When I found out that Christopher Hitchens had died, it kind of caught me by surprise. I didn’t follow his work; I had only seen him a few times on television here and there and I certainly didn’t know about his cancer. After reading all the various comments about him, I decided to do a little research into the man. What I found was an intelligent, interesting, saddening and inspiring man.

I really enjoyed listening to him speak on political issues and the like, but it became clear after a little searching that his main claim to fame was arguing with deist and theist. Before I knew it I was thrust into an underground world where men like Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and of course, Mr. Hitchens were engaged in seriously contested, heated debates with their counterparts advocating for God.

I started with a film called The Four horsemen that had  a roundtable about religion and the existence of God, or the fact from their point of view that there is no God. Although I don’t agree with them I must say that I have nothing but the utmost respect for their intellect and their ability to sit down and scientifically try and figure out some of the most complex problems known to man. I would highly suggest watching it. Be warned though: if you have a thin skin when it comes to religion, any religion then be ready, they don’t hold back their opinions. It didn’t bother me at all, if anything it made me check to see if I really believe what I believe and why. I came out the other end of all of this more assured of my salvation then ever but I’ll get to that part later.

For the next several days I watched debate after debate between some of the top scientific minds in their fields and it was incredible. It was so stimulating to find the subculture of academic’s “bangin on wax “if you will. There is smorgasbord of taunting videos online from Christians to Atheists and professor to professor; it’s insane. However, I sit in awe and hang on every word of these men: true geniuses when you hear them speak. They follow known collegiate debate formats so it isn’t the yelling over each other nonsense where nothing is learned.

While I didn’t agree overall with the atheist they made some really, really strong points and brought up some great historical facts to back them up. My only real dislike about them is that some of them during their debates can be rude and condescending. Often times they end up loosing debates because rather than address the points being argued, they went of on tangents that seemed only purposed to insult the opposition. They get too emotional, the same goes the other way mind you. There is a little back and forth and the debates usually seemed pretty balanced win/loss wise.

That is until I came across William Lane Craig.

As a Christian who also loves science, I’ve never seen the need for them to be mutually exclusive, in fact I see a lot of evidences supporting just the opposite. But I’m not theologically trained nor scientifically so when I heard him speak and realized what it was that he was doing it’s like the fire inside me that was growing dim all of sudden had come to life with an explosive surge. His approach, his level of understanding, that’s what I want to get. That’s what I want to be able to debate like. Having a deep command over the knowledge presented thru scripture and science.

I started watching more and more of Craig’s debates and then I came across the best one of all: Hitchens vs. Craig. Two brilliant speakers going toe to toe about some of the most amazing things minds can ponder. Hitchens the heavy weight champ of the atheists and Craig the Christian theist. I won’t tell you who won, that’s for you to decide but either way it was an excellent debate as are most of them.

I watched debates and interviews for days on end and after hearing the arguments of some of the leading voices in atheism and the leading voices in theism, in particular Dr. Craig I came out with a stronger faith in God than ever.

What I came to realize is that while debating is fun and impressive to watch for sure and mentally stimulating, at the end of the day they just won’t understand certain things because they aren’t believers. The Holy Spirit reveals things to the heart and soul of the believer, not hidden images or anything like that, but knowledge.

I can read something over and over again in the scripture only to figure it 12 years later when I was ready. It’s the same thing. So then the question then becomes how do you show you’re a Christian? Be living a Christina life, showing love to God first and foremost and showing love to your neighbors. Be living a life that shows why we believe that he is the Son of God, that he is the Risen Christ. They don’t understand any of that probably don’t care to and more than likely laugh at you. Let it slide off you and live the life you say you have. You will stumble and fall, and when you do best believe they will be there to pick at your flesh like vultures.

Don’t mind them. Get up, dust yourself off and keep your eyes forward.

What I learned the most from Hitch is to free my mind, something that I did a long time ago when I became a Christian but hadn‘t appreciated that really, truly until now. So for me, this whole adventure has really been an affirmation of what I believed in the first place. I’ve also got the names of some really impressive scientific minds with books I will read, starting with Sam Harris’s newest book. Throw on top of that being introduced to William Lane Craig’s work and I’d say that’s a win/win situation for me. He has a podcast that I’m listening to that’s really good. Now I have him and Charles Stanley to listen to.

You don’t have agree with him but you must respect the fact that the man was honest. He spoke his mind peacefully at first, forcefully later but nonetheless his intellect and passion for his believes should be respected and dare I say copied. I hope I end up putting as much energy into getting closer to God and figuring him as these men have. The combination of doing God’s will and pursuing a positive career that benefits others in some way is surely the way to go. I can’t think of anything better.

If I could, I’d thank Mr. Hitchens. He was a gifted orator with equally impressive friends and colleagues and from all these mind blowing debates and clever quips, I have learned that God can use anything, anyone and anybody-no matter how bad the situation may seem, or if it is in bliss, to make you see.

He loves me.