Tickets for this event are being resold for as much as $300.
Hitchens has generated rock-star levels of Hype.

I can’t wait to see this debate unfold.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

(maybe the $300 price is because of Tony Blair, not Christopher Hitchens?)

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

I’ll be watching online. Go Hitch!

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

Where can you watch this online?  I’m very keen to see it.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

You can see the debate, where it is now archived, here:

http://www.munkdebates.com/debates/Religion

....but unfortunately you must pay $2.99 to see it.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

Here’s an article about the debate from Salon.  Apparently Hitch won.

http://www.salon.com/news/religion/index.html?story=/news/feature/2010/11/27/cn_canada_blair_hitchens_debate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

The debate is up at youtube. Get it while it’s hot, I suspect that since the Munk Foundation is charging for views on their site, they may not be pleased with the youtube posting.

http://www.youtube.com/user/hitchensblairdebate

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

Just finished watching it all.

I was struck by Blair, a supposed Roman Catholic, sounding indistinguishable from the Spiritual but not Religious, or a Unitarian. You could sum up his “religion” as follows - there is a Higher Being, and He wants us to be Nice to Each Other.

Is that a religion? I really don’t think so. And Hitchens didn’t either.

The end of his final statement:
Are you willing to admit, perhaps this most of all, are you willing to admit that human beings can be the interpreter of this divine figure, because a religion means that you have to follow someone who is your religious leader.

You can’t, try as you may, you can’t follow Jesus of Nazareth. It can’t be done, you can try and do it but it can’t be done.

You’ll have to follow his Vicar on Earth, Pope Benedict the XXVI as presently, his own claim, not mine, by apostolic succession, the Vicar of Christ on Earth. You’ll have to say this person has divine authority.

I maintain, that that and what goes with it, is too much of a sacrifice of the mental and intellectual freedom that is essential to us to be tolerated, and you gain everything by repudiating that and standing up to your own full height, and you gain much more than you will, by pretending that you’re a member of a flock, or in other way, any kind sheep. Thank you.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.

It was truly exciting.  Watching on Youtube is a bit of a hassle though. It was sad to see Hitchens in his present state of un-health.  A mighty intellect and marvelous wordsmith. It was truly enjoyable to watch as he devastated his opponent.
In contrast Mr. Blair sounded like a very ordinary preacher.

You don't have permission to flag this entry.