Dead man Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““Religion is a totalitarian belief. It is the wish to be a slave. It is the desire that there be an unalterable, unchallengeable, tyrannical authority who can convict you of thought crime while you are asleep, who can subject you to total surveillance around the clock every waking and sleeping minute of your life, before you're born and, even worse and where the real fun begins, after you're dead. A celestial North Korea. Who wants this to be true? Who but a slave desires such a ghastly fate? I've been to North Korea. It has a dead man as its president, Kim Jong-Il is only head of the party and head of the army. He's not head of the state. That office belongs to his deceased father, Kim Il-Sung. It's a necrocracy, a thanatocracy. It's one short of a trinity I might add. The son is the reincarnation of the father. It is the most revolting and utter and absolute and heartless tyranny the human species has ever evolved. But at least you can f#$%ing die and leave North Korea!””
About This Quote
The quote equates organized religion with an oppressive, all‑seeing authority that demands absolute obedience, likening it to a totalitarian state.
In simple terms: Religion is portrayed as a controlling, unchallengeable power.
Question authority that demands blind obedience.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal belief
- public policy
- cultural critique
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you see any positive aspects of faith?
- How can societies balance belief and liberty?
Totalitarian regimes can also be benevolent; not all religious practice is coercive.