Also prevalent is, what I am going to start terming, "Christian Pessimism". This worldview is, in my humble opinion, one of the very reasons Peter has cause to moan the "decline of Chri This book isn't bad, but I think most of what he says has been treated elsewhere more coherently. This worldview is, in my humble opinion, one of the very reasons Peter has cause to moan the "decline of Christianity". If the world is going to hell in a handbasket, what reason have we to try? Christians everywhere are backing off, and this kind of pessimism does nothing to encourage them to take up the arms of love and good deeds again.
The second half of the book is a bit more cohesive. He attacks three failed arguments of atheism. As mentioned above, one of them, the issue of atheism and morality or lack thereof , has been treated elsewhere more thoroughly. This is where Peter was at his best. Although his general comments about religion and wars have been addressed elsewhere, he offers a close-up perspective from his time as a journalist in communist Russia at one point he was even a socialist sympathizer , arguing pretty effectively that Atheist states ARE, in fact, atheist and that conflicts fought in the name of religion are not always about religion.
This is contrary to his brother's claims that Stalin's regime was actually a theistic regime and that religion is the cause of all conflict. Overall, a good read, but if I were to recommend an apologetics book to someone, I would send them elsewhere. View all 10 comments. Jan 09, Dinochunks01 rated it liked it.
Paid twenty five cents at the employee book sale last autumn. I thought it would be a recommendation for my son who is living a faith based life while finding and growing his talents. I ended up reading it myself as my life appears to be undergoing some crises. Hitchen's background and can relate to his early beliefs and values. I was aspiring to atheism, going only so far as a sincere agnosticism. Everyone knows the joke about Agnostics being too cowardly to be Atheists.
I am r Paid twenty five cents at the employee book sale last autumn. I am reexamining the Cristian faith, in large part to my son's friends. I see the "center" that their faith seems to provide them active exercise of their intelligence and talents; compassion and fellowship; in short, hope for the future. I am rereading Hitchen's responses to three atheistic arguments.
He is angry with evil and sin. Church Architecture January, Godard wrote, "What Hitchens can't seem to appreciate is that, even if 'Soviet Communism is organically linked to atheism, something his brother and others argue against if somewhat feebly , and even if one accepts that Soviet tyranny was horrible, this says little about the existence of God". Read it if you're interested in learning more about how the ideology of atheism leads to hypocrisy and ultimately a violent and controlling government. More important, how do we see God's anger in relation to his other attributes?
I was more swayed by his observations and "epiphanies" earlier in the book,as opposed to the call for a return to conservative Christianity he declares in the final pages of the book. It has been a compelling and personal journey of exploration for me. Thank you, Christopher Hitchens! View all 4 comments. Aug 02, Jesse Broussard rated it it was amazing Shelves: Peter Hitchens can write. His prose in this autobiographical journey from atheism to faith is at times elegant, precise, poignant, poetic, mystical and melancholy, and is almost universally exquisite.
This book was like candy. Yes, "Anything worth doing is worth doing badly," but it's so refreshing to encounter someone that does it well. Here are a few samples of what I mean. Lewis's potent sneer at stained-glass sentimentality--"like a consumptive girl. During a short spell at a cathedral choir school not as a choirboy, since I sing like a donkey I had experienced the intense beauty of the ancient Anglican chants, spiraling up into chilly stone vaults at Evensong The prehistoric, mysterious poetry of the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis, perhaps a melancholy evening hymn, and the cold, ancient laments and curses of the Psalms, as the unique slow dusk of England gathers outside and inside the echoing, haunted, impossibly old building are extraordinarily potent.
If you welcome them, they have an astonishing power to reassure and comfort. If you suspect or mistrust them, they will alarm and repel you like a strong and unwanted magic, something to flee from before it takes hold. But more than just his voice when writing, his organization and progression through his experience and his understanding of the surrounding events is clear and extremely insightful. It is, in a word, a delightful book: Jul 19, Peter rated it did not like it Shelves: This bizarrely frames his position as a declaration that there is a god, it is his version and we at least christopher was mad at it.
I am as mad at his god as i am mad at at Thor for the thunder, sigh. Atheism if there was such a thing would be sad to see somebody following imaginary gods in the first place LOL. Rather stupid, i am having a bad feeling about this This bizarrely frames his position as a declaration that there is a god, it is his version and we at least christopher was mad at it.
