“The Church of the Non-Believers.”  The title would catch anybody’s eye.  A few months ago Janine Lim, our webmaster, sent me an issue of Wiredmagazine carrying this cover story (11-06). Tagline:   “No heaven.  No hell.  Just science.  A band of intellectual brothers is mounting a crusade against belief in God.  Are they winning converts, or merely preaching to the choir?”   My curiosity piqued, I read contributing editor Gary Wolf’s ten pages of interviews with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett—among the most prominent and articulate advocates of the “The New Atheism.”  Along with his analysis of their fledgling movement, Wolf intriguingly weaves into the piece his own faith (or lack thereof) journey and confession.  

Near the end of the article, he writes:  “Where does this leave us, we who have been called upon to join this uncompromising war against faith?  What shall we do, we potential enlistees?  Myself, I’ve decided  to refuse the call.  The irony of the New Atheism—this prophetic attack on prophecy, this extremism in opposition to extremism—is too much for me” (p 193).  

For close to twenty million Americans, however, it is not too much.  At least not yet. 

Into this climate of open questions and multiple-choice answers, we begin a new year series this weekend that unabashedly examines the alternative to the New Atheism.  Richard Dawkins’ newest book, The God Delusion, introduces this six-part exploration.  But a solitary line from the ancient Scriptures will be the foundation for our exploration. 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). 

I invite you to join me in this journey back to the beginning.  For in the dimmed past of our ancestral roots, there may yet be found the forgotten gift of our abandoned heritage.  Please click here and subscribe to this important podcast:  “The Refreshing ‘Delusion’” (1), “The Three Act Play” (2), “The Legacy of ‘the Bastard Science’” (3), “The Invasion” (4), “The Case of Dr. Eck” (5), and “The Very Simple and Highly Visible Test” (6).