what would jesus say to richard dawkins genesis 1:1

What Would Jesus Say toWhat Would Jesus Say toRichard DawkinsRichard Dawkins

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

BackgroundBackground

Born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1941.Born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1941.

Moved back to England in 1949.Moved back to England in 1949.

Raised as an Anglican.Raised as an Anglican.

Eventually became an atheist.Eventually became an atheist.


Studies zoology.Studies zoology.

First degree in 1962.First degree in 1962.

Completed MA and PhD degrees at Completed MA and PhD degrees at Oxford in 1966.Oxford in 1966.


Taught in United States from 1967-Taught in United States from 1967-69.69.

Returned to be a lecturer at Oxford.Returned to be a lecturer at Oxford.

1995 appointed first one to hold the 1995 appointed first one to hold the Charles Simonyi Professor of Public Charles Simonyi Professor of Public Understanding of Science at Oxford.Understanding of Science at Oxford.

The God DelusionThe God Delusion

Has become antagonistic to any form Has become antagonistic to any form of religion.of religion.

He says he wrote the book to He says he wrote the book to persuade people to become atheists persuade people to become atheists and for atheists to find the nerve to and for atheists to find the nerve to come out of the closet.come out of the closet.

1.1. You Are Not Honest aboutYou Are Not Honest aboutScienceScience

He seeks to pit science against religion.He seeks to pit science against religion.

He says people who believe in the He says people who believe in the supernatural are “deluded”. supernatural are “deluded”.

He believes Darwinism has given us a He believes Darwinism has given us a comprehensive explanation for the comprehensive explanation for the origin and development of everything.origin and development of everything.

1. You Are Not Honest about1. You Are Not Honest aboutScienceScience

While the world may appear designed, While the world may appear designed, it is not.it is not.

Natural selection explains the growth, Natural selection explains the growth, diversity, and complexity of life.diversity, and complexity of life.

There is no “mystery” in the universe There is no “mystery” in the universe or any need for God to explain or any need for God to explain anything.anything.


How do we analyze a book or How do we analyze a book or argument?argument?

What is the argument?What is the argument? What is the method?What is the method? Is the method sound?Is the method sound? Did the writer defend his argument well?Did the writer defend his argument well? What are the strengths/weaknesses?What are the strengths/weaknesses? How would you rate the book/argument?How would you rate the book/argument?


a. He denies to others what he finally a. He denies to others what he finally admits.admits.

Most scientists know and admit the Most scientists know and admit the limits of science - even atheistic limits of science - even atheistic scientists.scientists.

Stephen J. Gould.Stephen J. Gould.


a. He denies others…a. He denies others…

He questions Gould’s integrity.He questions Gould’s integrity.

““I simply do not believe that Gould could I simply do not believe that Gould could possibly have meant what he wrote in possibly have meant what he wrote in Rocks of Ages”Rocks of Ages”


a. He denies to others what he finally a. He denies to others what he finally admits.admits.

““Perhaps there are some genuinely Perhaps there are some genuinely profound and meaningful questions that profound and meaningful questions that are forever beyond the reach of are forever beyond the reach of science.”science.”


b. He does not follow his own b. He does not follow his own suggested method.suggested method.

His book is short on science.His book is short on science.

Alvin Plantinga.Alvin Plantinga.

Dawkins makes many unsubstantiated Dawkins makes many unsubstantiated statements.statements.


c. He doesn’t acknowledge that his c. He doesn’t acknowledge that his “science” rests on faith.“science” rests on faith.

Dawkins tells us the only way to have Dawkins tells us the only way to have true knowledge is through a rational true knowledge is through a rational approach that uses the scientific method.approach that uses the scientific method.

You can’t use the scientific method to You can’t use the scientific method to verify his contention.verify his contention.


c. He doesn’t acknowledge…c. He doesn’t acknowledge…

Throughout the book he relates how Throughout the book he relates how much we have been fooled over time in much we have been fooled over time in what we perceive.what we perceive.

How can we be sure he is not fooled?How can we be sure he is not fooled?


““Foundationally, he operates by Foundationally, he operates by faith.”faith.”

2. You Are Not Informed about2. You Are Not Informed aboutReligionReligion

He interacts with philosophy, He interacts with philosophy, religion, psychology and other areas religion, psychology and other areas in this work.in this work.

His two big targets in religion are His two big targets in religion are Islam and Christianity.Islam and Christianity.


He presents God in the OT as evil.He presents God in the OT as evil. He questions Jesus’ existence.He questions Jesus’ existence. He argues the gospels came late and He argues the gospels came late and

are unreliable.are unreliable. He argues Jesus would not have He argues Jesus would not have

wanted Paul to take the message to wanted Paul to take the message to Gentiles.Gentiles.

Calls the cross a “repellant doctrine”.Calls the cross a “repellant doctrine”.


Plantinga on his foray into Plantinga on his foray into philosophy.philosophy.

““at best sophomoric, but that would be at best sophomoric, but that would be unfair to sophomores.”unfair to sophomores.”

When it comes to religion that would be When it comes to religion that would be too kind.too kind.


Much of his critique is based on 19Much of his critique is based on 19thth and 20and 20thth century works that are century works that are dismissed today.dismissed today.

Any one who is informed is Any one who is informed is embarrassed for him in the embarrassed for him in the ignorance he displays.ignorance he displays.


Two ThingsTwo Things

He fails to acknowledge much good that He fails to acknowledge much good that is done in and through religion.is done in and through religion.

He fails to understand that God is Spirit He fails to understand that God is Spirit and that classical theology argues for and that classical theology argues for His simplicity.His simplicity.

3. You Are Not Honest about3. You Are Not Honest aboutAtheismAtheism

He is antagonistic regarding religion.He is antagonistic regarding religion.

He is optimistic regarding atheism.He is optimistic regarding atheism.

He argues that if his view held the He argues that if his view held the day the world would be a better and day the world would be a better and safer place.safer place.

3. You Are Not Honest about3. You Are Not Honest aboutAtheismAtheism

The biggest atrocities of the 20The biggest atrocities of the 20thth century were committed by atheists.century were committed by atheists.

For “evil” to be objectively real, God For “evil” to be objectively real, God must exist.must exist.

Closing ThoughtsClosing Thoughts

1. The movement in the world, even in 1. The movement in the world, even in academia is toward God.academia is toward God.

““Atheism is a philosophy in retreat”.Atheism is a philosophy in retreat”.

Anthony Flew.Anthony Flew.

Closing ThoughtsClosing Thoughts

2. The persistence of belief even in 2. The persistence of belief even in highly educated societies is a big highly educated societies is a big problem for atheists.problem for atheists.

3. Christians are found across the 3. Christians are found across the scientific spectrum. We are not scientific spectrum. We are not bound by one view. We can be open bound by one view. We can be open to the evidence.to the evidence.

what would jesus say to richard dawkins genesis 1:1

Documents

limits of science

reach of science

science rests

scientific method

form of religion

method sound

suggested method

atheistic scientists