Christopher Hitchens and John Waters

"Christopher Hitchens is a remarkable commentator. He jousts with fraudulence of every stripe and always wins."
Joseph Heller

As an ever more secular global culture pervades our 21st-century consciousness, and consumerism, for many, becomes the altar at which we pray, where does God sit in the big picture? Does organised religion still have relevance and resonance in contemporary society or is it outmoded and outgunned?

In his latest book God Is Not Great, journalist, author, literary critic and self-confessed ‘contrarian’ Christopher Hitchens makes the ultimate case against religion, arguing for a more secular, reason-based society, free from the ‘profoundly damaging’ influence of all organised faith.

Taking the opposing view in this divisive yet timely topical debate is former Magill editor and controversial Irish Times columnist John Waters. Waters turned his back on Catholicism at a young age, abandoning the idea of becoming a priest in favour of a surrogate vocation as music journalist cum playwright cum cultural and political commentator. His forthcoming book Lapsed Agnostic sees one of Ireland‘s most dissident voices re-embracing his long ‘lost’ faith.

Expect vigorous debate and controversy in spades in this hotly contested head-to-head.