For a couple of years it seemed like the new atheists were going largely unanswered. But now there are several good books rebutting their claims, among them John Lennox's God's Undertaker and Tim Keller's The Reason for God. The latest addition to this literature is Michael Novak's new book No One Sees God. It is a wise and important book.
Novak is a friend of mine and a former colleague at the American Enterprise Institute. He is known for his books celebrating the morality of free markets, notably The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism. As a theologian who has written on subjects from Aquinas to existentialism, Novak is well equipped to consider the metaphysical claims of the new atheists.
One of Novak's especially attractive qualities is his ability to find common ground with his opponents. Here he begins by conceding to the atheist that "we are all in the same darkness." No one-not even Moses or Abraham-has set his eyes on God. Novak rejects the certitudes of both the religious fundamentalist and the militant atheist. He intends to explore what he calls "the dark and windswept open spaces between unbelief and belief."
For Novak, life raises bigger questions than the ones answered, and answerable, by science. Ultimately we want to know not merely how things work but also: why are we here? What is our purpose? What is our final destiny? Novak credits religion with addressing the largest moral questions, not only "what is it good to do?" but also "what is it good to be?" and "what is it good to love?"
Novak expresses admiration for some of the leading atheists, notably Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens. (He seems less enamored with Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris.) Modern atheism has its virtues, such as an emphasis on truth over good feelings, and also on honesty and courage in facing the realities of life. Even so, Novak finds it puzzling that these atheists make so little effort to understand how God is experienced by the believer.
"For a believer," Novak writes, "It does not take a prolonged thought experiment to imagine oneself an unbeliever." The believer knows full well where the atheist is coming from. By contrast, Novak suggests, atheists like Hitchens seem to have no empathetic understanding whatsoever of genuine religious conviction. They have no sense of what belief must be like from within.
Novak's point is that this shortcoming makes them poor analysts of religion. All critical reading requires a certain measure of suspended belief. This is as true of the strange but captivating world of Dostoyevsky as it is of Shakespeare's moral universe. When we read Macbeth, for instance, we have to be able to plunge into Shakespeare's world, ghosts and all. No understanding of Macbeth is possible if we begin with rude dismissal, "Of course the whole premise is complete nonsense."
Novak is surprised to discover that in the entire literature of the new atheism "there is not a shred of evidence that the authors have ever had any doubts whatever about the rightness of their own atheism." This is not simply a matter of refusing to apply the vaunted virtue of skepticism to one's own philosophy. It is also a matter of giving an account of why such a tiny minority of people in our culture have embraced vocal atheism. If atheism is so obviously convincing, Novak asks, why are so few people drawn to it? The new atheists offer no answers; indeed, scarcely any of them even raise the question.
Novak likens Hitchens to Thomas Paine, that fiery pamphleteer and partisan of the American Revolution. Novak notes, however, that despite his hostility to Christianity, Paine understood that such concepts as the dignity of man and human rights depended on man's special place in God's creation. Indeed the Jacobins of the French Revolution imprisoned Paine after he warned them that their atheism would undercut the basis of their declaration of human rights. Hitchens seems blissfully unaware of a whole tradition of scholarship, from Tocqueville to Jurgen Habermas, that identifies Christianity as the essential foundation of some of the West's most cherished institutions and values.
In a 2005 lecture in on "Religion in the Public Sphere," Habermas raises a question that is central to Novak's inquiry. Habermas shows that the very idea of toleration is a gift that religious thought has bequeathed to modern secular society. Then he asks: are secular people willing to acknowledge that toleration is always a two-way street? In other words, if religious people are expected to be tolerant of unbelievers, shouldn't secular people learn to be tolerant of their fellow citizens who are believers?
This argument has important implications. If Habermas and Novak are right, the public square should not be viewed as the property of secular citizens. Rather, it is the common ground on which believers and non-believers communicate with each other. It makes no sense to exclude religious convictions from the public sphere if secular convictions are granted full access. An uncritical "separation of church and state" must give way to a shared domain in which all citizens have the right to express their heartfelt convictions.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 26)
46. ATHEIST
Let me explain... AGAIN.... why Christians are dimwits.
Reply to: 30. I was once an agnostic. I spent many years away from any religious practice. What brought me back was a personal encounter with the living God. For me that is Jesus Christ.
