Apologetics & Anthropology

Dave Tetrick, a former student of mine who is with the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, told me he values his Westmont education now because of how it has enabled him to learn how to understand those he has been called to serve. He said his philosophy course on “The New Atheists” provided an opportunity to understand and appreciate those with whom he doesn’t agree. When I discuss the New Atheists with students, my emphasis is on an apologetical defense of belief in God. What Dave told me convinces me that an “anthropological” understanding of unbelievers would also be valuable.

Science as Religion

The “New Atheists” (Harris, Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens, and others) think religious believers are irrational and religion is dangerous. They contend we would be better off without it. What do they recommend instead? Harris proposes a science-based spirituality of meditation, Dawkins extols empowerment from scientific knowledge of the natural world, Dennett affirms a sense of humble selflessness caused by awareness of the universe’s complexity, and Hitchens values unrestricted scientific inquiry leading to human enlightenment and liberation. Clearly, each of them desires an experience of transcendence through science. It appears that rather than replacing religion with science they are making science religion.