Monday, May 14, 2007

Dawkins, Hitchens, and Kreeft Oh My!

I just finished god is not Great - How Religion Poisons Everything, by Christopher Hitchens. I am now listening to The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins. I am also reading Yes or No - Straight Answers To Tough Questions About Christianity, by Peter Kreeft. Part of me would really like to say that the first two books caused my doubts, but the fact of the matter is that every book I've ever read defending Christianity has caused my doubts. If God is the beginning of all things, would He not be the MOST real, the MOST tangible? Yet, we are required to have faith that He exists. I don't have to practice the presence of broccoli, there is no doubt that broccoli exists and is good for me, but Brother Lawrence would have me Practice The Presence of God. I've loved that book for many years. I used to read Josh McDowell as well. In years past, I've had such strong faith. There was a time when I liked nothing more than a good theological argument. To, as Paul put it in 2 Corinthians 10:5 "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Those days are long gone. I now know that I argued out of my own arrogance and fear, not out of some sincere desire to bring people to Christ.