____________________
This person is STUPID.
They did NOT have a personal encounter with a god.
They had a "real experience" with memories of their parents which contain EXTREME EMOTIONS.
The happiness of a 2 month-old infant is more intense because the brain doesn't have a thousand other memories to water it down.
What I'm talking about is STUPIDITY.
People who repeat the WRONG ANSWER... and have been told that they're right.
Christianity is a LIE. Jesus died 1,900 years ago and you didn't encounter him.
___________________
Reply to: Every thing the bible teaches is to the benefit of man. If all man kind would simply love one another all of the worlds problems would be solved. How can you argue with that?
_________________
You really don't know HOW we can argue with this?
the world has limited resources. The Pope tells Catholics not to use birth control.
Get the world population back under 2 billion and yes, we might be able to solve the world's problems. Until that happens, 4 billion people are looking at the United States and asking, "Why can't we live that way?" China is building a highway system and the price of gas is over $10 a gallon in Europe.
Christianity is an End of the World cult. Idiot Christians go around saying, "WHy don't you all join my cult?"
Because it is EVIL.
________________
Reply to: Faith is knowledge that God is real and in control. It is assurance that good will always conquer evil. It is knowledge that there is a divine plan
The divine plan.... is for one billion Chinese to take over the United States... after they kill all current Americans.
Christianity makes you stupid. There is no divine plan.
William Hays at 11:07AM on Sep 17th 2008
47. Oh please - Dinesh, you yourself are proof that not many believers have a clue what it is like to be an atheist. As you so often say, you think that atheism is a moral rebellion with no intellectual value - in other words, your idea of what it would be like to be an atheist is to think that "Yeah, I know deep down that there is a god, but I want to do drugs, have lots of gay sex and murder babies, so I'm just going to pretend that there isn't one. Duh!" Have you ever met an atheist (and not just a Christian who says they used to be one) who admits to thinking like that? You and countless other theologians have no clue what rational unbelief really is - and that shortcoming is what makes you a poor analyst of reality.
Jason at 10:44PM on Sep 23rd 2008
48. ATHEIST
Reply to: The New Testament is Christ fullfilling the prophecy of the old testament. His teachings is all about love one another and each parable and every example is telling us how to do that and how important it is. And loveing one another WOULD solve all the worlds problems. There would be no tobacco, drugs, whiskey and other things that are self destructive. There would be no hunger or anyone doing without what they need.
_________________
WRONG.
do the math.
America has a high standard of living. It's a nice place to live.
If you raise our current world population from six billion to ten billion, may of that extra 4 billion will crowd into the US.
And then the US will NOT be a nice place to live.
Christians live in a Fantasy where god is doing all of this according to a "divine plan." FALSE.
You spread STUPIDITY....
We have to stand up to Christians. we have to deny their "faith" ...
... and repeat that our planet is about to have more than 7 billion inhabitants for the first time.
And "love one another" is NOT going to solve those problems.
A limited nuclear war in Pakistan will get rid of some.... and spread fallout across the US.
Get rid of your Christian nonsense that we can close out eyes and follow a CULT that thinks Jesus will return soon.
Christianity is WRONG. As long as the friggin' idiots teach that "Christianity is right", the problems will get WORSE.
William Hays at 11:14AM on Sep 17th 2008
49. This is nonsense, there are numerous eroneous assumptions made, that ultimately lead to a ridiculous summation. The first is that the believer understands the atheists point of view. Obviously he doesn't or he would be an atheist. Most atheists were brought up theocratically as nearly everyone is, but at some point the contradictions with reality and experienceled them to dismiss supernatural superstition as an actual natural force.
The article then goes on to paint atheistic thought as an alternative to religion...a different belief system. Which is the most common misconception by believers. The absence of belief in the supernatural is not a belief, any more than not collecting stamps is a hobby.
Finally, as far as religious tolerance being a two way street, our national leaders on a daily basis invoke the power of invisible magic ghosts for wisdom, guidance and protection for everyone. Since there are no atheist prayers, we obviously don't get equal time.
Theiggynoonewants at 11:24AM on Sep 17th 2008
50. "35. Thank you for your response, Botts. You must recognize that your position is very rare among self described Christians."