Some bland waffle about communists are evil therefor god exists or something? Read this in four hours which I would rather have back. Like reading cotton wool. Homophobic, anti women's rights, shallow, poor thinker, functionally a deluded person who speaks nicely but would throw you off the team if you don't go by his rules. Library book fortunately, would be a waste of money to buy. Feb 06, Mary rated it it was amazing. This book provides a first-hand, eye-opening perspective on how the elimination of religion from the public sphere, and especially the forcible attempt to remove religion from society altogether has been detrimental, if not devastating, to society.
Whereas religious persecution by the Church can be and has been tempered over time by conscience and a calling to account of the fundamental call for love of neighbor, attempts to create an atheistic utopia have proven several times over to be a much This book provides a first-hand, eye-opening perspective on how the elimination of religion from the public sphere, and especially the forcible attempt to remove religion from society altogether has been detrimental, if not devastating, to society.
Whereas religious persecution by the Church can be and has been tempered over time by conscience and a calling to account of the fundamental call for love of neighbor, attempts to create an atheistic utopia have proven several times over to be a much more ruthless and intolerant form of persecution, tempered only by failure and fueled by the hope of doing it better next time. Hitchens compellingly illustrates the effect on human society of both the relatively peaceful deconstruction of religion in Britain as well as the forcible and bloody attempt to eradicate religion from the minds, hearts, and memories of the people of Russia after WW II.
Hitchens's perspective as a journalist and former atheist is both personal and powerful. Very glad I read this book. I had high hopes for Christopher Hitchens' brother. If nothing else, I expected some kind of unique approach to the faith vs atheism argument. What I got was nothing of the sort. In Chapter 1 he admits that as a youngster he was an atheist because, "I haughtily scorned those adults who, out of alarm, concern, love, or duty, sought to warn or restrain me. He goes on in a later chapter to state that he is only a Christian due to fear, essentially of the unknown.
But the real premise of this book is that atheism equals Communism. Again, I expected more from Christopher Hitchens' brother. Mar 28, Steve rated it it was amazing Shelves: The Rage Against God Part response to his brother, Christopher Hitchens, atheism book, this is also Hitchens testimony, an spiritual autobiography, if you like.
Hitchens meshes his own story from childhood "christian" formality, through atheism and Trotskyism, to his regained faith and return to Christianity, to a social commentary on the spiritual decline of Britain. Numerous insights on the spiritual degradation of our nation and culture abound, as well as apt commentary on our p Peter Hitchens: Numerous insights on the spiritual degradation of our nation and culture abound, as well as apt commentary on our post-war nationalism as a kind of pseudo-replacement for Christianity.
This is an unusual apologetic, at once personal, autobiographical, aesthetic and political. It is well written, passionate and sincere. The new atheists have to answer: How can atheism account for moral absolutes and aesthetic values? Jun 08, Jennifer rated it liked it Shelves: A bit heavy on English history but not necessarily in a bad way , extremely thought-provoking, not as detailed about his conversion as I would like, witty and sparkling prose - an overall good read. Nov 21, Malin Friess rated it it was ok. Christopher is the author of best seller God is not Great.
Both attended private Christian Schools as children in England together. Both abandoned their faith. Peter returned to his faith strangly enough at an art museum staring up at the painting of the Last Judgement. I peered at the naked figures fleeing the pit of hell I gaped, my mouth actually hanging open. I did not have a religious experience.. From the title I expected a personal account of a highly educated atheist refinding his faith.
A good portion of this book was filled with British politics and history of the Church of England. For that I only give it 2 stars. Christopher died of esophageal cancer in most likely related to his chain-smoking habit. He died continuing to decry anything from God to circumcision to conservatism.
Peter debated Christopher in Grand Rapids in Sadly, they never got a long and were never able to reconcile despite their religious and philosophical differences. Jan 14, Sarah rated it it was amazing. I had a chance to hear Peter Hitchens on the radio a few months back and finally picked up the book. I appreciated how deeply personal it was. And I liked that P. He speaks for himself, clearly outlining the changes in post-WWII Europe society that he felt influenced his development.
The last portion of the book is a bit less personal in n I had a chance to hear Peter Hitchens on the radio a few months back and finally picked up the book. The last portion of the book is a bit less personal in nature and more an answer to some of the top anti-theist claims, including the claim that molestation by a religious figure is less damaging to a child than being exposed to the religion itself. I plan to recommend it to my family and friends who are active in their faith, whether that is as a Christian, agnostic, atheist or anti-theist. Nov 02, John rated it it was amazing Shelves: Hitchens counters the arguments of 'the new atheists,' including his brother, in this compelling book.
