I've only heard about this in the last couple of days, but the renowned atheist Christopher Hitchens is dying from esophageal cancer. This is getting a lot of attention because of his prominence as an atheist and his nearly certain demise.
Some interviews:
Anderson Cooper:
Jeffrey Goldberg:
There is a mixed reaction of prayer among the believers. Many are praying that he find Jesus. Many are praying that he survives. Very few are praying for his demise.
I've read a couple of things where atheists are finding this prayer to be condescending. I disagree completely. Who has been a bigger foe to Christians in the public discourse? Hitchens seems to be the most terse and smug of the New Atheists that I've been following recently.
I celebrate Christians that pray for Hitchens because that's what they do when they care and certainly what their religion teaches them.
2 comments:
It's interesting isn't it, the Christian reaction this? Those praying for his survival sans strings are of course practicing what they preach, admirable even if you don't agree with what they preach. As an atheist it is very tempting to call out the people who either want him to find Jesus or rot in hell which cannot be a moral position on any objective basis.
Of course we hope things turn out well for him although the prognosis is not encouraging. Still, I wonder how many of the Christians who pray for his unconditional survival will interpret his fate, whichever it turns out to be.
I think it's reasonable (silly maybe, but reasonable) for a Christian to pray that Hitchens finds Jesus - survival or not. It fits within their worldview.
For the people that derive satisfaction in believing that he will rot in Hell - I say that you're completely contemptable.
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