Dawkins Continues to Suppress the Truth

Richard Dawkins, well-known atheist and author of The God Delusion, recently wrote a promotional letter for the skeptic magazine Free Inquiry. Now, I think it’s important that you see what these atheists are saying about Christianity and the Word of God. It’s clear that Dawkins doesn’t understand what the Bible teaches or the differences between operational (observational) and historical (origins) science. Frankly, he is quite ignorant of the issues of science and origins.

Below is a section from the promotional letter:

Dear Friend,

Just for a moment, imagine that there really is a supreme being who created all things, including the human race. Would he (or she or it) give you such a highly developed brain and then punish you for using it?

Would the most advanced life-form in the universe devise such grand concepts as DNA, nuclear fusion, and quantum mechanics and then spend all eternity fussing about whether you regularly sing to him, vote against gay marriage, or accept on faith that Earth is only 6,000 years old when there is a mountain of evidence to the contrary?

Frankly, I don’t believe in an all-knowing, all-powerful creator. But even if I did, I’m certain he would want us to think for ourselves and eschew such claptrap.

He would be committed to the application of reason and encourage scientific discovery and the cultivation of moral excellence. He would want us to be more concerned about living a valuable life than enforcing arbitrary rules to avoid a vindictive punishment in an afterlife.

Dr. Dawkins then continues his usual type of rant for a couple of paragraphs, promoting the magazine. Do you see how he distorts the character of God and confuses operational and historical science? God has indeed given us highly developed brains (they were created that way from the beginning!) and He doesn’t punish us for using them. It was us who, in Adam, committed high treason against the God of creation. Sadly, Dawkins believes that because biblical creationists don’t accept evolutionary ideas (namely that matter gave rise to life by natural processes, against what observational science clearly confirms), they are not using their brains.

Despite the assertion by Dr. Dawkins that God doesn’t care whether we worship Him or uphold biblical morality, to the contrary, God does care. The Bible is clear about these things: God desires followers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23–24), and God does have standards and laws that He wants us to obey (Matthew 28:19–20). And you know what? It’s reasonable that He should expect worship and that He should give us laws to obey. Sin is not a good thing: it leads only to death (James 1:15).

Now, Dawkins also claims there’s a “mountain of evidence” against biblical creation. But this is a clear confusion of operational and historical science. Operational science is repeatable, observable, and testable. It’s the kind of science that allows us to make advances in medicine, technology, and so on. Historical science, on the other hand, deals with the origin of the universe. But, clearly, no humans were there to witness this event, and it can’t be tested or repeated. Both evolutionary ideas and biblical creation are historical science—accounts concerning what happened in the past in regard to origins. In reality, they are starting points that attempt to interpret the evidence of the present in a way that fits well. I would submit that the evidence only makes sense from the biblical creation perspective: it’s the true account of historical science. (For more detailed definitions of operational and historical science, I encourage you to read this article and watch the video.)

Of course, Dr. Dawkins makes it no secret that he doesn’t believe God exists, so we certainly cannot expect him to respect God or His Word. And sadly, while Dr. Dawkins may believe Christianity provides only “arbitrary rules,” it’s actually his atheism that is arbitrary. Without God’s Word, Dawkins has no foundation for the “cultivation of moral excellence” that he claims to want. This promotional letter of Dawkins is just another example of Richard Dawkins as he continues his campaign to “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

I urge you to pray for Dr. Dawkins and for all those involved in writing Free Inquiry, that they would repent and believe the gospel of Christ.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

 

Note: Steve Golden assisted in the writing of this blog post.