* Hitchens vs Hitchens: Brothers will do Battle over God, War, Politics, and Culture

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Brothers Christopher and Peter Hitchens, both journalists and authors, couldn’t be more different and divided. A friend to both said, “one is a conservative, traditionalist, church-going Anglican; the other a liberal, louche, drinking-and-smoking atheist.” The brothers, throughout a long estrangement and recent reconciliation, have clashed in print on many issues. Now they plan their first public debate on numerous topics, from religion to Iraq. The event is being sponsored by Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies and the Center for Inquiry, an international think tank promoting science and secularism.

Christopher, who works in Washington, D.C., has written 20 books including scathing critiques of Henry Kissinger, Bill Clinton and Mother Teresa. Most recently, he wrote a book on atheism, "god is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything." Younger brother Peter works in England as a columnist for the Mail on Sunday. He is author of "The Abolition of Britain and The Abolition of Liberty."

"We are proud to play a role in bringing Christopher and Peter together for this debate," said Paul Kurtz, chairman of the Center for Inquiry. "The books by the 'new atheists' have generally played a positive role, especially in widening the parameters of critical discourse about religion in this country. I'm sure this debate will continue the discussion in a lively fashion."