The Hitchens brothers

Review of: Peter Hitchens, The Rage against God, Grand Rapids, Zondervan 2010, hb, 224 pp.

by Maxwell Ryan

Christopher Hitchens is among the more prominent of the current crop of atheists, which is one reason why The rage against God (subtitled “How atheism led me to faith”) by his less well-known brother Peter, is such a fascinating read. This is a marvelous read, for form as well as content. Readers who are looking for a defense of the Christian faith against atheism will not be disappointed. Yet this is far from being a fundamentalist rant.

Peter - a British journalist, author and broadcaster - is currently a columnist for the Mail on Sunday. A former revolutionary, he attributes his return to faith largely to his experience of socialism in practice, which he witnessed during his years reporting in Eastern Europe. Three years as a resident correspondent in Moscow during the collapse of the Soviet Union confirmed his growing doubts about secular salvation.

This is a beautifully written and poignant book. The carefully crafted language is a delight to read as the author leads his readers along a winding autobiographical journey that is honest, thought provoking and kind. As the younger brother (by three years), Peter early learned to fight physically and verbally with a brother who defined much of his life. As Peter writes, “Christopher and I have had over the past fifty years what might be called a difficult relationship. Some brothers get along; some do not. We were the sort who just didn’t.”

The poignancy is evident as Peter muses, “My brother and I agree that independence of mind is immensely precious. This will not make us close friends at this stage. We are two utterly different men approaching the ends of two intensely separate lives. Let us not be sentimental here, nor rashly over-optimistic . . . But I was astonished that the longest quarrel of my life seemed unexpectedly to be over . . . as I have long hoped it would be.”

The rage against God is an important book, not only because it is a sparkling example of a well-written book, but also because it reveals that no one is outside the providence of God.

I find it interesting that the book is published by a Christian publisher and not by the well-known secular publisher that has published Christopher’s attacks on Christianity.

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement has been a copy editor of theRubicon and the author of two series on theRubicon - Resurrected Writers and Thinkaloud

2 Comments to The Hitchens brothers

1. Max, thanks for bringing this book to our attention. I think I might just pick this one up for a read! I saw a well known atheist on George’s show the other night (CBC and I are becoming friends as it’s the only station I can get at my trailer! ;o)) Richard Dawkins seemed thoughtful and studious, which is a far cry from Hitchins. You might find a blog interesting, written by a friend of mine: http://post-darwinist.blogspot.com/ She has other blogs you can link to. I read her book The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientists Case for the Existence of the Soul. Brilliant read based on some studies on Carmelite Nuns. Anyway, I find the debate so interesting in these times. These guys really force us to sharpen our tools, don’t they?

   grace… Kathie
Kathie Chiu on August 26th, 2010

2. Thanks for promoting this. Like his brother, Peter is fascinating to listen to in debate - I think you’ll enjoy this one:

   http://www.premierradio.org.uk/listen/ondemand.aspx?mediaid={8C19BBBA-7680-4449-82F0-D41E0F08456C}
Matt Clifton on August 30th, 2010

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