Letter to the editor: Let's agree to agree

Notes: "Both [Tony] Blair and [Christopher] Hitchens would agree that, in Blair's words, 'Religion can be destructive' [Jan. 2011, p. 1]. Hitchens would use much stronger words of condemnation, but there is tacit agreement on the principle that any disagreement is only one of degree. Blair said, 'The true essence of faith is a basic belief, common to all faiths, in serving and loving God through serving and loving your fellow human beings'. He should have added, 'using scriptural authority and religious dogma as the rules of engagement'. Hitchens indicated that the true path of earthly civility, peace and prosperity is 'through serving and loving your fellow human beings'. Isn't Hitchens' position much more inclusive, less divisive and far more to the point ? And if both debaters had embraced this position, wouldn't there be near unanimous agreement of the audience ?" [Text of entire article.]

Subjects: Hitchens, Christopher (Christopher Eric), 1949-2011; Blair, Tony (Anthony Charles Lynton), 1953-; Atheism and Christianity; Munk debates (2010)