tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665239610504347104.post4520866752150940339..comments2023-09-19T07:41:30.437-07:00Comments on Gone Apostate: Pagans are SnakesBrian Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08420576317547075019noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665239610504347104.post-7588310943742164592011-03-18T07:21:57.646-07:002011-03-18T07:21:57.646-07:00Here is another quote from Hitchens that says esse...Here is another quote from Hitchens that says essentially the same thing and it's one I think of often:<br /><br />"Many religions now come before us with ingratiating smirks and outspread hands, like an unctuous merchant in a bazaar. They offer consolation and solidarity and uplift, competing as they do in a marketplace. But we have a right to remember how barbarically they behaved when they were strong and were making an offer that people could not refuse." <br /><br />Here is a excerpt from the recent debate with him and Sam Harris discussing the question "Is there an afterlife?" with Rabbis David Wolpe and Bradley Artson Shavit where he makes the point again but even better I think...it's in the second half of the clip.<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9UYY7mztYoBrian Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08420576317547075019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2665239610504347104.post-52693835773783341272011-03-18T00:06:30.834-07:002011-03-18T00:06:30.834-07:00As a heavy metal fan, I'm fascinated by the fa...As a heavy metal fan, I'm fascinated by the fact that a lot of the anti-Christian sentiment in Northern European metal is rooted in the fact that Christians converted or killed a lot of pagans, essentially uprooting entire cultures and distorting most of their traditions. And I'm reminded of the Hitch frequently remarking that while Christianity is often spread by charity and goodwill these days, for most of its history it was spread by the sword.Mike Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04097261108461657167noreply@blogger.com