Monday, October 30, 2006
The Crusade Against Religion
This is the challenge posed by the New Atheists. We are called upon, we lax agnostics, we noncommittal nonbelievers, we vague deists who would be embarrassed to defend antique absurdities like the Virgin Birth or the notion that Mary rose into heaven without dying, or any other blatant myth; we are called out, we fence-sitters, and told to help exorcise this debilitating curse: the curse of faith.
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. Now that the battle has been joined, there's no excuse for shirking.
Three writers have sounded this call to arms. They are Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett.
This article contains more details about their views. Also supporting this movement is a series of books by atheists that have climbed well up into book sales lists.
So why is this happening? It sounds to me like a natural response to the religious fundamentalism that we've been experiencing and that has brought us wars, torture, prejudice, persecutions, division, absolutism, and an unabashed desire to shove religion down people's throats.
Faith can't be forced, can't be legislated, and based on every single historical example, shouldn't mix with government. And some people have had enough and are pushing back.
Comments:
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Geez, Victor. Why don't you come out and say it--I am against religion. Instead of posting articles and letting people ponder the issue (which is what you had typically been doing) you just come out and bash religion in whatever way you can. I was letting it go from the last few topics in this column just for sheer exasperation but I just can't take it anymore.
I think this new rise of atheist thinking/writing is what the bible has prophesied (sp?) for years and it's coming to light now because Christians have let their guard down. We (the church as a whole) aren't focused as we should be in praying for our nation, our people and our world. We've let immoral issues "slide" because we just didn't want to deal with it. Easier to ignore it and hope for it go away instead of taking a stand, fighting for our beliefs and dropping to our knees to pray. Christianity is NOT political agendas, propaganda and intimidation. Sadly, many people in leadership and in a position to let their voice be heard have mistakenly used Christianity as their defense for misguided beliefs and in doing so have clouded everyone's vision of what Christianity is.
So it's not surprising you think the way you do.
I think this new rise of atheist thinking/writing is what the bible has prophesied (sp?) for years and it's coming to light now because Christians have let their guard down. We (the church as a whole) aren't focused as we should be in praying for our nation, our people and our world. We've let immoral issues "slide" because we just didn't want to deal with it. Easier to ignore it and hope for it go away instead of taking a stand, fighting for our beliefs and dropping to our knees to pray. Christianity is NOT political agendas, propaganda and intimidation. Sadly, many people in leadership and in a position to let their voice be heard have mistakenly used Christianity as their defense for misguided beliefs and in doing so have clouded everyone's vision of what Christianity is.
So it's not surprising you think the way you do.
Stacy, I took an article from today's news dealing with religion and posted my opinion was to why people like that may be doing what they are doing.
As a matter of fact, I don't agree with them. They believe ALL religion is bad. I don't. I do, however, think that the "religious fundamentalism that we've been experiencing and that has brought us wars, torture, prejudice, persecutions, division, absolutism, and an unabashed desire to shove religion down people's throats" is bad. Yes I do.
As a matter of fact, I don't agree with them. They believe ALL religion is bad. I don't. I do, however, think that the "religious fundamentalism that we've been experiencing and that has brought us wars, torture, prejudice, persecutions, division, absolutism, and an unabashed desire to shove religion down people's throats" is bad. Yes I do.
You say you don't agree, but then you add your comment that agrees with the article you posted...
Hmmm...care to clarify? You do, you don't, you do, you don't. Geez.
Hmmm...care to clarify? You do, you don't, you do, you don't. Geez.
Yes, I'll try to explain.
The authors mentioned in the article: "condemn not just belief in God but respect for belief in God. Religion is not only wrong; it's evil."
I don't agree with them. I respect belief in God. I respect religion. I don't believe religion is bad.
What I object to is the: "religious fundamentalism that we've been experiencing and that has brought us wars, torture, prejudice, persecutions, division, absolutism, and an unabashed desire to shove religion down people's throats."
The group of religious fundamentalists I describe above is a small percentage of all the people who consider themselves religious and with whom I have no problem at all and in fact, respect.
If this is not clear enough, let me know and I'll try yet again.
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The authors mentioned in the article: "condemn not just belief in God but respect for belief in God. Religion is not only wrong; it's evil."
I don't agree with them. I respect belief in God. I respect religion. I don't believe religion is bad.
What I object to is the: "religious fundamentalism that we've been experiencing and that has brought us wars, torture, prejudice, persecutions, division, absolutism, and an unabashed desire to shove religion down people's throats."
The group of religious fundamentalists I describe above is a small percentage of all the people who consider themselves religious and with whom I have no problem at all and in fact, respect.
If this is not clear enough, let me know and I'll try yet again.
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