Full Version: Hitchens and Boteach Debate on God

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Full version of the Christopher Hitchens and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Debate at New York's 92nd Street Y.

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Channel: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded: February 8, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Author: 92ndStreetY

Length: 01:33:56
Rating: 4.87
Views: 221245

Tags: hitchens shmuley boteach god atheism judaism 92ndStreetY 92Y religion culture authors history

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Video Comments:
marchog (December 2, 2008 at 2:25 pm)
And when I see a flying carpet I'll take the myths of ancient goatherds over modern Physics.
marchog (December 2, 2008 at 2:21 pm)
And 'Jihad' in proper context means the struggle to transcend the lower tendancies of human nature and strive towards God. The demand is for an internal spiritual struggle.
marchog (December 2, 2008 at 2:02 pm)
The 72 virgins is a mistranslation, just like the virgin birth in the bible. The correct translation is 'white raisins of crystal clarity'. This fits the context of the relevant hadiths much better - heavenly rewards of food & drink.
soldier786 (December 2, 2008 at 1:14 pm)
once i again i find myself agreeing with you dalt, however i am more interested to see what jamila has to say, and to clarify, im not trying to evoke animosity or anger i am genuinely intrigued to see what jamila's opinions and justification for her being a Muslim are, and no im not saying you need to justify yourself to me im just curious as to why you chose Islam over say Judaism, which as dalt touched on, is very similar.
daltriani (December 2, 2008 at 1:09 pm)
soldier
religions can start as cults based on misunderstanding and misinformation until they snowball into religions with traditions and dogma that binds the people who have been infected with the delusion. check out john frum or cargo cults on the internet to see how a little bit of information and lack of education can lead to a cultural phenomenon. it's so easy to see the similarities with accepted religions (but religious people can't or won't see it of course!)
soldier786 (December 2, 2008 at 12:55 pm)
(cont from prev post) to keep itself to itself, if we do not believe we are all damned to hell in your eyes which is fair enough if you would just keep it to yourself, Religion is man made in my opinion, it has been used to control lesser minds for the last 4000 years, fear enables others to control the masses, and it is that fear that created the need for Religion, in my opinion you cling to something because you fear to live a life without Islam.
soldier786 (December 2, 2008 at 12:48 pm)
Dalt i could not agree more, i just can not understand religions at all, most religious events have been proven to never ever have occurred, further more i shall pose you the same question Jamila, that is posed through Hitchens debate numerous times in all his debates; why did God almighty wait 98000 or in Islams case more like 98400 years to act?

im all for a way life if it betters the quality and morale standards of your life BUT what gets me is religion is not content (cont on next post)
daltriani (December 2, 2008 at 12:35 pm)
jamila
but it is a fantasy! what did mohammed actually prophecise? mobile phones, microwaves, the beatles, 9/11? i'm keen to hear solid prophecies but please, not just some vague parables that can be read to fit many recent or past events.
also, why do you think yours is the right version of god's word and the others aren't. is it be because you were led to believe this by another muslim? your faith is just as false as any other. it's about mind control and submitting to it. sheep mentality!
jamila057 (December 2, 2008 at 11:27 am)
soldier: Well the world doesn't govern itself on western rules & standards,there's a big world surrounding us, & it doesnt stop at the borders of western society, do you really think that the rules & etiquette's of today's world were in place back then, in our religion a girl can marry after she get's her period,But like i said due to modern society it only happens in villages in 3rd world countries.but once upon a time it was a common thing,2 look for a suitor for ur daughter at 14 or youunger.
jamila057 (December 2, 2008 at 11:15 am)
dalt: there is no fantasy surrounding him he was man who lived & died.(PBUH)he is the last prophet of god, we follow his teachings & the way he lived, which are documented to the T, & ur right modern culture say's if ur under 18 ur illegal, but do u really think that it was, thousand of years ago, a period makes a woman a woman,& then that's what made her legal, not her age.& to be honest i haven't brushed up on the attacks n india so i wouldnt know.i'll look it up & ask & then give u my opinion