# Religious people who are being dicks in the Christopher Hitchens thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413 "2011-12-16T15:19:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/21 "2011-12-16T16:29:48Z")
I am trying to remember if Hitchens said anything about people praying for him. I am thinking of a comment about taking prayers in the spirit they’re intended - the general idea being ‘I hope things go well for you, and if I can do anything about your situation from a distance, I will try’ - but that might’ve been something Penn Jillette said.I wouldn’t object to that kind of thing any more than I would object to “rest in peace” (he’s not resting, he’s dead). So I don’t think **Shodan** , for example, should be included here. Saying ‘I hope he reconsidered his atheism’ is another thing, and I posted about it in the thread. That’s something much closer to gloating. Saying “I hope that on his deathbed he experienced a spasm of terror and suffering that caused him to abandon the views he expressed and cherished during his life” does sound a wee bit dickish, I think. Imagine that Billy Graham dies tomorrow and some atheist says “I hope that just before he died, he realized that the whole God thing is ridiculous and that his existence was about to terminate abruptly and forever and that he died in deep confusion while fearing that perhaps he’d been wrong for his entire life and might’ve wasted a lot of it.” That wouldn’t be very nice either. 😛 I’m also not sure about the comment that he attacked people who worked for freedom and peace, because I do know he did a lot of reporting from dictatorships and warn torn countries. Like I said in the Cafe thread, you live your life a certain way. If you change your mind about something at the end, that doesn’t invalidate everything that came before. Death being what it is, we probably put too much emphasis on how a life ends. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/22 "2011-12-16T16:30:11Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > My post was partly, although not entirely, ironic. > > Part of the irony is to contrast this with what Hitchens is alleged to have said when Jerry Falwell died, which is quoted in the thread, as well as the general assholery demonstrated on the SDMB when any prominent Republican dies. > > Of course, if you are going to take offense at a wish that God be merciful to one of His best-publicized enemies, then I am not so sure I am the one being the dick. > > :shrugs: In order: Thanks for the clarification, there is no God, and I’m pretty sure you’re a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/23 "2011-12-16T16:31:49Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I would pray for anyone when they die (and preferably beforehand) to find reconciliation with God. Does that make me a dick? Nope, just a sanctimonious douche-bag. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/24 "2011-12-16T16:33:03Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Part of the irony is to contrast this with what Hitchens is alleged to have said when Jerry Falwell died, which is quoted in the thread, as well as the general assholery demonstrated on the SDMB when any prominent Republican dies. No matter what you think of Hitchens, I’m sure you’ll agree that he generally did good. Can you really say the same of Falwell? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/25 "2011-12-16T16:35:43Z")
Wah wah wah…look at RIP threads for pretty much anyone to the right of John Lennon, and you’ll see board liberals being dicks. Either RIP threads should be respectful for everyone, or not. The rule here is not, so no whining when one of your sacred cows gets gored. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/26 "2011-12-16T16:36:29Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > In order: Thanks for the clarification, there is no God, and I’m pretty sure you’re a dick. Shodan is such a dick he collects smegma under his neck. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/27 "2011-12-16T16:38:06Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Wah wah wah…look at RIP threads for pretty much anyone to the right of John Lennon, and you’ll see board liberals being dicks. Either RIP threads should be respectful for everyone, or not. The rule here is not, so no whining when one of your sacred cows gets gored. Someone should pit those dirty liberals. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/28 "2011-12-16T16:38:23Z")
Everybody come see the liberal hypocrisy! ---
