The New Atheists will not let us off the hook simply because we are not doctrinaire believers. They condemn not just belief in God but respect for belief in God. Religion is not only wrong; it's evil.
In interviews with Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Sam Harris, the author is clearly sympathetic to their ideas but still manages to portray them as a little bit foolish, as embodying some of what they ridicule in others:
Contemptuous of the faith of others, its proponents never doubt their own belief. They are fundamentalists.
I heard Sam Harris speak here in Boulder two weeks ago, and I tend to agree. He is intelligent, and his arguments are good, but they are not new and they aren't really his strength. What makes his books popular and his arguments gain traction is that he has the zeal of a true believer.
1 comment:
The challenge that Dawkins et al lay down is another side of the challenge Bible teachers have been setting forth for a long time: Jesus wants not vague acceptance or toleration, but wholehearted commitment. How long will we waver between two opinions?
As a Christian, I (in theory) am less threatened by this atheist challenge. I defend not a vague idea of theism or supernaturalism, but a specific faith that makes specific claims, backed up by hard scientific, archaeological, and documentary evidence.
Post a Comment