Even if I accepted that Jesus - like almost every other prophet on record - was born of a virgin, I cannot think that this proves the divinity of his father or the truth of his teachings. The same would be true if I accepted that he had been resurrected.
Interpretation
The quote expresses skepticism about the basis of religious beliefs and their divine claims.
Christopher Hitchens argues that even if one were to accept miraculous events surrounding Jesus, such as his virgin birth or resurrection, these events do not necessarily validate his divine nature or the veracity of his teachings. This illustrates a critical stance on religious claims, emphasizing the need for rational evaluation over acceptance of traditional narratives.
In practice
During a debate on the validity of religious beliefs, you could use this quote to emphasize the importance of critical thinking.
In a public dialogue with Salman in London he [Edward Said] had once described the Palestinian plight as one where his people, expelled and dispossessed by Jewish victors, were in the unique historical position of being 'the victims of the victims': there was something quasi-Christian, I thought, in the apparent humility of that statement.
What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.
Never ask while you are doing it if what you are doing is fun. Don't introduce even your most reliably witty acquaintance as someone who will set the table on a roar.
[E]xceptional claims demand exceptional evidence.
The worst days are when you feel foggy in the head - chemo-brain they call it. It's awful because you feel boring. As well as bored. And stupid. And resigned.
Let me tell you something: for hundreds of thousands of years, this kind of discussion would have been impossible to have, or those like us would have been having it at the risk of our lives. Religion now comes to us in this smiley-face, ingratiating way — because it’s had to give so much more ground and because we know so much more. But you’ve got no right to forget the way it behaved when it was strong, and when it really did believe that it had God on its side.
Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?
Absolute nakedness was intrusive, confusing to the senses. Paradoxically, it both revealed and diminished identity.
There are more fools than knaves in the world, else the knaves would not have enough to live upon.
To be a Christian who is willing to travel with Christ on his downward road requires being willing to detach oneself constantly from any need to be relevant, and to trust ever more deeply the Word of God.
Everyone who has something is afraid of losing it, and people with nothing are worried they'll forever have nothing. Everyone is the same.
The longest-lived and the shortest-lived man, when they come to die, lose one and the same thing.
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