I have met some highly intelligent believers, but history has no record to say that {s}he knew or understood the mind of god. Yet this is precisely the qualification which the godly must claim-so modestly and so humbly-to possess. It is time to withdraw our 'respect' from such fantastic claims, all of them aimed at the exertion of power over other humans in the real and material world.
In his book "The Portable Atheist," Christopher Hitchens argues that while some believers may be very intelligent, there is no historical evidence to suggest that any of them truly understand the mind of God. He highlights the paradox in which believers assert a deep knowledge of divine matters, a claim that requires a level of humility and modesty that he believes is seldom justified. Hitchens calls into question the legitimacy of these claims, suggesting they serve more to establish authority over others rather than communicate genuine insights.
By challenging the foundation of faith-based assertions of understanding divine will, Hitchens urges us to reconsider the respect afforded to such beliefs. He contends that many of the arguments made by the faithful are attempts to exert power over the human condition, often without substantial reasoning. As a result, he advocates for a more skeptical view of religious claims, recognizing their potential impact on society and the importance of maintaining a critical perspective on the conversation between belief and reason.
