The controversial writer and speaker Christopher Hitchins died yesterday from an onset of pneumonia, a complication of his esophageal cancer he has had for over a year. An outspoken athiest, his most well known quote is; “That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.” He went after the Dali Lama, Prince Charles, Michael Moore and Mother Teresa. If anything he has provoked Christians to consider how we engage with our culture, and the importance of having a clear message. It is sad when anyone dies, saddest when someone deliberately turns their back on the creator and redeemer. Volatile, witty and fast with the retorts, he said in an interview debate for All Things Considered, “I can quite see how people felt that faith was necessary at a time when they knew so little. But I think that we’ve now begun to – it might be condescending to say outgrow it – but to transcend it.” Christians should not be glad at his passing, we should continue to answer the questions of a postmodern culture that looked to him as an outspoken critic of faith.

“I would say that if you don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah, and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you’re really not in any meaningful sense a Christian.”

Go to the NPR obituary.

Go to the NPR debate between Hitchens and Doug Wilson with video and transcript.