There is the ‘God is not great’ Hitchens (Christopher). And the Hitchens who believes in God (Peter). This piece of writing is from the ‘Peter’ version of the brothers.
Why is there such a fury against religion now? Because religion is the one reliable force that stands in the way of the power of the strong over the weak. The one reliable force that forms the foundation of the concept of the rule of law.
The one reliable force that restrains the hand of the man of power. In an age of powerworship, the Christian religion has become the principal obstacle to the desire of earthly utopians for absolute power.
Peter’s observations would receive a hearty Amen from influential atheist Nietzsche, who saw Christianity as constraining the true men of power in society, limiting modern progress. (The Amen would, of course, be ironic, since Nietzsche had no place for prayer.)