The New Atheists

I thought this was a thought provoking article from Kerby Anderson, and I want to share it with you today:

The New Atheists
by Kerby Anderson

For centuries there has been conflict and debate between atheists and Christianity. But the rise of what journalists are calling "The New Atheists" represents a significant change in the nature of the debate. "The New Atheists" is part reality and part journalistic catch phrase. It identifies the new players in the ongoing battle between science and religion.

Unlike the atheists who came before them who were content to merely argue that Christianity is not true, these new atheists now argue that Christianity is dangerous. It is one thing to argue about the error of Christianity, it is quite another to argue about the evil of Christianity. Christopher Hitchens even titled his book, God Is Not Great.

Many of these authors have books in the New York Times bestseller list. Letter to a Christian Nation by Sam Harris is one of those books in the top ten. He goes beyond the traditional argument that suffering in the world proves there is no God. He argues that belief in God actually causes suffering in the world. He argues that unless we renounce religious faith, religious violence will soon bring civilization to an end.

Another popular book is The God Delusion by Oxford professor Richard Dawkins. He says that religious belief is psychotic and arguments for the existence of God are nonsense. He wants to make respect for belief in God socially unacceptable. He calls for atheists to identify themselves as such and join together to fight against the delusions of religious faith.

Christians should respond in three ways. First, we must always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15) and do it with gentleness and reverence. Second, we should trust in the power of the Gospel: "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for all those who believe" (Romans 1:16). Third, we should live godly lives before the world so that we may (by our good behavior) silence the ignorant talk of foolish men (1 Peter 2:15). I'm Kerby Anderson, and that's my point of view.