tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2882322476307702347.post5979095207724977112..comments2023-11-02T18:27:43.003+09:30Comments on Transforming Mission: The New Atheism - Should Christians be concerned?Pete Brookshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12224890269580671566noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2882322476307702347.post-37349577097942957332010-07-05T06:15:36.432+09:302010-07-05T06:15:36.432+09:30Whilst I would not call myself an atheist, I am at...Whilst I would not call myself an atheist, I am at a point where I think that 'no god' is a reasonable possibility. What I am as certain as I can be about is that fundamentalist Christianity, as I see frequently espoused at various blogs (paticularly from those that identify with 'primitive salvationism' philosophies), has so many flaws in it an ultimately portrays God as an evil tyrant that I would want nothing to do with, much less worship.<br />I'm not sure the more liberal understandings of Christianity are any less flawed, but at least they are more attuned to the reality of human need and suffering in the here and now and not so focussed on an afterlife that is quite likely not to exist.Jacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2882322476307702347.post-12622357262320833492010-07-04T22:36:48.546+09:302010-07-04T22:36:48.546+09:30The "new atheism" is the same atheism as...The "new atheism" is the same atheism as the "old atheism." The "new atheism" is simply a continuation of thought that is close to hitting (or has already hit) its tipping point. It's no wonder that theologians like Dinesh D'Souza, William Lane Craig, Ed Feser, et al are tripping all over themselves to write book after book accompanied by several column miles found in conservative think tank journals and various youtube diatribes. The reasons are as obvious as the nose in front of your face. The nose that can smell cash. (Most of this is directed to armybarmy and his linked Ed Feser article.)<br /><br />There are four authors of moderately successful books and/or columns criticizing religion directly: Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens, and Harris. These criticisms have brought out every theologian howler monkey looking for a chance to snipe these "new atheists" in the hopes of finding their own piece of the cash cow.<br /><br />And what is THE argument of the theologians? Why the "new atheists" haven't paid due reverence and/or diligence to theology, of course. Theology, these howler monkeys say, has value. It is a subject, after all, that has been written about for centuries. "You didn't argue Acquinas! ACQUINAS!!!" one can imagine them saying. <br /><br />Sam Harris said it very well when he said (I'll paraphrase from memory) that he is in pursuit of the truth about God from a different trajectory than the theologians. Therefore, the work of the theologians has no impact at all on Harris's work or ideas. Just as the aspiring cosmologist need not be imminently familiar with the profundity of the works of astrology before he begins his studies and the aspiring chemist need not be thoroughly versed in Isaac Newton's millions of words concerning alchemy, the "new atheists" need not thoroughly investigate the claims of theologians as the entire subject is bogus.Harris Tweedhttp://twitter.com/HarrisTweednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2882322476307702347.post-72036961338596884752010-07-04T17:36:09.580+09:302010-07-04T17:36:09.580+09:30Here's a great article on Dawkins, The God Del...Here's a great article on Dawkins, The God Delusion + its school of thought: http://bit.ly/bNQWuYStephen Courthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003412335880845713noreply@blogger.com