"I am not even an atheist so much as an antitheist; I not only maintain that
all religions are versions of the same untruth, but I hold that the
influence of churches and the effect of religious belief, is positively
harmful. Reviewing the false claims of religion I do not wish, as some
sentimental materialists affect to wish, that they were true. I do not envy
believers their faith. I am relievedto
think that the whole story is a sinister fairy tale; life would be miserable
if what the faithful affirmed was actually true.... There may be people who
wish to live their lives under cradle-to-grave divine supervision, a
permanent surveillance and monitoring. But I cannot imagine anything more
horrible or grotesque."
Christopher Hitchens (13 April 1949 - 15 December 2011)