Hi Jude,
Thanks for responding back to me! I do recognize this, and I am constantly trying to witness to fellow Christians of other denominations. That is my priority. My position is rare, because I believe that I'm following the Narrow Gate. He didn't call it Narrow for nothing.
It's narrow, because we have to Love God and our Neighbors. Not just say it, but do it. Only then can we understand the Teaching and meet the Holy Spirit that lives in each of us.
"The institutionalization of faith into "religion" is the norm. It seems you do understand the objections to others religions being injected into our politics and policies. That is not the norm either."
Institutionalized Religion is a cancer on our Faith and other Faiths for that matter. And it started almost immediately after the Apostles past away. But that's the great thing about us humans. We're advanced and intelligent, at least most of us have that ability. We can find the correct message that originally preached.
"Most Christians want our laws to reflect their beliefs. The intrusion into the personal lives and decisions of individuals who do not share the faith is as wrong in this country as most American's feel it is wrong in other countries."
Believe me, I know what you mean. I can't stand it.
"Those that will rail against Taliban enforcement of a Burka for women will then deny gays the right to marry because it's against their God's will. The hypocrisy is endless."
Completely and totally hypocritical. They'll rail against Muslim Countries, then over here want to teach Intelligent Design, Imprison Women and Doctors who perform abortion just to name a couple.
"I do object to your observation (judgement?) that I "stopped there." And that I just didn't find the "correct" information to lead me to Jesus, that I didn't have enough to make an informed decision. You seem to be a nice and sincere person, but that judgement is arrogant."
Jude, I'm very sorry if that sounded arrogant. What I will say, is that knowledge comes in waves, and you still haven't stopped learning. Your experiences in life keeps on feeding you knowledge. I just don't think it's over yet.
"Being an ex-atheist, you have to recognize that no one WANTS to be an unbeliever, or that that is their goal. No....those of us that discard the faith probably try harder than the "blind faithers" to find something, anything to keep believing."
I agree with you completely. And I believe, that if you are an Atheist that trying to find something, or anything not only to believe, but to know for sure, you will find it. You will find it when you're supposed to find it. Being an Atheist isn't a bad thing. Atheist have morals and most cases have even more morals than an Institutionalized Believer. You understand the concept of Loving and accepting our neighbors in most cases. Live and let live.
"You sought and found what you think is the answer. I sought, and came up with a completely different answer, and have no doubt that I came across the same things you did."
First let me say, I sought and found God, and I didn't find Him from the Bible. I found God from my experiences, memory and open mind. I started to believe in the Teaching of Christ after that.
I know God.
I believe in Jesus Christ and his teachings. If followed correctly, it is understood and you get to know the Holy Spirit. That is a wild ride.
"You were able to suspend some portion of logic and reality. I can't do that."
Actually, I increased my logic and reality. None of us share the same reality. Our perceptions make our reality.
Thanks for sharing your ideas and experience with me.
Botts at 11:36AM on Sep 17th 2008
51.
I saw a Unicorn once. Really. You can't tell me I didn't! I DID I DID I DID!
Which makes about as much sense as D'Adolph D'Itler's latest God Nazi rant. As an ex-Christian who got tired of the con game, "understanding God" was just another line in a long list sucker-draws to control (IE: take money from) you.
T.Brough at 11:51AM on Sep 17th 2008
52. ATHEIST
Reply to: First let me say, I sought and found God, and I didn't find Him from the Bible. I found God from my experiences, memory and open mind. I started to believe in the Teaching of Christ after that.I know God.
____________
You do NOT know a God. god does NOT exist.
You have been FOOLED.
This is a disease. You might honestly believe that there are supernatural (whatever) out there, but it's a sign of being STUPID.
You look at a set of facts, or an experience, and you get the WRONG ANSWER.
the problem... is that you're arrogant AND stupid.
You come onto message boards and post "I know God."
NONSENSE.
There is NO teaching of Jesus Christ. All of the stories were written decades AFTER Jesus died.
Try to be SMARTER. Start by getting ONE fact straight.
Jesus was DEAD before the gospels were written.
Jesus never read the NT.
the words in the NT... such as the Pharisees being unclean.... were the result of later conflicts and had nothing to do with Jesus.
Start there. Start small. quit posting nonsense.
