Would We Be Better Off Without Religion? - Christopher Hitchens [2007] ✝️ | Intelligence Squared

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Now I am an old man I now realise how fast our time on earth goes by . I wish I could explain that to the young ones so they could use their time well , being nice , helping others best they can , understand that time is a wonderful thing to be used wisely. To care for everyone, not just other humans but animals etc as well . Don't waste what time you have on religion just live as wisely as you can . It costs nothing to be kind , you will have a much more fulfilling life living that way I promise.

“I’d rather have questions I can’t answer than answers I can’t question.“ Richard Feynman.

I spent a lifetime as a Mormon, and renounced it when I was in my early 40s. It wouldn’t be fair for me to say that I received nothing of value from my participation in it. But what I didn’t fully understand until I left, is that I never needed any supernatural pretext to live a virtuous life… and not only that, my ability to be a good person was hampered by the way my religion conflated righteousness with cultural protectionism. It encouraged more preoccupation with the way I spoke, what I drank, the way I dressed, who I associated with… than being a true friend to everybody. And those thought patterns are still difficult to cast aside… as in, it’s difficult not just to be the inverse of what I was. I’ve heard of people who have left my faith, became self-described atheists, and who have come back to the faith. The common theme I notice in all of their stories is that they never found peace in unbelief. I get that. It’s hard to not have that anesthetizing belief to soften the edges of the harsh realities of an inherently meaningless existence, especially after having it for all of your life. That was me. I ultimately found my peace in defining my own meaning. I live, I can feel pain and pleasure, I can love and loathe; and most of all, I’m relieved of the burden of searching for ultimate meaning. It’s such a rest. Life has become a lot more precious to me now that I am convinced that this is the only life I have. And my self loathing at the hands of an incoherent doctrine that creates a problem and offers the solution in a single package, is no longer a part of my life. Even my marriage to a believer has become sweeter overall, though not without its difficult moments. But it’s taught us both radical acceptance… the kind that, if practiced in a widespread way, would eliminate so much unnecessary suffering in the world. For me… I am better off in every way without religion.

I really miss Christopher Hitchens being in the world. He was truly remarkable.

As a mother of a handicapped daughter,religion had nothing to do with me raising and loving her. Just the opposite. I have 3 born again sisters, who proclaim to love her, but didnt offer a moments help, but didnt mind calling me up to watch their children so they could have some time off from being a parent.

I remember when I first discovered Christopher Hitchens, I was hooked. In the next week or so, I watched and listened to every available debate. Because of these debates, I learned of Dawkins, Krauss, Harris and Fry. I am so grateful to have access to Hitchens, and I wish he were here today.

I agree 100% with all what prof. Dawkins said about religion hindering the growth of children.

During this debate I kept thinking that Professor Roger Scruton was really weak, but questioned if perhaps I was just missing the point. But then when he began claiming that Hitler committed atrocities in the name of atheism it confirmed all my suspicions, the man is clueless.

Richard Dawkins’s closing argument is very powerful and really resonates with me. You don’t need religion to be good or feel emotions or be kind. Kindness, emotions, and doing good is an innate part of human beings. These things are spontaneous and requires no instruction. Also, im tired of religion claiming that you need God to do these things. Its pretty much insulting to what human beings are naturally capable of doing.

When I was a little girl I asked my father if he believed in god. He said,”no”. “But, life is so short, and the universe is so vast and we are so lucky to contemplate such things, we should be thankful for that alone”.

It would certainly help if many religious people concentrated on being better people instead of trying to make everyone else better. Though the world would benefit if a certain religion did not exist.

Was born into the smallminded bubble of Christian world. Got out with 34.. now almost 10 years later still mourning the rich intelligent world they kept me away from. Hitchens and Dawkins saved my life!!!! The world is better off without religion for sure. Religion is always power abuse, even in so claimed religions of love.. And to the morality question: I met more good and Kind persons outside of church. Christians broke me. I healed just after getting out..

RIP you absolute legend. The world is a less eloquent place without you Mr Hitchens.

I'm a survivor of traumatic religious upbringing and I can say without a doubt....we are better off without religion!!!!!!

As a Buddhist I find these videos and debates containing Hitchens amazing and would have loved to discuss not debate some of these issues with him. There is no question that Hitchens made us deeply think and I for one miss his humor and insight greatly. 🙏

This man's legacy will live on forever, what a speaker and intellect. Miss you brother ❤

I grew up as a YEC Christian. I remember hearing Hitchens and Dawkins and those like them were literally of the devil and evil. Now I see why, because they make sense. That's very dangerous in ideology that cannot stand up to scrutiny. I would definitely agree with the motion put forth by them.

Inside the brain of every thinking person, is the voice of Christopher Hitchens. The world is worst off without him.

I've been an atheist for the past 10 years. I was Muslim prior and it didn't make sense to me for a long time but I wasn't prepared to ask questions. My family still doesn't know I left Islam. I still like many of the traditions in which I still participate but not because of religion.