Full Version: Hitchens and Boteach Debate on God

Full version of the Christopher Hitchens and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Debate at New York's 92nd Street Y. Every program and presentation at the 92nd Street Y is made possible by charitable donations from individuals like you. To continue our activities in all media, we hope you consider making a donation below. Thank you.

Channel: Nonprofits & Activism
Uploaded: December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm
Author: 92ndStreetY

Length: 33:56
Rating: 4.87
Views: 214084

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

Video Comments

lamppostcommunity (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

But the bigger problem...If morality is simply a genetic construct for survival, there is no 'ought'ness to it. Let me explain: A man is perpetually abusive to his wife. He pulls back his hand, but stops and says "Actually, this would not be helpful for the survival of the human specie" Sorry, I don't think so. What says "It is wrong to beat your wife" Atheism simply has no answer. This does not mean atheists are immoral..just inconsistent. Atheism should be amoral (note, not immoral)

lamppostcommunity (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

You are presupposing that survival is good and exstinction bad, why? Again a moral judgment, but...Agreed Bees do die for the sake of the greater good, they act for survival. But drones do not die for other drones, especially for weaker or injured drones. They die for the queen and the hive. Humans see it as 'good' to sacrifice ESPECIALLY for the weak. They act altruistic even when it is goes against what is best for survival of the whole (As in a healthy fireman dying for the teen)

hymnofashes (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

There is something glowing in humanity, but it does not glow strongly. We must acknowledge our barbaric origin if we are to have any hope of transcending it within the small spaces that are under our control.

marchog (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

Can't beat Sam's 'Roger Moore' style eyebrow whenever Wolpe talks. It's like a counseling session from a caring psychiatrist with sam helping wolpe with his delusions.

marchog (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

What is the theist explanation for altruistic bees 'taking one for the hive'? The genecentric answer is trivial.

marchog (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

We view some things as right and others wrong because we need to survive too. If you forget individuals and view 'we' as genes for/against behaviours, the problem evaporates. Is that what you were asking? What's in it for the fireman etc?

steviewonder989 (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

a stunningly bad performance from Rabbi Boteach. If you're an agnostic or atheist just wanting to see a theist get beat up on, watch it all. If you want to see a good debate between two (more) closely matched intellects, watch Sam Harris vs. David Wolpe. I almost feel bad for the theists after watching Boteach bumble around like that for an hour and a half.

janahr (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

re;Morality"why is it there in us? "Our ancesters found that altruistic behaviour was advantageous.Morality has varied from culture to culture over time (nowadays, noone would consider it moral for a soldier to take a young boy under his wing as an apprentice and lover.But this was considered the norm in ancient Greece).But the basic moral model is the same.Nothing wonderous.

faraz1729 (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

Many people do say that. Apparently I was mistaken in thinking you do too."The Bible comes in as the story of God saving people thru his Son."Setting up a system where people are punished for not having a certain opinion is not saving them. It is despotism of the highest degree. It is abominable by human moral standards.

faraz1729 (December 31, 1969 at 5:59 pm)

"Why is that good?"It could be for similar reasons as I like the color blue. That's how my tastes developed. Civil societies like peace and dislike murder. Perhaps that's how societies developed. Why did they develop that way? I think that's probably impossible to really find out without a time machine to chart the past few millenia with."What if someone else thought it was 'good' to put you or I in harms way for them?"That's what I'm saying too. Standards of morality are varied.