**Author:** ![SecondJudith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@SecondJudith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecondJudith)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/29 "2011-12-16T16:39:30Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Specifically mentioning God, or your hopes for a deathbed conversion, in a thread about the death of a prominent atheist is not demonstrating compassion or love or good will or any other thing besides, “Look at me! I’m a Christian and I need everyone to know that I am a Christian and that I disapprove of Hitchens’ belief system!” I agree with this… > [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I think he’d be perfectly pleased to be remembered in a harshly adversarial way; it’s how he lived his life. …and also this. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/30 "2011-12-16T16:40:04Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Everybody come see the liberal hypocrisy! Bricker must have called in sick. Oh shit… Bricker was Hitchens!!! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/31 "2011-12-16T16:42:41Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Wah wah wah…look at RIP threads for pretty much anyone to the right of John Lennon, and you’ll see board liberals being dicks. Either RIP threads should be respectful for everyone, or not. The rule here is not, so no whining when one of your sacred cows gets gored. Was I complaining that people were not being sufficiently respectful? No, I was not. I am specifically complaining about people being dicks about religion. Which I realize is like complaining that the sky is blue or that cows fart methane, but I make like one Pit thread per year, and this is the one I’m going with. Deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/32 "2011-12-16T16:42:45Z")
I said “RIP”, though I know it’s not the most _logical_ thing to say, being an atheist myself… I guess I just meant it as a way to say; “No longer will he suffer or struggle”. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/33 "2011-12-16T16:43:52Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I’m sure Hitchens would honestly hope that you’ll stop wasting your life on bronze-age nonsense and live unfettered by delusion for a time. Since this life is all you have, and you’ll end utterly when it’s over. I’m sure he would, and he’d probably say it even better than that. I remain unoffended and wish him the best in life and death. > [@Crawlspace](#): > > Nope, just a sanctimonious douche-bag. I’m (truly) sorry you feel that way. I can’t really see how I’m hurting anyone though. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/34 "2011-12-16T16:44:24Z")
I personally see no issues with “RIP.” Silent oblivion is certainly peaceful. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/35 "2011-12-16T16:47:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > No matter what you think of Hitchens, I’m sure you’ll agree that he generally did good. No, I don’t. But that does not justify my saying “I hope he is burning in hell” or even “I hope his death was painful” or any of the things that are considered _de rigueur_ when some prominent Republican dies. The thrust of this (rather silly) Pitting seems to be that we should be respectful of each others’ beliefs. Considering it is about the death of someone who spoke as Hitchens did, I don’t think that’s a stance that needs to be taken seriously. A good many atheists are a thin-skinned as well as hypocritical bunch, but that is hardly a surprise. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/36 "2011-12-16T16:48:53Z")
But are you really praying for him? I mean, really, really hard, so that God brings hm back to life, and of course he realizes that he was wrong, and renouces atheism. Because if anyone coming back from the dead and renouncing atheism would get a lot of attention and converts, it would be Christopher Hitchens. How tough would it be to get God onboard with this one? I know you really believe in this stuff, so I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you aren’t praying hard enough. Did you did something to piss God off, and so you’d better clear that up first, then get on the Hitchens reanimation project? Maybe prayer isn’t enough: you need to keen, too. C’mon: make at least a half-hearted attempt to keen, you guys. I want a zombie evangelical Hitchens on my TV on Christmas Day, preaching The Word between bites of Richard Dawkins’ clove-studded brain. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/37 "2011-12-16T16:49:38Z")
**Skammer** , I for one don’t think you’re hurting anyone… I don’t think I will change your mind about an afterlife. And you have a right to your opinion as silly as I find it to be. I’m sorry but I don’t think theists are being dicks here. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/38 "2011-12-16T16:50:03Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Shodan is such a dick he collects smegma under his neck. Actually if it’s under the neck that stuff is called regards. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/39 "2011-12-16T16:50:49Z")
What’s ironic is that Shodan and ITR Champion and the other sare saying the exact _opposite_ of “I hope he burns in Hell.” ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413/40 "2011-12-16T16:53:31Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > But are you really praying for him? I mean, really, really hard, so that God brings hm back to life, and of course he realizes that he was wrong, and renouces atheism. Because if anyone coming back from the dead and renouncing atheism would get a lot of attention and converts, it would be Christopher Hitchens. How tough would it be to get God onboard with this one? “If they did not believe Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-people-who-are-being-dicks-in-the-christopher-hitchens-thread/606413.md?page=3)