iMonk has an interesting reflection on what he takes to be a changing atmosphere when it comes to pop-atheism. It's a provocative read (like most of his posts). Here is his conclusion:
But I don’t believe the new atheists are making converts because they have a better argument. I think they are making converts because the fruit is ripe to fall from the tree, and we have little or no idea it’s happening. We’re setting up for the great ideological debate and the kids have found that it’s just more fun to have a drink with the non-religious crew.
Keller is still great. C.S.Lewis is still helpful. Craig is still impressive. But I’m not sure their arguments are on the right channel. Vast numbers of people aren’t asking for philosophy. They are asking what will let them live a life uncomplicated by lies, manipulation and constant calls to prefer ignorance to what seems obvious.
What we’ve said and written is fine. What we’ve lived in our homes, private lives, churches, workplaces and friendships has spoken louder.
We are the ones who appear to not believe in the God we say is real. We are the ones who seem to be forcing ourselves to believe with bigger shows, bigger celebrities and bigger methods of manipulation.
You can’t understand why some people just say atheism has about it the beauty of simplicity? You don’t see why Occam’s Razor is so powerful, even among students who have no idea what it means?
Pay closer attention. The game has changed.
7 comments:
Z, I don't know, I always had more simple fun not drinking with the Christian boys. (You know I had a lot of both worlds.) The Christians didn't need a beer to lift their "coolness factor".
I am not sure that the average Christian lifestyle has changed all that much either. I tend to think public schooling and cutesy inoculation-type Sunday school teaching (both on Sunday and at home) have done more to create atheists than anything else - just as the guy in the video seems to say.
BTW, to see some real data on what I said, check out this video:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/events/state-of-the-nation
He has interesting questions. Basic to human nature.
To be clear, I think that every man is born an Atheist (someone who choses to not believe in God and acts only in and for their own self) and also born wanting to believe in God, because they are pursued by God. "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man HEAR my voice..."
The missing ingredient with this chap is faith. Some people don't hear it. Or they choose not to. And faith is a gift. So his question is good. And there is no answer, at least not one that we can see or know in this dimension.
Seth,
I'm not sure we should use that verse in the way in which you did cause the context is about the church and not unbelievers. Just a small side note...
Cuddles,
z
Hey, I'm a protestant. I can use that scripture however I want!
;-)
Sethro
To quote Michael:
"Vast numbers of people aren’t asking for philosophy. They are asking what will let them live a life uncomplicated by lies, manipulation and constant calls to prefer ignorance to what seems obvious."
I hear what Michael is saying here. I agree with him on much of it. However (you knew that was coming, right, hehe?), I don't believe that people are buying into the New Atheism because they want a life that is "uncomplicated by lies." Maybe they don't want *certain kinds* of lies, but they very much want to buy into the lie that God does not exist-- when Scripture strongly implies that they, in fact, already *know* that He exists, but they suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-21).
This is *not* to overlook or deny the obvious failings of Christians, individually or collectively. We have much of which we need to repent. However, the Bible seems to say that the popularity of atheism (from Biblical times to ours) has much deeper roots than the admitted, lamentable failings of Christians.
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