Sharpton / Hitchens Debate - Can Morality Exist Without God?

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Author Christopher Hitchens debates the Reverend Al Sharpton on the question of whether morality can exist in the absence of God.

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A Debate: God Is Not Great with Al Sharpton and Christopher Hitchens.

Taking on possibly the greatest issue of our time - the malignant force of religion in the world - Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion through a close and learned reading of the major religious texts, citing numerous historical instances in which sexual repression and outrageous acts of violence have been committed in the name of God. He argues for a more secular life based on science and reason, in which hell is replaced by the Hubble telescope's awesome view of the universe, and Moses and the burning bush give way to the beauty and symmetry of the double helix. -- NYPL

Christopher Hitchens is an author, journalist and literary critic. Now living in Washington, D.C., he has been a columnist at Vanity Fair, The Nation and Slate; additionally, he is an occasional contributor to many other publications.

Al Sharpton Jr. is a Pentecostal minister, a political activist, civil rights activist and film actor. In recent years, Sharpton has also become a perennial candidate in his quest for the Democratic Party's nomination for President of the United States. Author of "Go and Tell Pharaoh: The Autobiography of the Reverend Al Sharpton."

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: May 16, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Author: ForaTv

Length: 00:09:40
Rating: 4.83
Views: 133429

Tags: al sharpton chris hitchens religion faith atheists agnostics atheism immoral ethics right wrong romney fora tv fora.tv

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Video Comments:
AbdielAbiram (December 4, 2008 at 11:39 am)
Atheist who live in modern times. The old atheist like Frued, Humes, Karl Marx, Nische Understood the implications of there atheism, as where the modern ones seem to not.
kurosword (December 4, 2008 at 5:29 am)
whats a "modern atheist"?
kurosword (December 4, 2008 at 5:27 am)
thats horribe logic.
nuumskee (December 3, 2008 at 11:33 pm)
I don't think he really answered the question either. I think we get so cault up in his wonderful usage of pros and verbage that it doesn't hit you until much later and you say to yourself: "hey, he didnt answer the question". I do agree with a lot of his points even if I do believe in a higher power. I figured we have a food chain & there fore someone or something just naturally has to be above us as well. We are to simple minded to be at the very top. They for voted Bush for peeks sake! :)
AbdielAbiram (December 3, 2008 at 8:53 pm)
If you honestly think he answered the question, then you are in fact the dumb one. The question was "In the absence of God, where does one base morality", Hitchens didn't think of answering the question for there is no answer in atheism. Materialism is nihilism in disguise, the modern atheist are just to afraid to admit it.
jerro19711971 (December 3, 2008 at 5:28 pm)
he did you are just too dumb to understand it!
leifey (December 3, 2008 at 12:33 pm)
i don't always agree with hitchens' positions are manners, but i have to admit, he's a cool customer. he kicked sharpton's ass in this debate and made the reverend look foolish.
theabomation (December 3, 2008 at 11:12 am)
Spooky deity is watching you believe in him or he will send you to an worse spooky deity who will torture you with fire and brimstone and damnation! Oh and he loves you
cronology (December 2, 2008 at 7:34 pm)
Hitchens do some ass whooping!
LordLanceJH (December 2, 2008 at 5:42 pm)
Dang, I never knew how stupid Al Sharpten was! People speak of him so highly, but when I see him here, he sounds like a bloody moron! This man is one of the most blithe I have ever seen speak publicly, even surpassing Mr Bush!