William Hays at 11:58AM on Sep 17th 2008
53. Troy: "Every atheist I've read or spoken with has not been able to provide adequate answers to life's bigger questions, even material questions regarding the origin of the universe"
You are describing "god of the gaps". The truth is no one has any idea what's in those gaps. If people need to use millennium old stories to fill in the gaps, more power to them, but it in no way represents truth.
There might have been some sort of creative force that created the universe (god), but if anyone claims to KNOW anything about it they are either delusional or lying.
Ryan Anderson at 12:06PM on Sep 17th 2008
54. "Every atheist I've read or spoken with has not been able to provide adequate answers to life's bigger questions, even material questions regarding the origin of the universe."
Wow, so every Atheist doesn't have the answers to every 'secret' of the universe? I'm really surprised! How is viewing things from a religious standpoint really answering ANY of them? It's not. Religions are just guessing. You can 'guess' that God made the universe, but that doesn't make it so. Especially in light of the fact that there isn't the tiniest actual shred of physical evidence to support that claim. Just more guesses and hunches.
"Honest, religious individuals don't claim to be able to prove their religious beliefs."
Then what exactly, is the point in insisting that people should follow 'the path', when they really can't prove that it's an actual path at all, just more 'guessing'. Believing in something for yourself is fine, relentlessly trying to convert other people when they make it clear time and time again is another matter entirely, and an annoying one at that.
"Rather, an objective, scientific look at the world they live in leads them to conlcude what they cannot see. Atheists do the same thing regarding evolution and the big-bang theory. These things cannot be observed."
Actually, evolution CAN and IS being observed all the time. As for the big bang THEORY, it's just that. A theory. The scientific community doesn't 'worship' the BBT (at least most don't). If science supports something as being a plausible theory, then it's established as being a theory. If evidence arises to contradict that theory, it's dismissed. That's how science works. It's not based on 'faith' ("even if evidence arises to contradict something, my 'faith' would override my logic, and I would not cease to believe").
"On a different note, most of the responses to Dinesh's article actually confirm his point that atheists (or new atheists anyway) are generally intolerant of religious individuals - hence, they don't practice the tolerance they preach. As a Christian, I respect, even tolerate, an atheist's right to disagree with Dinesh. But the hostility with which they do so is very revealing."
And Dinesh's blogs themselves prove the point that non-believers (and plenty of religious folks as well) consistently make time and time again. That Dinesh is a divisive asshole. He's admitting to enjoying bashing people for different religious/philosophical beliefs, among other things. Dinesh's favorite subject is Dinesh, and Dinesh's books. Yes, what a humble servant of God he is. Why should anyone be expected to have appreciation and respect for him?
I don't consider myself to really be particularly intolerant of people and their religious beliefs. I draw the line when people think that they know what's best for EVERYONE, and insist that everyone do things their way (as is the case with several people on this blog, and Dinesh is one of them).
Religious belief is supposed to be a personal thing, yet throughout history, it's been used as a control method for the masses. There are plenty of people out there today, even in the USA that want their religious beliefs projected onto everyone. Being opposed to that doesn't make a person intolerant.
Zatheus at 12:11PM on Sep 17th 2008
55. janesophi,
The Catholic church of today and the church of the 1200's is different just as the Protestants of today and the witch burning Protestants are different. The Pope is "Christ Victor" (representative) on earth and can do no wrong according to Catholic dogma. You confess your sins to a Priest and through him you receive forgivness from God for your sins. This was the reason for the Crusades. Protestants (by reading the bible which the Pope did not allow Catholics to do at the time) found that Christ alone forgave them their sins. I wrote quickly and did not explain myself well so your correction is right. During those early centurys of Romanism you "paid" for your sins with cold hard cash and could even pay for sins in advance. Of course all that has changed today. I do not hate the Catholics, homosexuals, muslims or any other group, race or religion. The Catholic faith is well documented and I am sure there will be just as many Catholics in heaven as any other religion.
healyartroom,
You say that I am part of the problem without knowing me at all. I do not force my beliefs any anyone. I am here for this discussion and do not offer judgement on anyone. If you do not believe in God then I am not surprised that you do not believe in the devil. That is his greatest tool to make people believe he does not exist. Why fear or be wary of something thats not there right? I think if you knew me personally you would like me. Its easy to see that organized religion has soured you on all believers and I am sorry that has happened to you. I am not a religious person I am simply a person who knows Christ and I have my own relationship with him. I do not call people names or label them if they do not believe as I do. I do not try to convert anyone. I try to live by example and home it has a positve effect on those I come in contact with.
