Christopher Hitchens
Tue., May 22, 8 p.m., $6-$12, Philadelphia Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St.
reading
|
Once upon a time, people in Europe used to believe silly things. Then there was this thing called the Enlightenment, and it was awesome, and everyone in Europe (and now North America, as well) except for a few freaks and halfwits stopped believing silly things and started doing calculus, building steam engines and inventing constitutional law. Unfortunately, the rest of the world never got around to having the Enlightenment, so they still believe silly things and sometimes fly planes into buildings.
Such is the (slightly simplified) argument of god is not Great, the latest book by Vanity Fair and Slate.com columnist Christopher Hitchens. What a long, strange trip it's been for the former Nation writer. He penned brilliant, scathing polemics against U.S. foreign policy in Vietnam and Central America. Now he is nearly the last person on the planet willing to publicly defend the decision to invade Iraq in 2003. One thing that Hitchens 1.0 and Hitchens 2.0 have in common, however, is their dislike of organized religion, and that's what god is all about. Hitchens is dogmatic and frequently wrong, but a remarkable debater. When he speaks at the Free Library next week, the audience will be peppered with people hoping to publicly whip him over his Iraq position. While for the most part they will be right and he wrong, he will still pulverize them. Debate is a lost art. Come watch the master, tragic flaws and all.
Tue., May 22, 8 p.m., $6-$12, Philadelphia Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, www.library.phila.gov.
Also In This Week's Arts Section
Now See This
Comments
Be the first to comment on this article.