Gary Wolf writes an excellent article in his exploration of the so-called “New Atheism” and does an especially reasonable job of capturing the positions of voluble proponents Dawkins, Harris, and Bennett. It is of course de rigueur in certain sectors of society to belittle and sneer at those who see the world through the lens of faith and certainly religious people have treated atheists appallingly across the centuries. Perhaps atheists do have ample reason for being testy chest-thumping elitists like Dawkins and Harris (Bennett is by far the more interesting writer and less reactionary apologist for atheism). Yes, it is more than understandable that some might wish to assign blame for the world’s ills and waggle a moralizing finger in the direction of Religion. But let’s be fair now, if we are going to excoriate belief in the divine on the basis of scientifically acceptable evidence then ought we not be able to apply theological categories to scientific belief systems with equal pontifical weight?
Dawkins is an atheist, good for him. He is a very articulate advocate for atheism and I am certain that his brand of genetic determinism will come as a tremendous relief to those who seek a scientifically reasonable escape from the claims of faith. In The God Delusion, he cleverly dismisses a wide selection of the historical “proofs” for the existence of God, again kudos. This would however be much the more impressive were it not for the fact that the majority of theologians dismissed the same arguments long ago and treat them now with wry amusement as historical artifacts. Shall we hoist the entire scientific community on the petard of the flat earth promoters, trepanning, or the fervent belief in UFOs?
Harris is every bit the strident angry atheist who proves himself to be as much a fundamentalist as any religious zealot. In his quest to make Religion responsible for the entirety of the world’s horrific events he will brook no contradiction from either faith or reason. He rightly points out that Religion has to be held accountable for its role in the terrors of global conflict. By all means, let’s review the role of religion. But why not also critique the role of ethnicity, politics, and economics in all those same conflicts? While we’re at it let’s ask ourselves a few other questions? Which religious community was it that developed nuclear weapons for the world’s enjoyment? Which religious community came up with the jet fighter, the AK-47, mustard gas, plastic explosives, and depleted uranium shells? The scientific community cannot escape its own culpability in foisting such destructive arsenals on human society and then blithely suggest that the responsibility for their murderous destruction lies only with those in whose name they are eventually used.
When one makes the entirely reasonable assertion that the greatest and most destructive conflicts in living memory were entirely secular, that Communism, Socialism (both expressly atheistic), and Nazism together caused an incredible swath of human misery and destruction, Harris argues that these ideologies mimicked religions in their practice and fervor, so must be counted as such. Bullshit. What his arguments actually suggest is thatviolent conflict is all too human and any excuse, including but not limited to religion, will do as one social system advances its political and economic claims at the expense of another social system.
People who lack the capacity for faith ought not to be demonized by the religious community. This is especially true of the Christian community that ostensibly understands faith to be a gift and thus not necessarily available to everyone in the same degree. Atheists should be able to construct their reality in the way most helpful to them and faithful people should respect that. However, this should be a mutual détente. The truth of the matter is that even with so much religious rhetoric being used to pander to conservative voters in the United States the socialscales are steeply tipped in favor of a scientific worldview. Of course acknowledging this won’t sell books.
Rev. Dr. J. Thomas GoughGranville, MA
