Dawkins does stammer, and stutter. His famous line "Science works, Bitches" is a famous T shirt theme. I guess because I think and talk a lot like Dawkins...I like him the most of the group you mentioned.

I don't respect the work of Hitchens mainly because he was a smoker, who died young (aged 62). Wisdom of Agnosticism should go hand-in-hand with wisdom about common sense health. I'm sad that he lost his life....but it made me respect his opinions far less.

I haven't heard much from Harris; although he did appear once on Bill Maher....and I think you know Bill is a TV producer/comedian who made the movie "#Religulous. Here's a clip - where Ben Affleck basically lost his temper...

[en.wikipedia.org]

@Robecology I'm very familiar with them all, and have the Religulous dvd. But somehow watching the individual clips on youtube a year or so ago, I appreciated the movie even more. Maybe it was just that it took another go 'round to fully take it all in. I used wonder whether atheists might take better care of themselves than the average person, but it was a hypothesis I long ago disabused myself of. I think Hitchens was AWESOME. Take a look at these 2 clips of the fortitude and charm he could still muster near the end of his life, bald and having lost weight from chemo due to his cancer. And of course there's tons more from before his illness.

@Robecology Came across this post looking for something else and feel compelled to reply to your comment about Hitchens regarding Agnosticism, wisdom, and common sense health practices:

I don't respect the work of Hitchens mainly because he was a smoker, who died young (aged 62). Wisdom of Agnosticism should go hand-in-hand with wisdom about common sense health. I'm sad that he lost his life....but it made me respect his opinions far less.

I don't feel your argument in any way follows and is a bit of a non-sequitur. If ultimately we make our own meaning and are free to chose that path which gives our lives the most happiness (liberty and the pursuit of happiness), then different people will weigh the risks vs rewards (AND KEY IS THAT NOTHING IS RISK-FREE, AND EVERY DECISION HAS ITS PRO & CONS, AND NO ONE LIVES FOREVER), and make their individual choice which will differ from person to person. I have respect for the right of people to make those choices even if it's not what I would choose for myself.

Totally concur! That is also one of my favorite quotes!