Sorry – I’m (very) atheist but mostly that remains off this blog. However earlier I saw an excellent debate featuring the awesome Christopher Hitchens and the wonderful Stephen Fry. It’s in 5 parts and it was annoying when the part finished at a climatic moment and I was trying to find the next one, so I thought I’d assemble it in one place before I linked to it.
I think this debate is worth watching, whichever side you’re on, as it is a focused question and they’re debating the same question. Often when atheist meets religious, they’re talking about different things. That is not the case here. They also polled the audience before and after, and there was a massive change in opinion.
Part 1: Archbishop and Christopher Hitchens
Part 2: Christopher Hitchens and Ann Widdecombe
Part 3: Ann Widdecombe and Stephen Fry
Part 4: Audience Questions
Part 5: Summary
4 replies on “Great Debate: Is the Catholic Church a Force for Good?”
Cate – thank you so much for posting these. Stephen Fry was extremely eloquent, as ever. I’m less enamoured with Hitchens as a speaker, he lacks the turn of phrase of Fry (ok, so does pretty much everyone). Sadly the other two presented weak arguments in support of the motion, although the points raised by their opponents were hard to defend against.
Cate – thank you so much for posting these. Stephen Fry was extremely eloquent, as ever. I’m less enamoured with Hitchens as a speaker, he lacks the turn of phrase of Fry (ok, so does pretty much everyone). Sadly the other two presented weak arguments in support of the motion, although the points raised by their opponents were hard to defend against.