Timely Article on Christian v. Atheistic Worldview

I found this engaging article that tackles an important debate in our society, that being “why is faith thriving in an age of science and reason.”

Dinesh D'Souza’s article, titled “God knows why faith is thriving” was published on October 22, 2006 in the San Francisco Chronicle, promoting his forthcoming book entitled “The Enemy at Home,” to be publish in January 2007 by Doubleday Books.

In the article, D'Souza challenges Darwinism and the effects of evolutionary-based social policy on secular society. Counter to this, he posits the views of Christians who value life as a gift from God.

D'Souza writes:

A group of leading atheists is puzzled by the continued xistence and vitality of religion.

As biologist Richard Dawkins puts it in his new book "The God Delusion," faith is a form of irrationality, what he terms a "virus of the mind." Philosopher Daniel Dennett compares belief in God to belief in the Easter Bunny. Sam Harris, author of "The End of Faith" and now "Letter to a Christian Nation," professes amazement that hundreds of millions of people worldwide profess religious beliefs when there is no rational evidence for any of those beliefs. Biologist E.O. Wilson says there must be some evolutionary explanation for the universality and pervasiveness of religious belief.

Actually, there is. The Rev. Ron Carlson, a popular author and lecturer, sometimes presents his audience with two stories and asks them whether it matters which one is true.

In the secular account, "You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm washed up on an empty beach 3 1/2 billion years ago. You are a mere grab bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an empty corner of a meaningless universe. You came from nothing and are going nowhere."

In the Christian view, by contrast, "You are the special creation of a good and all-powerful God. You are the climax of His creation. Not only is your kind unique, but you are unique among your kind. Your Creator loves you so much and so intensely desires your companionship and affection that He gave the life of His only son that you might spend eternity with him." …
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This article addresses an important issue that most Christians are either unwilling or unprepared to discuss. D'Souza uses a engaging introduction to capture the reader and pull him/her into a reasoned discussion of the outcomes of atheistic vs. faith-based world views.

There is some question as to whether D'Souza’s article qualifies for the Amy Writing Awards, although it did quote scripture (i.e., “The old principle was, ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’”). There would be no dispute if D'Souza used “the biblical principle is …,” but we will leave it up to the qualifying judge to decide and encourage D'Souza to enter the contest.

Overall, this an excellently written opinion dealing with a critical and timely article. I encourage Dinesh to keep up the good work!

Written by,
Gina Umpstead