Death wish Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““All religions must, at their core, look forward to the end of this world and to the longed-for moment when all will be revealed and when the sheep will be divided from the goats, or whatever other bucolic Bronze-Age desert analogy might seem apt. (In Papua New Guinea, where as in most tropical climes there are no sheep, the Christians use the most valued animal of the locals and refer to the congregation as “swine.” Flock, herd: what difference does it make?) Against this insane eschatology, with its death wish and its deep contempt for the life of the mind, atheists have always argued that this world is all that we have, and that our duty is to one another to make the very most and best of it. Theism cannot coexist with this unexceptionable conclusion.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: God Is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens, 2007
The quote argues that religions focus on an afterlife, while atheism emphasizes making the most of this life, seeing theism as incompatible with that view.
In simple terms: Religions look ahead; atheism values the present.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize present‑world actions over speculative afterlife promises.
Themes
atheism
ismism
meaning
life purpose
Mood
thoughtful
critical
philosophical
Type
analytical
controversial
inspirational
When to use this quote
- ethical decision‑making
- public policy
- personal fulfillment
- community building
Key Concepts
eschatology
humanism
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does belief in an afterlife influence daily ethics?
- Can secular meaning fully replace spiritual narratives?
A Different Perspective
Religious believers may find meaning in afterlife hope despite materialism.
![“It's [Los Angeles] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them aren't even young and beautiful now.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a86/christopher-hitchens-117_beautiful_it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense_10462.jpg)
![“[Religion] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we would not know an evil, wicked act from a decent human act without divine permission, without divine authority or without, even worse, either the fear of a…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab6/christopher-hitchens-117_action_religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integ_23299.jpg)
