Two months ago, Christopher Hitchens, the famed atheist and author of the controversial book ‘God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything,’ was diagnosed with a form of severe cancer and immediately underwent a stringent course of chemotherapy. While he has lost most of his hair, Hitchen’s lack of faith in God remains in place.
In a recent interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Hitchens said the only time he may "hedge [his] bets" is if he is so sick that he becomes mentally unaware of what he is saying and doing. He also said that while Christians love “to spread these rumours” that he had come to faith in Christ, that he would not do "such a pathetic thing" while he is lucid.
"I could be quite sure of that," he told Cooper. And if there are any rumors saying otherwise, he firmly asserted, "Don't believe it."
Hitchens has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer, the same type of cancer that his father died of. While his father lived to be 79, Hitchens is only 61 but is a big smoker and drinker making it statistically unlikely he will defeat his cancer.
"Not many people come through esophageal cancer and live to talk about it, or not for long," he said.
Hitchens who has repeatedly stated that he cannot trust anything which contradicts science or outrages reason, and does not believe in an afterlife of any sort, said that he does not pray even on his most difficult days.
"That's all meaningless to me," he said. "I don't think souls or bodies can be changed by incantation or anything else."
Hitchens also expressed surprise by the number of prayer groups that have been formed on his behalf, many of which are praying that he will make peace with God. Hitchens says that he has no interest in stopping them.
"I say if it makes you feel better, then you have my blessing," he concluded, reports CNN.com.