Richard Dawkins and the God Delusion Part 1
Posted by James MacDonald on March 2, 2007 09:30 AM | Comments (8)I have been reading the book God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, the noted British atheist. I have found it thoroughly disagreeable but at the same time refreshing. Dawkins insists that 'religion' should not be in an untouchable category where it cannot be analyzed for veracity or criticized for silly inconsistencies. I could not agree more. A man's faith is not so personal that it needn't stand up to the rigors of intellectual analysis. I have often said that the walls of Christianity are not so thin that an honest skeptic seeking truth will somehow poke through and reveal the whole thing to be a fraud. The truths of Christianity have satisfied some of the greatest minds in human history.
When it comes to the God who created an orderly universe and set it up to operate according to principles that scientists can analyze and verify, there should be no reticence to submit theology to the same rigorous analysis.
Where Dawkins is so very wrong is in his total disdain for theology itself. Because he believes that there is no God he also believes that theology is a 'non-discipline.' The result is that his analysis of prayer, miracles, and impact of faith upon life is deeply flawed. He knows nothing about prayer, for example, but reports a study as credible that contradicts almost every biblical teaching on the subject of prayer. He judges prayer as a waste of time, though the prayers he analyzed may have been offered by sinful people, without faith or fervency in regard to people and situations they knew nothing about personally etc. Theologically speaking, the study itself was extremely amateurish. ( I don't see God especially excited about jumping through the hoops of people trying to prove Him wrong, I doubt He was even rocked by their unbelief). :) It's like complaining that the car won't run when you asked a toddler to start it and gave him no keys to a locked car. Yeah, that's probably not gonna work, but that doesn't mean that all cars are a waste of time.
Another example of this theological naivety would be Dawkins complete misunderstanding of the role of faith. He feels 'we' hide behind faith whenever the facts don't line up with our theology. Theologians and students of Scripture however understand that God Himself is the one who has decreed that He be known by faith rather than by sight, (of course God could make Dawkins into a believer in about 60 seconds). We understand that God has chosen the volitional worship of a few who see the whispers of His presence and embrace Him by faith, rather than the forced robotic worship of the masses who are driven to their knees in an instance of His fully manifested presence. If Dawkins had studied a little more theology he could interact with an argument like that rather than refuting things he simply does not understand.
Any careful study of the existence of God must begin with a respect for the history of theology. Dawkins clearly has no regard for theology and as a result fails at many points even in his analysis. Would we ask a cab driver to start from scratch in his study of biology? Would we expect a nuclear physicist to go back to the drawing board in his study of weather patterns? Of course the answer is no; any credible student begins by reviewing the existing literature on the subject. Dawkins clearly has not done that and considers such research a waste of time.
Dawkins assault on faith would be more compelling if he really understood the best reasons for faith. Christianity need not hide behind an anti-intellectual facade, and Dawkins should not be allowed to either as he so publicly ridicules the existence of the God who made him.
I'm not done with the book yet, I'll share more in the days ahead. Suffice it to say, I'm halfway through the book which now fills our airports and bookstores, and the foundations of my faith, far from cracking, are unshaken.
keep the faith,
james
Comments
Posted by: Garnett | March 2, 2007 01:55 PM
When I was younger, I'll never forget my dad telling me...."There was nothing before you came into this world.....and there will be nothing when you leave. When your dead your dead".
I have talked to my dad about Jesus since then...but...he still doesn't believe in Him. ~breaks my heart~
One day I was reading a book called the Purpose Driven Life. It briefly mentioned something about a pregnant lady. My mind instantly focused on this lady! I immediately ran to the phone and called my dad. ~all excited!~
I asked my dad if he still believed that there was nothing before life and will be nothing after death. He said he does.
I asked him this..."Dad? Your mom was pregnant with you right?"
My Dad answered "yes".
I asked him..."Dad, do you remember being there? in her belly?"
He said...."Well? noooo".
I then asked..."Dad? Does that mean you weren't there?"
**Please pray for my dad**
Posted by: Matthew Westerholm | March 2, 2007 04:16 PM
A nice book-length treatment of the God Delusion is out by Alister and Joanna McGrath.
Check out the amazon reviews
My favorite:
'The God Delusion makes me embarrassed to be an atheist, and the McGraths show why.'
Michael Ruse, Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University
Posted by: Julie Rowan | March 2, 2007 04:54 PM
Hey Pastor James! Hope your doing well. In my theology class here at WOLBI NY, we're discusing soteriology. I love learning something new about God and His charachter every day in theology. I bought Gripped By The Greatness of God at the bookstore the other day and I'm half-way through it. I'm comming to understand God's holiness better through reading it and also by listening to your less reccent messages through WITW through itunes. Thank you for challenging me in my faith every day. My walk with God is the strongest its been in a while, since I got here in January. Sincerly, Julie Rowan.
