Vocal atheist (among other things) Christopher Hitchens is gravely ill, with esophageal cancer. After his diagnosis became public two months ago, people, particularly Christians, wondered whether it would be appropriate to pray for the author of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.

Hitchens says he doesn’t mind, but remains an avowed atheist. In fact, he recently told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that turning to God now would be “pathetic.” (CNN blogger and atheist-baiter Stephen Prothero, author of God Is Not One, plans to debate him on Nov. 4, but I’m betting Hitchens won’t change his mind!)

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