Don't Feed the Atheist

Richard Dawkins is famous. If you haven't heard of him, he is an outspoken anti-theist. I use that term rather than the softer "atheist" because Dawkins is on a campaign to convert people who believe in God to atheism. Dawkins is fair. He believes that not only organized religion, but all religion is bad. He is not only against extreme religion; he is against all religion. He considers religion not only to be foolish, but "very evil". He equates raising children in a religious tradition with "child abuse". Richard Dawkins is a scientist who has made it his mission to eradicate religion in all its forms.

Sam Harris is a best-selling author of two books. His The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation have raised his visibility to that of Dr. Dawkins. The End of Faith is intended to explain how faith and reason cannot coexist. He argues against all religion, including moderation of religion, suggesting that it will be the death of the human race if it is allowed to continue. Oddly, he suggests, among other things, the alternative of Eastern mysticism to replace the foundation of morality and spiritual experience in our world. After the release of The End of Faith, Harris received thousands of letters from Christians telling him how wrong he was. His response was Letter to a Christian Nation. In his introduction he explains that one of the biggest problems in our society and his primary reason for writing this book is that Christians believe that Jesus is coming back. This belief, he suggests, destabilizes the future of humanity.

These are just two, loud voices out there. They are "best sellers". They are being carried in Newsweek, the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe ... every major news outlet wants to spread their dogma. But these are just two. Many more are out there, squeaky wheels becoming louder and louder. They are calling for the end of tolerance. They are clamoring for the death of Christianity. And they are doing so in a country founded by people who sought to be allowed to practice their Christianity without regulation. False religion isn't the problem in the world. A lack of morality isn't the problem in the world. The mere existence of religion at all is the problem, they hold, and specifically it is Christianity that is the problem. If we could just eliminate that problematic belief system, many of our problems would go away.

I could launch into reasons why this is problematic thinking. I could explain why it is illogical and untrue. But that's not my point. In fact, there aren't enough people reading this to make a difference if I did. My point is to suggest, just as Peter did, that we should be aware of and ready for it. Persecution is coming. Oh, not that lightweight stuff we whine about these days. "They wouldn't let us pray at graduation." "They said mean things about our beliefs." "That TV show misrepresented us." "I don't think they like us at all!" Yeah, yeah, that might be the foothills of the mountain range to come, but it cannot be classified as "persecution". What is coming is persecution. And I'm not encouraging a defense; I'm suggesting that we be ready mentally and spiritually. As Peter said:

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right (1 Peter 4:12-19).

Sam Harris complained that most of the "hate mail" he got -- the harshest, most unpleasant responses -- was from "Christians". Let's not feed the irrationality of the anti-theist, okay? Nowhere are we called to assault the atheist. And we should certainly take steps to defend, legally, the rights of religious freedom given to us by our country's founders. I'm not suggesting that we lay down and die. I simply want Christians to be aware that it's coming. Judgment is required and it begins with us. Do not be surprised. Do not be guilty of suffering for being a "troublesome meddler" or an evildoer. Instead, rejoice! Suffering, according to Peter, is "God's will", and we must entrust our souls not to government, law, or our own loud voices, but to the faithful Creator who is doing what is right.