Hitchens writes how he moved from being an outspoken Trotskyite Atheist to an orthodox Christian. He spends most of his time arguing how we all got to these state of affairs and then demonstrating the logical conclusions of the new atheists and their argument that raising children to be religious is 'child abuse.
Feb 14, Steven rated it really liked it. This book is so well-written, it practically reads itself! The fact that Hitchens is brother to the late, great atheist writer, Christopher Hitchens makes this book worth the read. What a fascinating public debate. But this book is a great read in its own right.
Hitchens writes beautifully, and while his theistic arguments are excellent, I found the content of his reflections on England and Russia to be the real beauty of this work. The book begins with a discussion England's growing secularism. The details he uses to illustrate the point are poignant, though the pre-war England is a place that a post-war American like me can barely imagine. Hitchens supplies the imagery, however, and makes it easy to understand the loss.
He argues that the loss of faith, the "fall," if you will, happened because England like so many Western nations always equated Christianity with dying for your country in some nasty war. While applauding the virtue of sacrifice, Hitchens argues that the Church is weakened when she allows herself to be dragged into the service of every war, no matter how right it may appear. He mentions the famous Christmas Eve truce, when soldiers on both sides joined to sing "Silent Night.
This is an interesting discussion, rooted in Hitchens' own journey away-from and back-to faith. It is an argument I have never before seen in a book on apologetics. Nor have many Christians in the West had the nerve or the inclination? Hitchens was not convinced. The second half of the book examines Soviet Russia as the fulfillment of every atheist's utopian dream. The dream was a nightmare, and Hitchens who worked there for many years draws excellent lessons from the failed experiment in Atheistic rule. This was a fresh work of apologetics, with unique insights into both England and Russia that only Hitchens could provide.
His outsiders' commentary on contemporary American politics and religion was also fascinating.
Feb 14, Lisa Reising rated it really liked it Recommends it for: This was an eye-opening book. I "really liked it" for a couple of reasons. It is a wonderfully c This was an eye-opening book. It exposes the flawed logic of throwing over a God-fearing society. I did not give it 5 stars because Part 3 of the book gets a little bogged down in communism's terminology and examples - and I probably need more background to understand it better. Here is a line that resonated with me: Without the oath, where is the obligation to fulfill it?
Where is the law that even kings must obey? Where is the lifelong fidelity of husband and wife? Where is the safety of the innocent child growing in the womb? Where, in the end, is the safety of any of us from those currently bigger and stronger than we are? Oct 02, Brian rated it really liked it Shelves: One of the best books I've read in a long time.
It made reading three whiny atheist books worth it. In a sentence, it is Christopher Hitchens style with the content of a C. Peter Hitchens often has the same melancholy style of looking at the world's troubles, but he sees what those are with intense clarity and insight. I felt, after I read him, that I had not only heard arguments that hit the heart of atheism, but also like I now knew Britain's history since World War II. It makes me sa One of the best books I've read in a long time. It makes me sad, but glad that someone has a head to know what's going on.
It should be required reading for any Christian who doesn't like how politics work in America. This book again shows the British can do things an American never could do. If an American said we need God for politics and not just morality or self-fulfillment rubbish! But a nation that turns from God cannot escape.
May 15, John rated it really liked it Shelves: A great addition to the current debate between Christianity and atheism, written by the brother of the most notorious atheist of our times. The last pages are an intellectual gold mine that lay to waste some of Christopher Hitchens' better-known attempts at discrediting the Christian faith.
Many of this book's detractors wil A great addition to the current debate between Christianity and atheism, written by the brother of the most notorious atheist of our times. Many of this book's detractors will no doubt decry the lack of "scientific" arguments to be found here, as Peter Hitchens' focuses instead on the question of whether or not Christianity is good for the world. Peter Hitchens is an excellent writer, and I like that he presents his ideas in a respectful, non-antagonistic kind of way--a far cry from the shrill, intolerant screeds of writers like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris.
Nov 25, Ciera Harris rated it it was amazing Shelves: With beautiful and eloquent pieces of memoir intertwined with biting historical truths all tied up with a bow of linguistic talent, Peter Hitchens drew me in at every turn. I felt the weight of his words and the nostalgia in his voice, as well as the indignation at other portions of the text. I found his arguments against atheism very well-structured and convincing.
This may be my favorite book I have read this year. Aug 23, Christopher Kanas rated it it was amazing Shelves: God's laws and Christian morals do the same, survive. If God is not dethroned and his laws revoked, he represents and important rival to the despot's authority, living in millions of hearts. If he cannot be driven out of hearts, total control by the state is impossible. Peter, as a foreign correspondent who has lived all over the glob "Even unbelievers have to recognize that God, whether He exists or not, predates earthly dictators and tends to survive them.
