Quiet, contemplative Campbell University theology professor Dr. Adam English held his own against flamboyant atheist Christopher Hitchens in a debate on the nature of God and the value of religion in today’s society on Tuesday, May 15, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Church in Raleigh. Hitchens was in town to promote his book, “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.”Reminiscent of the biblical struggle between David and Goliath, the local professor countered the nationally known columnist and pundits’ assertions that religion is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated upon mankind. Hitchens proffered the outrageous claims of the Bible and the tyranny of religious faith in support of his argument.”Religion comes to us as infants, perpetuated by pious individuals who pretend to know intimately the mind of God,” he explained. “If you like to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, go ahead, but please don’t teach it to my children.”The absolute, totalitarian, unchanging nature of religion is completely beyond reason,” Hitchens added. “Is this not our problem, our wish to be slaves, to be completely absolved of any responsibility? Is it thinkable that we could outgrow this teaching and rise from our knees in opposition to this irrationality?”Citing the multiplicity of religions in the world as evidence that religion is man-made, Hitchens said, “If God had made man there wouldn’t be so many Gods.”English, who graduated from Baylor University, argued that the multiplicity of religions is one of the reasons we should believe in God’s existence. “It illustrates the universality of God. All souls reach out for understanding,” he said.God is not the ultimate explanation of the universe but something deeper. God is the origin. God is the mystery of life, English maintained, challenging Hitchens’ definition of religion in his book “God is Not Great.””If you say that not only Christianity, Judaism and the traditional faiths are religions, but also Nazism, communism, fascism—then why is atheism not a religion?” English asked Hitchens.English also complained that Hitchens’ interpretation of Scripture was flat and literalistic. Instead, English suggested that Scripture be read through the lens of Christ.He went on to argue that Hitchens’ book falls short of fully explaining religion and commented that, “It was strange that I was not able to find myself in your book, as a religious person.”Hitchens argued that English could not find himself in his book because Hitchens did not include sanctimonious statements like “God is love.” “To me that is white noise,” he said.Hitchens also argued that atheism cannot be considered a religion as English proposed because it refuses to take on any belief without evidence.”We (atheists) wouldn’t be so conceited as to say that all you have to do is believe and you will have the keys to the universe,” Hitchens said.Ultimately, the evidence of God’s existence is found in religion because it answers three questions, English maintained: “Who we are. Where we come from and what our purpose is.”Hitchens has been a columnist for “Vanity Fair,” “The Nation,” “Slate” and “Free Inquiry” and is a regular on network television. His books include “Thomas Paine’s ‘Rights of Man:’ A Biography,” “Thomas Jefferson: Author of America,” and “A Long Short War: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq.”English holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Theology and English from Hardin-Simmons University, a Master of Arts in Theology with emphasis in Christian Ethics from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Systemic Theology from Baylor University. He is the co-author of the book “Pocket History of Theology” and the author of “The Possibility of Christian Philosophy.”Photo Copy: Campbell University professor Dr. Adam English, left, debates nationally-known author Christopher Hitchens, far right, on the nature of religion and its relevance to today’s society. Also pictured is moderator Steve Smith with The Triangle Interfaith Alliance.
English strikes blow for religion