Truthdig Debate Highlights

Staff / Truthdig Jun 7, 2007 On May 22, Sam Harris and Chris Hedges debated religion and politics in Los Angeles. Here is a condensed audio version of the event, broadcast on KPFK's "Beneath the Surface" with Suzi Weissman. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Christopher Hitchens: Religion Poisons Everything

BLANK Jun 7, 2007 Jon Wiener spoke with Hitchens in 2007 about his views on religion and the book that would turn out to be one of the milestones of Hitch's career as a public intellectual. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Hedges Debates Hitchens

Staff / Truthdig Jun 1, 2007 Those Truthdig readers who are following the Chris Hedges vs Sam Harris exchanges on our site may be interested to read that Hedges subsequently faced off with atheist author and provocateur Christopher Hitchens for a debate in Berkeley about religion and politics Also, check out this funny and insightful interview with Hitchens. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sam Harris Strikes Back

Sam Harris / Truthdig May 29, 2007 The following is Sam Harris' response to Chris Hedges' essay, "I Don't Believe in Atheists." Last week the two Truthdig contributors battled one another over the issues of religion and politics during a live debate in Los Angeles. While they both agree on the dangers posed by religious fundamentalism in America, their views on religion in general differ greatly, as you will soon read. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Chris Hedges: I Don’t Believe in Atheists

Chris Hedges / Truthdig May 24, 2007 On Tuesday night, Chris Hedges and Sam Harris debated "Religion, Politics and the End of the World" The following is Hedges' opening statement, in which he argues that Harris and other critics of faith have mistakenly blamed religion for the ills of the world, when the true danger lies in the human heart and its capacity for evil. Dig deeper ( 14 Min. Read )

A Note on Chris Hedges’ Column

Staff / Truthdig May 21, 2007 Chris Hedges' Truthdig column, which normally appears on Monday, will be posted on Wednesday this week Chris is busy preparing for his debate with Sam Harris on Tuesday at UCLA's Royce Hall, where he will present his companion essay, "I Don't Believe in Atheists" If you can't make it or you just can't wait, here is a preview of the column. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Stephen Colbert Confronts the ‘New Atheism’

Staff / Truthdig May 4, 2007 How do you spot an atheist? According to Stephen Colbert, one sure-fire sign of the godless naysayer comes in the telling form of a New Yorker subscription. "The Colbert Report's" pseudo-pundit has some strong advice for how New Atheists might run their own anti-religion. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

On Atheists and Easter

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Apr 7, 2007 Easter is as good a time as any to delve into the issues raised by faith and reason. In this essay, E.J. Dionne challenges the arguments of "neo-atheism." For an alternative point of view, read "An Atheist Manifesto" by Sam Harris. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Politician Breaks the God Barrier

Staff / Truthdig Mar 14, 2007 Rep. Pete Stark of Fremont, Calif., just became the first Congress member and the highest-ranking elected official to publicly acknowledge he does not believe in God. To give you some sense of how difficult a time nonreligious politicians typically have in the U.S., a recent Gallup poll showed that while 92 percent of Americans would support a Jewish presidential candidate, only 45 percent would vote for an atheist. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Finally! Sam Harris vs. Andrew Sullivan

Staff / Truthdig Jan 17, 2007 Ladies and gentleman, the main event: The nation's most prominent atheist dukes it out with one of America's most eloquent defenders of faith. Check out the opening salvos in their "blogalogue" at Beliefnet or AndrewSullivan.com. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Weekly Video Roundup

Staff / Truthdig Dec 2, 2006 In this week's roundup of Truthdig-flavored videos, an Australian atheist goes door-to-door in Mormon Utah; a documentary film crew tells the story of the rendition and torture of a Guantanamo detainee; and Jon Stewart holds forth on Iraq "civil war" semantics. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Atheist Proselytizing

Staff / Truthdig Dec 1, 2006 Australia's John Safran goes door-to-door in Salt Lake City, trying to convert Mormons to atheism. Hysterical. (There are lots more Safran vs. religion videos in the YouTube "related" column.) In the scene above, an old man hits Safran with a rake. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )