The militant atheism behind this month\u2019s upcoming \u201cReason Rally\u201d on the Mall in D.C. isn\u2019t the only flavor of skepticism these days. In fact, instead of blaming people of faith for the woes of the world, some atheists now are actually speaking out on behalf of religion. But their reasons for doing so are as different as one could imagine.<\/p>\n
Alain de Botton, the famous British atheist who challenged Richard Dawkins\u2019s \u201cdestructive\u201d attacks on religion, says society needs faith. Now there\u2019s a \u201cman-bites-dog\u201d story.<\/p>\n
De Botton explained in a recent interview: \u201c[M]y argument is that…religion is full of useful, interesting…consoling ideas that could…appeal even to someone who has…no interest in being a believer.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his book, Religion for Atheists, de Botton insists that churches and other places of worship are just some of the many elements of religion unbelievers must incorporate into their lives if secularism is to survive. And he\u2019s proving how serious he is by sponsoring an atheist \u201ctemple\u201d in London, a place he says is designed \u201cfor \u2018love, friendship, calm and perspective.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, love, friendship, calm, and perspective are all fine things, but how do you get the fruits of religion without the religion itself?<\/p>\n
Coincidentally, de Botton\u2019s views sound like an echo of another voice here in the States \u2014 retired Episcopal bishop John Shelby Spong, a man whose views place him squarely outside Christian orthodoxy. Spong took to the airwaves last month to promote his new book, in which he argues that Scripture was never meant to be read literally. Letting go of rigid doctrines like the Virgin Birth and Divinity of Christ, he says, are necessary if Christians hope to \u201cstop the exodus of people from religion.\u201d<\/p>\n
In fact, he says, fundamentalists who get distracted by debates over abortion, homosexuality, and birth control are missing the point just as badly as atheists who reject faith completely.<\/p>\n
Well, as nice as it seems that some atheists are favorably disposed toward religion, they can\u2019t have it both ways. In fact, another atheist, who is a homosexual rights advocate in Britain, thinks de Botton and Spong\u2019s ideas are both ridiculous. And he\u2019s right! In a recent Spectator column, Matthew Parris calls religious believers to wake up and realize that their \u201cfaith is being defended by the wrong people, in the wrong way.\u201d He warns us: \u201cBeware…the patronage of unbelievers. They want your religion as a social institution, filleted of true faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo those who truly believe,\u201d he writes, \u201cthe implicit message beneath \u2018never mind if it\u2019s true, religion is good for people\u2019 is insulting.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Parris, the only valid reason to believe the religion of Jesus Christ is if it\u2019s true! And if it is true, he says, \u201cit must have the most profound consequences for a man and for mankind.\u201d<\/p>\n
I couldn\u2019t have said it better myself. Nor could I have more accurately summed up the core message of BreakPoint: The Christian worldview claims to explain and embrace all of reality. It makes hard-and-fast truth claims. And \u2014 as another one-time atheist, C. S. Lewis, argued \u2014 does not leave us the option of reducing Christ or the Bible to being \u201cgood moral teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n
No, religion is only \u201cuseful\u201d or \u201cconsoling\u201d insofar as it is true. And Christianity, unlike others, is both because it is.<\/p>\n
________<\/p>\n
Copyright (c) 2012 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. “BreakPoint with Chuck Colson” is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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