Keith Ward Speaks Up For Christianity

I read an article in the New Zealand Listener Magazine about a week ago called In The Name Of God. It is an article where a British philosopher-theologian named Keith Ward (picture right) argues that Christianity is misunderstood to be dangerous when it is more likely that it is "hijacked by the fanatical and the intolerant". It is refreshing to see that Richard Dawkins, who calls Christianity "a creationism-believing sect of fundamentalist hypocrites and hillbillies" actually gets a bit of a thrashing and is left looking like the one who is "intolerant and small-minded" for a change.

Ward commissioned a rebuttal through a small book called "Is Religion Dangerous?" He states in this book that while religion can be dangerous, it is "also one of the most powerful forces in the world for good." Philip Matthews, from Listener, writes that, "The theme of Ward's book is that Christianity is a perfect system frequently corrupted by human imperfection. At the same time, though, the major religions also contain the capacity to expose such corruption and call people to account. If you do a basic body-count of the 20th century, Ward suggests, then atheistic belief systems – communism, fascism – are infinitely more dangerous.”

In the book Is Religion Dangerous? Ward recounts the parts of Dawkins’ religion-bashing TV series, The Root Of All Evil where Dawkins interviews fundamentalist church leaders who teach six-day creation, which is considered a big crime in the scientific arena. Ward, questioning Dawkins' motives, thinks that, "even if Dawkins is right about evolution, wouldn’t a liberal attitude permit the existence of these churches? Shouldn’t he even encourage them, on the grounds that their opposition to scientific dogma might turn up some overlooked truth?" But “Dawkins chose to ridicule them instead,” says Ward.

While Dawkins is eager to attack Christianity, or religion as a whole, for decaying human thinking, Ward encourages people to take a close look at religion for what it really is. “Atheists,” Ward says, “are much rarer in the ground among philosophers than they used to be” not to say that philosophy departments are riddled with Christians, but that “most of them are sympathetic.” He finds it “ironic and strange” that Dawkins would want to launch his strongest attacks on religion at this day in age. In Wards opinion, Dawkins’ philosophy is old-fashioned, that it is comparable to that of the Victorian era, “particularly around the idea that faith and science are incompatible.”

Dawkins and his contemporaries, who are listed here as sharing similar views: Daniel Dennett (Breaking the Spell), Lewis Wolpert (Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast), and Christopher Hitchens (God Is Not Great – out in June); are particularly bothered by the fact that religion refuses to shuffle off the stage and quietly die (you can view Dan Dennett’s response to Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life at the TED website here, and Rick Warren’s TED presentation here). Although that seems like a harsh speculation, Jesus has been bothering people ever since he was born. It is not comfortable to have to serve, it’s not comfortable to have to love others, and it is not comfortable to become the least in society. The argument has definitely gone far deeper than the simple concern for one’s comfort however, that is, I believe, where it began (Matthew 2:3, Matthew 19:16-22).

It excites me when I see articles like this discussing religion because it means that people are thinking about God, and it is only a matter of time that they will begin contemplating their purpose, and the meaning of life. No wonder Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life sold over 30 million copies. It is only through our choices that we gain salvation, therefore, give them the Gospel to seriously ponder on I say. Meanwhile we Christians must always do our utmost to practice what we preach.

Frank Ritchie also has a post up on his blog about the Listener article if you'd like to check it out.