Is anyone else finding the “deathbed” watch of Christopher Hitchens’ atheism a bit discomforting? Seemingly more important to many is not the death or life of Hitchens himself but the preservation or demise of his atheism.
For some atheists (not all) Hitchen’s death without a conversion would be hailed as an achievement, raising a public victory flag over what I view as a potential personal tragedy.
Some Christians (not all) seem to be interested in the positive effects that a deathbed conversion might have on others.
Even Hitchens himself in interviews seems precoccupied with the issue by warning people that if some positive mention of God escapes his lips it’ll be the fault of the drugs or pain or something.
In a video interview, he urged people to discount any conversion he might have:
“The entity making such a remark might be a raving, terrified person whose cancer has spread to the brain…I can’t guarantee that such an entity wouldn’t make such a ridiculous remark, but no one recognizable as myself would ever make such a remark.”
This all seems terribly beside the point to me even though a public conversion by Hitchens would likely make at least some atheists reconsider their stance due to the considerable respect many rightly have for Hitchens’ intellect.
Some atheists fear a Christian end zone dance should Hitchens find God in this late stage.
But to me it seems all terribly besides the point. Hitchens’ sickness should not be the start of a campaign between the forces of Christianity and atheism. The real battle going on here is more important than that; the battle for the fate of an eternal soul has reached a crisis point. Our interest shouldn’t be focused on this story because Hitchens’ is a public person but because his is an eternal soul. Nothing more imortant is occuring in the world right now than the fate of souls.
There is no campaign between atheists and Christians more important than that. No us vs. them trumps that. In fact there is no us or them. It’s just all us sinners and Him.
August 17, 2010 at 4:20 am
This is Brideshead Revisited. Revisited.
It seems to me that the only good thing about the terrors of cancer or any other human ailment we suffer from unto death is that it strips us of all the nonsense of our lives and we focus on what is real. Death throes don't make us crazy. They finally make us sane.
Terror seems to me the proper response to a soul meeting God. Anyone who isn't terrified is either stupid or a saint.
August 17, 2010 at 4:26 am
"Nothing more imortant is occuring in the world right now than the fate of souls."
Amen. I'd love for Hitchens to have a deathbed conversion, repent of everything sinful ever said & done, and never hear word one about it.
August 17, 2010 at 5:21 am
Subvet – why would you never like to hear one word about it? Personally, I'm indifferent, because I know all the damage Hitchens has done. This one is entirely between him and the Big Guy upstairs. His "conversion" wouldn't validate my beliefs one bit. But it would elicit a nod and a "good for him" knowing he pulled himself from the brink of hell.
If I had to place a bet which way he will go, however, I'd say he'll probably stick with the god Hitchens has erected to his own ego.
August 17, 2010 at 5:44 am
Hmmm….
I am agnostic. I don't consider myself atheist – because I am realistic enough to know that I can't prove a negative. And besides – I object to the very term as it presupposes theism.
I'm not more enlightened than any Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu. I simply don't believe.
My family (not immediate) are all very Christian and that is how I was raised. However, I find I just can't believe.
I'm a good person. I follow the "Golden Rule", but not because of some eternal reward or punishment. Because it brings me pleasure in this life to do so.
I can't imagine that being at death's door would have any effect on me whatsoever. I don't expect anything once I die. I expect my life to end and nothing else.
If something else happens…then bonus? Or not? I guess if I end up in what you refer to as hell, that won't be much of a bonus.
But if I simply cease to exist – as I am inclined to believe I will do – I won't be sad…I won't have regrets…because once I am dead – I'll have no memory of life. And that's alright with me.
August 17, 2010 at 10:38 am
Steve,
But maybe it's all true.
August 17, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Early Riser, I wouldn't want to hear one word about it because that would imply no one is talking it to death. Which is pretty much what is happening in some corners of the blogosphere.
IMO we should pray for the man and let him die in as peaceful a manner as possible.
August 17, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I'm don't want to be indifferent but I am. Hitchens has been given way too much importance. He's just a loud mouth guy with an English accent which makes us foolish Americans think he's smart.
August 17, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Atheists aren't the only ones fearing a Christian end zone dance. That would make us look very small and unconcerned about Hitchens soul for its own sake.
August 17, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Subvet – ahhhhhhhhh. understood. And I agree, it is being talked to death. I almost wonder if it is BECAUSE of all the attention that he is remaining so strong willed. Were everyone simply to ignore him, maybe it would have made him easier to quietly do some reflection.
August 18, 2010 at 12:38 am
When he gets near the end he will begin to realise the rather personal nature of his predicament. Please God his brother will help him and maybe Fr. Rutler if he lets them.
August 18, 2010 at 5:08 pm
What an impressive article, I am still surprised and cannot believe that doing a deathbed could be a good miracle and a path to save yourself and have eternal life.
August 18, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Trusting in Divine Mercy, I pray that Christopher Hitchens has a totally lucid moment (which defies his rationality) in which he meets God.
Jesus, I trust in You.
August 19, 2010 at 8:53 pm
I have burned me "arse" for many a year in this life of mine, but I can say that this morning's Gospel (8/18) has left me angry at all. Go for it, Hitchens, it's up to you!
August 20, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Is anyone taking bets? I say he is so stubborn he would never admit it if he did seek God. Anyhow, with no change in his attitiude he will find the devil… who is pulling for him to not seek God.