Although it wasn’t their first go-around, Tuesday’s debate between Christopher Hitchens and Dinesh D’Souza didn’t lack enthusiasm.
Speaking for more than an hour and a half at the Phillips Center, the two verbally jousted each other on the topic of God’s existence to an audience of about 1,300, using various topics such as evolution, the Crusades, Bill Gates and apes on the nature channel to solidify their arguments.
Although cordial throughout the process, the two, who were paid $33,000 collectively to speak, couldn’t resist bending the rules of debate decorum, interjecting at rapid-fire pace despite the efforts of the moderator, UF religion professor Manuel Vasquez.
D’Souza, author of books such as “What’s So Great about Christianity?”, argued the evidence for a supreme being is undeniable and religion acts as a necessity for human beings.
Labeling Hitchens as a “veritable pyromaniac in a field of strawmen,” he went after the British journalist’s claim that religion is irrational and dangerous, saying the majority of religions do not resort to violence.
“I’m still waiting for the Buddhist suicide bombers to show up,” he said.
He also made the case how religion has heavily contributed to humanitarian causes.
“That’s why we have St. Luke’s Hospital, not the Richard Dawkins Hospital,” he said.
Hitchens, author of works such as “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything,” countered with the notion that the concept of a personal god is inconceivable and stands contrary to reason.
“People who want that kind of authority I think condemn us to a never-ending celestial totalitarian dictatorship,” Hitchens said. “I don’t believe in a god and I don’t believe he owes me an explanation... it’s ridiculous,”
The two wrestled with topics ranging from the role of God in science, religion's role on society and the prospects of the afterlife.
According to D'Souza, atheists fail to provide answer to some of life's most important questions, such as life's origin and purpose.
For Hitchens, religious advocates do humanity a disservice by trying to promote their beliefs.
"Shouldn't it make you happy you have a personal experience with Jesus of Nazareth; get over it," he said.
Emotions hit a new level during the Q-and-A session when one of the audience members had to be escorted out when he publicly chastised Hitchens, calling him “Satan” and a “traitor to the left.”
Hitchens, who was never short of quips throughout the night, relieved the tension with his dry humor.
“You’ve just raised the cultural level of the society you joined,” he said.
