Atheism in the Grand Scheme of Things.

This article critically examines Christopher Hitchens's atheism, particularly as expressed in his book *God Is Not Great*, highlighting both his vigorous critique of religion and his complex political stances. It discusses Hitchens’s opposition to religious authority and his efforts to reduce religious influence in secular society, while also addressing his controversial support for certain imperialist and military actions. The article explores Hitchens’s view of history as random and non-teleological, his belief in scientific progress despite human imperfection, and the challenges of replacing religion’s role in providing meaning. It further considers critiques of Hitchens’s approach, including his tendency to overstate religion’s causal role in global conflicts and his limited engagement with the historical and social complexities that sustain religious belief.