Semper Fi at 12:13PM on Sep 17th 2008
56. Hi Zatheus. Glad to see you here today.
Botts at 12:23PM on Sep 17th 2008
57. Hey to you too Botts. =) Hope you're doing great! I always enjoy reading what you have to say, even if we have different core 'beliefs'. Keep up the good work man!
Zatheus at 12:32PM on Sep 17th 2008
58. Semper Fi; Jane would have been a good inquisitor if she was born 700 years ago and as a man. Just FYI.
Ryan Anderson at 12:34PM on Sep 17th 2008
59. ATHEIST
The dimwits seem to be out in force today.
Reply to: 54. I am not a religious person I am simply a person who knows Christ and I have my own relationship with him. I do not call people names or label them if they do not believe as I do. I do not try to convert anyone
______________
You spread STUPIDITY.
There is NO CHRIST.
Today, we have Sarah Palin, an example of Dumbing Down. She wants to make it a criminal act to abort a 4 month old fetus with Down Syndrome, so the family can raise a normal child.
You don't realize how stupid you are.
I'm trying to educate you.
________________
Reply to: "On a different note, most of the responses to Dinesh's article actually confirm his point that atheists (or new atheists anyway) are generally intolerant of religious individuals - hence, they don't practice the tolerance they preach. As a Christian, I respect, even tolerate, an atheist's right to disagree with Dinesh. But the hostility with which they do so is very revealing."
____________
Good point.
I'm an Atheist, and I am NOT tolerant of Christians.
I think it's a con game, and they WANT you to be tolerant. Which spreads the stupidity.
All Americans need to stand up and say, "We do NOT tolerate Christianity. We do not allow STUPIDITY to spread."
We've seen the result. Sarah Palin is the result.
Every one of these dimwit Christians say, "Why are you Atheists so mean?" figure it out. I mean, seriously, I explain it. over and over and over, because you just don't GET it.
Show me that you're not pathetically stupid.
We do NOT tolerate Christianity. Know why? The world did NOT end in 120 AD with the son of man appearing in the clouds.
William Hays at 12:36PM on Sep 17th 2008
60. "An uncritical separation of church and state must give way to a shared domain in which all citizens have the right to express their heartfelt convictions."
This line of DD's has bugged me all morning. The separation of church and state is what this country was founded on, and the only thing that guarentees everyone the right to express their convictions. The constitution and bill of rights should only be EXPANDED upon, never used to reduce rights. By separating, we have that Dinesh!! Christians can express their Christianity in any way they choose. You want your children to pray? Pray with them in the morning on the way to school and as soon as they get home. Take them to church. Study your bible at night with them. But do not try to make laws that insist that all children pray the same prayer in a public school. They have about 6 hours to learn math, English, Science, Geography, biology, Chemistry, etc. Teach your religion in your home. You are pro-life? You have the right to never have an abortion or use birth control. Our gov't. will not insist you only have 1 child like China does, and you must abort the rest. Likewise, you cannot tell others that they have to give birth once they become pregnant. As a Christian it is within your right to think stem cell research is wrong, and if a cure for YOUR child's ailment becomes available through it, you can decline treatment. But those of us who don't believe as you do have the right to the scientific discoveries that come from it. You have the right to continue to keep your vegetative state spouse alive through artificial means, but my spouse wants his plug pulled. I'm pulling it. (I've always thought this was a bogus thing..."playing God" if you pull the plug. Seems to me that a faithful person would believe God has already chosen that person to come home, and by keeping them breathing you are playing God.) And I want the right to die. If I decide I've had enough, I don't care if religion thinks it's a sin. I don't. My life, my choice to live or not live depending on my circumstances. You think gay marriage is a sin? So don't marry your same sex. It's so easy, Dinesh......Christians and religion already have it all. They don't need more voice. Our constitution (so far) gives them the right to do and say whatever they want. It seems you want more in the public square only to deny others. You hear of the born again pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control. You never hear of an atheist pharmacist trying to push birth control pills. The Christians want to pull books off shelves. The atheists never try to remove the religious books from the public library.
Jude at 12:40PM on Sep 17th 2008