Christopher Hitchens is the renowned intellectual and atheist whose book ‘God is Not Great’ ruffled more than a few religious feathers. His recent battle with esophageal cancer has been widely publicized, not least because his tragically forced confrontation with his own mortality has created considerable interest among both his supporters and opponents. Some Christian groups recently organized a ‘Pray for Christopher Hitchens Day’ and the equally famous geneticist Francis Collins, who is a practicing Christian and yet firm friend of Hitchens, wrote in the Washington Times just why he supported this day.
Collins, who is a theistic evolutionist, and probably most famous for being the first person to map the human genetic code, said that while many Christians prayed for Hitchens to beat his cancer and ‘get right’ with God, that he instead was intent of praying for wisdom for both him and his friend, whom he had met a few years previously for an “intellectual joust.”
“My prayer is not so much for a supernatural intervention – as a physician I have not seen evidence for such medical miracles in my own experience,” wrote Collins.
“Instead I pray for myself and for Christopher along the lines of James 1:5,” added the world renowned geneticist, quoting the Bible verse which reads, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."
Collins also said he reached out to Hitchens and his wife when he heard news of Hitchens’ illness, and has met with them several times since.
“As the Director of the National Institutes of Health, I am in a position to be aware of new developments in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer,” wrote Collins.
“Advances are occurring with great rapidity as technologies arising from the success of the Human Genome Project are making it possible to get a comprehensive understanding of what drives malignancy,” added Collins. ”The ability to match cancer drugs to the characteristics of an individual tumor is growing rapidly.”
However, Collins also noted that Hitchens’ cancer had already spread to his regional lymph nodes, which meant his situation was “very serious” and has a “poor prognosis.”
Many have been surprised by the friendship between the two men because Hitchens is such an aggresively militant atheist whose dim views of religion are well recorded. Collins, however, paid tribute to Hitchens “sharp intellect” and said that Hitchens had challenged his own defense of the rationality of faith to be more consistent and compelling.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another," he said, citing Proverbs 27:17.
While many see Hitchens as nothing more than a spotlight-seeking troublemaker whose confrontational style has offended people across the faith spectrum, Collins made mention of Hitchens’ “warm humanity.”
“And his willingness to be utterly open and transparent about his cancer diagnosis provides a breathtaking window into his personal integrity,” he added.
Hitchens himself has previous paid equally warm tribute to his Christian friend.
Writing for Vanity Fair, Hitchens said that the believed Collins was “one of the greatest living Americans,” a “great humanitarian” and “the best of the faithful” who have approached him since news spread of his cancer diagnosis.
“And let me put it this way: he hasn’t suggested prayer, and I in turn haven’t teased him about The Screwtape Letters,” the English-born author added, referring to the Christian apologetics novel by C. S. Lewis.
As for other Christians who were planning to pray for him on Monday, Hitchens told The Associated Press how he would respond to each.
"'To hell with you' is the response to the ones who pray for me to go to hell," Hitchens said.
"'Thanks but no thanks' is the reply to those who want me to convert and recognize a divinity or deity," he added.
As for the third group - people who are asking God for his healing - Hitchens was more careful with his words and ultimately said he thinks of it as a “nice gesture” that is “fine by me.”
“And it may well make them feel better, which is a good thing in itself," added Hitchens, reiterating what he’s said in previous interviews.
(Image is of Christopher Hitchens before he was struck by cancer).