Despite his legendary debating skills and his ability to think on his feet former prime minister Tony Blair was on the losing side of theargument last week in a debate on the value of religion. Recent Catholic convert Mr Blair was facing journalist and atheist Christopher Hitchens, debating the proposition "Be it resolved, religion is a force for good in the world".
The vote by the 2,700 audience at the end of the 90-minute debate in Toronto last week was a clear two-thirds/one-third split: 68 percent for Mr Hitchens and 32 per cent for Mr Blair. Before the debate the audience had already been strongly against the motion, with 57 per cent opposing it and only 22 per cent in favour; the remainder were undecided; each side increased its support by about 10 per cent.