Posted by: Brandt | March 2, 2007 05:42 PM
Atheists are pretty honest people about there struggle with faith. Wasn't C.S. Lewis an atheist before he became a follower of Christ?
And Paul wasn't an atheist, but he might as well have been. His faith was intellect and reputation and "guarding the Law" (why I don't know... since maybe God couldn't guard it?)
Some of those most adamant people against the gospel become it's most fervent preachers. So where does that leave the mushy middle? There's a time for sitting in our pews and learning. There's a time for applying Sunday's message and boldly proclaiming God's truth.
Posted by: Garth Slysz | March 2, 2007 07:38 PM
I think atheists are just looking for the truth. They just don't like to take another's word for it. One thing I like about Mr Dawkins is that he wants the truth based on measurement. He wrongly concludes that God cannot be because of all the immeasurables. If science is observation and measurement meant to reveal the truth then I say "bring on the science". Christians should be the biggest cheerleaders to those honestly seeking the truth no matter what they find. They will surely find Jesus Christ being that he is the way, the Truth and the life.
Posted by: Julie Rowan | March 2, 2007 09:00 PM
Also, Pastor James, I was talking the other day with one of my guest lecturers- Dr. Ray Pritchard- about you and we were talking about Harvest and everything, and we both agreed that it would be amazing if you could come and do a class at WOLBI, or maybe preach at a chapel. However, I know your incredibly busy with preaching at RM preacticlly every weekend not to mention the various churches/conferences/ Downpour events your always doing, so, all that to say, it's just a dream that might not become a reality. But I really miss your preaching every Sunday at Harvest Niles and I deeply appreciate you and am thankful that your my pastor. Julie.
Posted by: frank | March 4, 2007 08:22 PM
I'd say, "If you'ge gonna believe that God doesn't exist - you'd better make sure you're right!" Faith is not a blind leap into darkness. It's a step into the light.
Posted by: Cynthia Chavez | March 9, 2007 08:32 AM
It's 5:49 a.m. in California. I posted my first comment (not yet posted) last night when I was feeling horrible. I can't believe I am becoming a blogger ohhhh noooo....
I wanted to talk about "Atheist" and Richard Dawkens. This is such an interesting topic to me. I listen to "Way of the Master Radio" and Todd is very much like you in his "in your face confrontation/sarcasm style" and what they do is confront people on the radio, like J-witnesses, big named leaders in Mormonism and Muslim leaders. Its so sad their response to their belief and non-belief. Many say things that are just plan ignorant (Yeah! there you go "not stupid" but ignorant (lack of knowledge). I think I found a way for your to use stupid and not be thorn down for it. (yeah baby) it's like "be angry, but do not sin". Ok...I am sorry I am getting off the point.
One Saturday morning I was listening to an Atheist, give her account as to why she is an atheist. She said "it's not that we don't want to believe, we do, but we can't, the proof is not there and no one has been able to prove God to me" and yet Todd provided overwhelming truth, evidence and down right unarguable points, you know James, like the truth you provide, the biblical answers. It amazes me that no matter what you try to tell a person, even a Jewish person that has the nerve to say "well if a Jew believes in Jesus then he is not a Jew" They are the qualifiers for “Jews for Jesusâ€. I mean people will say anything and when you try to give them proof, well guess what "it's not good enough" Suffice to say... the atheist women (I am sorry I can't remember her name, now that I am becoming a blogger I will be more diligent and take notes) She continues, "I am glad that disbelieving in God makes me free, I no longer have to be held accountable" There it is!!!! People, no matter what proof you bring them, no matter how logical the answer, they don't want to be held accountable. Atheist like everyone one else, have a religion and that is to live life without consequence. I mean the (I am good, moral person (I follow all the 10 commandments) in my own mind) type. She further states "I don't have to think where anything comes from and I especially don't have to care...this is soooo freeing". I mean she is going into eternity totally blinded by the fact that she could breath a little easier because the simple act of “not believing†makes the world a better place for her, it’s a load off her back. It is like the Bible says, "they love the darkness". Another Atheist wrote into Ray Comfort’s T.V. show of "The Way of the Master" simply claiming that we Christians don't out of our way, screaming off the top of our longs about Hell" and this is why he does not believe. He must live on a mountaintop all alone because all my life, growing up in Chicago, I have seen someone in the street claiming, "There is a such a place called Hell and you don't want to go there". I mean this is the same person that looks down on people at street corners proclaiming "Hell" and yet, he feels all Christians need to do this to get the point across. Ignorance is not justifiable by law, no one can get away with a crime “claiming they just didn’t knowâ€.
All of you be blessed today and bless God will ya!!!!!
PS Did you see the news about the “Godless Dollar� Prophecy being fulfilled at its’ best.