Christopher Hitchens has cancer. The sad fact is that the probability of his survival for more than five years is in the region of five percent, assuming reports are correct. Many Christians have as a result pulled out and dusted off Pascal's Wager or asked if Atheism will sustain him. Well no. Not believing in a god won't help him. Either will not believing in unicorns or fairies.

The Daily Pilot asks "Christopher Hitchens suddenly finds himself on the floor of an uncomfortable foxhole, taking a heavy pounding. Will atheism sustain him?" Atheism isn't a philosophy for life. It gives no solace or comfort. It is not trying to compete in this sphere at all.

But I do find it curious. Of all those I know, the ones that really fear death are Christians. They wriggle uncomfortably with the question - have they done enough to get into heaven? Is accepting Jesus enough? In a recent article a religious man in a rest home gave his Church his life savings to ensure his entry to heaven.

While using the fear of the afterlife to benefit financially may seem reprehensible it is sad to say situation normal. The Catholic Church sold Indulgences virtually throughout it's history, profiting from the fear and foreboding of death. Far from bringing comfort it seems to me that the Christian Message brings fear and foreboding, not loving comfort.

Christopher is indeed paying for decisions he has made in life. Being moral or intelligent is no defense against the consequences of poor life decisions. In the case of Christopher his unapologetic use of cigarettes and alcohol have had an entirely predictable outcome. He understood the risks and took the actions he did with intent.

Have we heard Christopher whining about how unfair it was that he get such a disease? No. He is acting like a Stoic; not complaining about the things he cannot control, and taking action to influence the things he can control. There is no point complaining, and so he doesn't. No tearful TV interviews, no unseemly emotional outbursts.

Instead we see a man who is philosophical about the news, lamenting that he will not have the opportunity to carry out his plans over the next decade. This is not fear, but perhaps regret.

I am reluctant to show overt sympathy as he is seeking none. If, as I suspect, he is philosophically a Stoic, I would not expect him to seek out sympathy, but rather do what he can in terms of treatment, but ultimately accept his fate as something outside his control.

For my own selfish reasons I hope that his treatment is a success. To lose his contribution to the world will be unfortunate. But at least in one other respect he will show how an Atheist dies; at peace with himself in the knowledge that he was true to his ideals.