Richard Dawkins: "Jesus Would Have Been An Atheist If He Had Known What We Know Today"

This is probably the most offensive thing he has ever said. As usual he is implying here that any person with any kind of intelligence today is an atheist. So obviously it follows, from Dawkins’ perspective, that any smart person from our past if they only knew what we know today would also be an atheist?

Since Jesus was a smart moral teacher from the past that Dawkins says he actually respects, then it follows that He would also have to be an atheist today? Quite an arrogant deduction in deed that doesn’t really take into account what Jesus has to say about himself and his father.

Notice that he never mentions Muhammad in this context. Maybe he wasn’t smart enough or just maybe Richard would like to keep his head intact?

Of course, all of this flies in the face of reality. If Christians are all so stupid or ignorant then why does he continue to avoid a direct debate with any of our best minds like Dr. William Lane Craig?             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -“Answers For Atheists”
2. -Early References to Jesus

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Did the 9/11/01 attacks end up changing some of our attitudes about religion? Here’s a recent article from CNN by John Blake that claims it did make some changes in how Americans perceived religion:

Four ways 9/11 changed America’s attitude toward religion

There are two observations in this article that I agree with whole heartedly.

1. Islam in America came out of the closet

Before 9/11, Islam was just another minority religion in America that very few folks understood or paid any attention to. It was somewhat hidden and not part of the main stream. Now it is in the news all of the time.

Following that event Muslims have seemed to come out of the woodwork and have asked for respect and understanding in the face of all of the terrorist events being perpetrated in the name of their religion. Before 9/11 their religion was pretty much ignored.

Many in our country have overreacted to everything Muslim to the degree that some are claiming that ‘Islamophobia’ is an actual problem in the USA. However, the Constitution grants ‘freedom of religion’ for all religions in this country regardless.

One issue that is a valid problem presented by Islam in America is how to respond to Sharia. Under our legal system and our civil rights and freedoms defined by the Constitution, how much of Islamic law and traditions can be legally accommodated in America? This has yet to be addressed.

Here are the topics of a few of recent news stories about Islam and Muslims that show it is no longer ignored in America:

-Some churches are getting together with local Mosques and sharing.

-The President now holds special dinners at the White House observing Ramadan.

-Some claim that there is a double standard on how Muslims are treated as compared to Christians –some say better, some say worse.

-Some say that Muslims now are demanding special treatment in the work place.

-In some schools in America, rooms and supervision for Muslim prayers are provided for, even though prayer has supposedly been taken out of the public schools.

2. Atheists Came out of the closet

A second observation in the CNN article that I agree with is the connection of 9/11 with the rise of more radical atheist movements in America.

No matter how you want to frame it, 9/11 was the product of radical religionists. In this case, radical Islam.

One reaction that many secularists and atheists had to the 9/11 event was to see that religion was at the bottom of not only that event but an instigator of all sorts of troubles and evils in the world. Therefore some began to proclaim that humanity would be better off if all religions were eliminated.

Since then, hundreds of books have been written opposing religion, lawsuits have been brought against religion in the public square, and atheist organizations have risen up to prominence in the last 10 years. Now folks are far more likely to admit that they are atheists in America than before.

The biggest problem that I see in their movement is in the equivalence given to all religions and religious groups.

Fact is, the world might be a better place without some of the more radical religious groups But it is definitely a better place because of some others. Regardless, in this country we have freedom of religion and I will stand up for that rights of all to believe or not believe as they wish.             *Top

Related Posts?:

1. -Is the Middle East Going Through an Islamist Revival?
2. -Japan: Role of Religion in a Time of Disaster

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One of the declarations we hear from atheists all of the time is:

“We don’t need God to be good”

Maybe so. But is there any objective or real morality in the first place without God?

After all if you maintain a materialistic world view then please explain how matter, energy, time, and chance resulted in a set of objective moral values? Also what makes your moral standard anything more than just subjective opinion or personal preference?

This thought and others on this subject are explored in a short article by Craig Hazen in Biola magazine:

“Can We Be Good Without God?”

Hat Tip: Stand to Reason                          *Top

Alister McGrath gave a talk at Westminster Abbey on the subject of his book:

“Why God Won’t Go Away: Is the New Atheism Running on Empty?”

In it, McGrath gives his assessment of the current state of ‘new atheism’. Great lecture and info- Links to the Podcast and MP3:

Alister McGrath on Why God Won’t Go Away MP3 Audio – Apologetics 315 (30 min.)

Here’s a new apologetic resource:

Answers For Atheists

The website has “Brief answers to the most common Atheist objections to the Christian Worldview”

Here are some of the major topics addressed:

The Top Atheist Objections to Christianity

Answers: 

The Problem of Evil | The Evidence for God | The Exclusivity of Christianity | The Nature of God | The Nature of Jesus | The Reliability of the Bible

Enjoy!

Related Posts?:

1. -Re: Ehrman Project

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Do atheists and agnostics in America know more about religion than people of faith? According to a Pew study they do.

However it is my conclusion that education is probably the major determining factor here. The study also shows that College grads beat out everyone else.

Take a look at the survey and tell me what you think.            *Top

Here’s the transcript of an interview of Richard Dawkins by Hugh Hewitt on Wednesday, October 21, 2009.

I thoroughly enjoyed the exchange and found it delightful and enlightening. Well worth reading. 

(Image by Yukari* via Flickr)

For the small fee of $110, a new business will take care of your pets after the Rapture. They have signed up confessed non-believers to be involved in the ‘service’.

Eternal Earth-Bound Pets styles itself as a service that will take care of ‘left behind’ pets when their Christian owners are raptured. The motto on their website is:

  “The next best thing to pet salvation in a Post Rapture World”

On their site they have the following caption:

"You’ve committed your life to Jesus. You know you’re saved. But when the Rapture comes what’s to become of your loving pets who are left behind? Eternal Earth-Bound Pets takes that burden off your mind."

Response: Wow, how clever! I wonder what they’re going to do with all the $ money? Maybe buy some more anti-God ads on busses?             *Top          (Cross-posted on the Main Page)

According to the article, similar movements are spreading to other countries, including a well organized move against Catholicism in Argentina.

Response: This is a rather sad development. This movement illustrates that the UK is in the middle of a major transition along with all of Europe that some have called ‘post-Christian’.

A generation ago all were baptized into the state churches as infants. Now as the secular and the atheist movements gain numbers and cultural credibility many adults are seeking to ‘divorce’ themselves from their former ‘Christian’ identity.

Now the UK is far more secular than it is ‘Christian’. Many are beginning to question the government support given to the Church of England. To justify the current expenditures, some churches in the UK are beginning to be used as public buildings like post offices along with worship.

The ‘Debaptism’ is said to be spreading to other countries. It is doubtful that it will gain much if any momentum in the USA since there’s no dominant State church that the majority was baptized into as infants. That is not to say that secularism is not making significant inroads into American culture.

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