's old Liberty University campus in Virginia, even though we haven't yet agreed on the terms.

Wilson isn't one of those evasive Christians who mumble apologetically about how some of the Bible stories are really just "metaphors." He is willing to maintain very staunchly that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that his sacrifice redeems our state of sin, which in turn is the outcome of our rebellion against God. He doesn't waffle when asked why God allows so much evil and suffering--of course he "allows" it since it is the inescapable state of rebellious sinners. I much prefer this sincerity to the vague and Python-esque witterings of the interfaith and ecumenical groups who barely respect their own traditions and who look upon faith as just another word for community organizing.

I'm glad that Hitchens was able to debate an opponent from the Reformed tradition, we do stand up for our doctrines and don't usually equivocate. And yeah, we have some pretty harsh things to stand by, but the Bible has some pretty harsh things to say so we don't have much choice. Though, I would never say that Hitchens or any unbeliever was going to hell. I have no way of knowing that and neither does anyone else.

And as to the Christian right being less monolithic than he thought, I'm surprised that wasn't obvious by the number of Protestant denominations and how much we argue with each other. Case in point.

The article was way too short, I would have really appreciated hearing about what he thought of his debates with other religions (Muslims and Jews). And hearing more about the various types of debates he's had with other denominations. I guess I'll have to wait for the follow up to his book.