Children Quote by Christopher Hitchens
““With what contempt and suspicion, then, must one regard those who are no willing to wait, and who beguile themselves and terrify others - especially the children, as usual - with horrific visions of apocalypse, to be followed by stern judgment from the one who supposedly placed us in this inescapable dilemma to being with. We may laugh not at the foam-flecked hell-and-damnation preachers who loved to shrivel young souls with pornographic depictions of eternal torture, but this phenomenon has reappeared in a more troubling form with the holy alliance between the believers and what they can borrow or steal from the world of science.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “God Is Not Great” by Christopher Hitchens, 2007
The passage criticizes those who spread apocalyptic fear and moral panic, especially when they blend religious zeal with scientific claims, urging skepticism toward such manipulative rhetoric.
In simple terms: Beware fear‑mongering that mixes religion and science.
Key Takeaway
Question and reject fear‑based narratives.
Themes
religion
science
fear
manipulation
ethics
Mood
critical
skeptical
concerned
Type
philosophical
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- media analysis
- education
- public policy
- personal belief systems
Key Concepts
apocalyptic rhetoric
moral panic
ideological control
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we distinguish genuine concern from fear‑mongering?
- What responsibilities do leaders have when invoking apocalyptic imagery?
A Different Perspective
Such warnings can be dismissed as elitist or overly cynical, potentially alienating sincere believers.
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