Peter, as a foreign correspondent who has lived all over the globe, evaluates the cultures of various countries who have decidedly chosen to live without a Christian religious structure. He describes the failures of societies and the path towards, in some cases, ultimate destruction as dictators seek to replace God with their own utopian fantasies that place them as the "God-like" figure. He also critiques current western societies and how the language and focus of the New Atheists are eerily similar to the same words echoed by Josef Stalin, Leon Trotsky, and Vladimir Lenin, who sought to eradicate religion in the 's.
If you are looking for an autobiography of his own coming to faith from atheism, it's very limited. Nor does he choose to take a lot of personal shots at his famous atheist brother Christopher Hitchens. He does question Christopher's beliefs and speaks where he and him differ in opinion. But there is no dueling of sharp words and he is content at focusing the direction of the book towards society evaluation rather than romanticizing over the public's interest to see him go toe to toe with Christopher.
He also is not an apologist for the Christian faith that is seeking to define what Christians believe in or his own set of defined beliefs. More or less, what his points are, are often to the readers discernment as his arguments come from more from the self-evidence of failed socialistic systems that have rendered God mute.
Highly recommend for those interested in history, sociology, and Christianity through the lens of a global perspective. Apr 18, Jeremy Yoder rated it liked it Shelves: Overshadowing Peter Hitchen's defense of Christianity is the fact that his older brother was the late Christopher Hitchens, one of the chief advocates of New Atheism. While the Rage Against God begins as a spiritual autobiography through Hitchens' journey through atheism in post-war Britain, the book is also a rebuttal against Christopher's harsh and over-the-top critique against Christian faith.
This dynamic shapes the book in a way that detracts from it — Peter Hitchens' spiritual journey is m Overshadowing Peter Hitchen's defense of Christianity is the fact that his older brother was the late Christopher Hitchens, one of the chief advocates of New Atheism. This dynamic shapes the book in a way that detracts from it — Peter Hitchens' spiritual journey is more compelling than his critique of the Soviet Union, but the desire to prove his brother wrong hangs over almost every page.
His acceptance of Christianity appears to have been something about art, architecture and the fear of damnation. Ultimately, the Rage Against God ends up as a polemic against modern secularism rather than a meditation on atheism and faith. I don't agree with Hitchens' argument that the growth of secularism and the end of Christendom will inevitably lead to either the repression of the Soviet Union or the anarchy of Somalia. Yet as the Western Christian Church continues to discern what it means to follow Christ in a culture that is either hostile or indifferent, we do also need conservative voices like Hitchens.
May 30, David rated it really liked it. I recommend Peter's book, along with his brother's "god is not Great" to generate more personal thought than the general psycho-social that Christopher seems focused on. Personally, I liked both men's styles. Basically, I liked Christopher's over Peter's but not because of flaws in his style. All this comes down to is personal preferences.
By not whole heartedly agreeing with either, I am revealing my take on both works. Peter puts forward, not as precisely as I would like, how convoluted Christ I recommend Peter's book, along with his brother's "god is not Great" to generate more personal thought than the general psycho-social that Christopher seems focused on. Peter puts forward, not as precisely as I would like, how convoluted Christopher's accusations that the religious are exclusively with the history of violence. Christians along with all the other groups are as well.
We, believers, were responsibly engaged in wars that should not have happened. However, events like the Crusades were not exclusively foisted upon humanity out of just "religious" motivations. Christopher, however, powerfully points out how Christians, without excluding any of the other groups, have in the Name of their God, have committed great atrocities.
We have, across our history, been power hungry on both global and local levels. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment. Christian Standard Bible Rise up, LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my adversaries; awake for me; you have ordained a judgment. Attack my furious enemies. See that justice is done. Stand up against the fury of my enemies; rouse yourself and help me!
Rise up, because of the fury of my enemies; Arouse yourself for me; you have ordained justice. Rise up with raging fury against my enemies! Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them! Lift up yourself against the rage of my adversaries.
Awake, my God; you have appointed judgment. Aramaic Bible in Plain English Arise, Lord Jehovah, in your wrath, and I shall be lifted up above the neck of my enemies; awaken for me the judgment that you have commanded. Stand up against the fury of my attackers. Wake up, my God. You have already pronounced judgment. American Standard Version Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger; Lift up thyself against the rage of mine adversaries, And awake for me; thou hast commanded judgment.
Brenton Septuagint Translation Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of mine enemies: