Audio (mp3) & Video (Mpeg): http://www.abc.net.au/tv/fora/stories/2 ... 706358.htmChristopher Hitchens and Tony Jones: Does Religion Poison Everything? -, 06 October 2009 10:00
If there were any doubts about writer and general provocateur Christopher Hitchens� ability to pull a crowd, they were entirely dispelled by the sold-out opening night of the first ever Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Presented by the Sydney Opera House and the St James Ethics Centre, the Festival brought together some of the more controversial thinkers from Australia and around the world. Hitchens� keynote address, followed by a discussion with our own Tony Jones, was an expansion on his bestselling, "God is Not Great: Religion Poisons Everything".
Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
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Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas

"A philosopher is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. A theologian is the man who finds it." ~ H. L. Mencken
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
yeah, he's in form. Did you see the full clip?FBM wrote:Nice! I loved that clip!
He appears to be getting more eloquent, lucid and witty..if that was possible. One of his best talks in a while. :-)
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
I only saw what you linked to. Got a link to the whole thing?Chauncey Gardner wrote:yeah, he's in form. Did you see the full clip?FBM wrote:Nice! I loved that clip!
He appears to be getting more eloquent, lucid and witty..if that was possible. One of his best talks in a while. :-)
"A philosopher is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. A theologian is the man who finds it." ~ H. L. Mencken
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
the full thing is at the same link. When you click on PLAY CLIP, a window opens with the highlights...just below the hilights clip is a WATCH FULL CLIP option.FBM wrote:I only saw what you linked to. Got a link to the whole thing?Chauncey Gardner wrote:yeah, he's in form. Did you see the full clip?FBM wrote:Nice! I loved that clip!
He appears to be getting more eloquent, lucid and witty..if that was possible. One of his best talks in a while. :-)
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas


"A philosopher is a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. A theologian is the man who finds it." ~ H. L. Mencken
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
"We ain't a sharp species. We kill each other over arguments about what happens when you die, then fail to see the fucking irony in that."
"It is useless for the sheep to pass resolutions in favor of vegetarianism while the wolf remains of a different opinion."
Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
I have just finished listening to Hitchens and I thought it was one of his best talks ever. Thanks for the link.Chauncey Gardner wrote:Audio (mp3) & Video (Mpeg): http://www.abc.net.au/tv/fora/stories/2 ... 706358.htmChristopher Hitchens and Tony Jones: Does Religion Poison Everything? -, 06 October 2009 10:00
If there were any doubts about writer and general provocateur Christopher Hitchens� ability to pull a crowd, they were entirely dispelled by the sold-out opening night of the first ever Festival of Dangerous Ideas. Presented by the Sydney Opera House and the St James Ethics Centre, the Festival brought together some of the more controversial thinkers from Australia and around the world. Hitchens� keynote address, followed by a discussion with our own Tony Jones, was an expansion on his bestselling, "God is Not Great: Religion Poisons Everything".
“I wish no harm to any human being, but I, as one man, am going to exercise my freedom of speech. No human being on the face of the earth, no government is going to take from me my right to speak, my right to protest against wrong, my right to do everything that is for the benefit of mankind. I am not here, then, as the accused; I am here as the accuser of capitalism dripping with blood from head to foot.”
John Maclean (Scottish socialist) speech from the Dock 1918.
John Maclean (Scottish socialist) speech from the Dock 1918.
Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
Fantastic speech and interview. I usually listen to podcasts and similar things as I drift off to sleep, but this one kept me awake and enthralled. Nice link 

- Chauncey Gardner
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
there's a certain eloquence to his language that I find just as compelling as the points he makes....the only other atheist I can think of with a simlar command of the english language would be Stephen Fry....Sma11wood wrote:Fantastic speech and interview. I usually listen to podcasts and similar things as I drift off to sleep, but this one kept me awake and enthralled. Nice link
incidentally...Fry took part in an anti-theism debate in london recently..i think it was at the weekend...if anyone spots a link to an mp3/mpeg file please post it up here.
cheers..and glad others have enjoyed the hitch in sydney as much as I did.
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
Thanks for the link.


"Religion. It's given people hope in a world torn apart by religion"
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"You know who's going to inherit the earth? Arms dealers. Because everyone else is too busy killing each other. That's the secret to survival. Never go to war, especially with yourself."
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
Interesting you say that actually, the way he uses his speech with pauses and inflections means you could easily mistake him for Fry. My brother entered when I was relistening to it on the stereo and made that exact mistake.Chauncey Gardner wrote: there's a certain eloquence to his language that I find just as compelling as the points he makes....the only other atheist I can think of with a simlar command of the english language would be Stephen Fry....
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
Ah! well...you will love this...Sma11wood wrote:Interesting you say that actually, the way he uses his speech with pauses and inflections means you could easily mistake him for Fry. My brother entered when I was relistening to it on the stereo and made that exact mistake.Chauncey Gardner wrote: there's a certain eloquence to his language that I find just as compelling as the points he makes....the only other atheist I can think of with a simlar command of the english language would be Stephen Fry....
Stephen Fry & Christopher Hitchens debate Blasphemy at the Hay festival
Background: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevult ... steph.html
Direct link to audio (mp3): http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevult ... sphemy.mp3
One of my favourite debating clips...even though they are really on the same side.
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Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
Downloaded the MP4. Am in lust.
Re: Christopher Hitchens at the Festival of dangerous ideas
Excellent! You, sir, are a wonderful resource!Chauncey Gardner wrote: Ah! well...you will love this...
Stephen Fry & Christopher Hitchens debate Blasphemy at the Hay festival
Background: http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevult ... steph.html
Direct link to audio (mp3): http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevult ... sphemy.mp3
One of my favourite debating clips...even though they are really on the same side.
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