It’s very difficult to let go of Dawkins after reading The God Delusion. Perhaps I never will. It is not just that he is such a persuasive writer who is so anti towards Christian ideals but is so anti towards Christian parenting - they are accused of child-abuse for teaching their children Christian ideals. I know there are the not so good Christians - the not so good are in every kind of community. But isn’t our problem in the UK that we no longer have real Christian ideals being taught to the next generation. When I read this article this morning on the Internet by Rebecca Hagelin I couldn’t help wondering what values are there that are superior to true Christian values and principles? Just take these two paragraphs for instance:
“Today’s culture teaches our kids to live for the moment, to fulfill selfish desires and cravings, and says very little about who - not just what - they should become. No one is inspiring and encouraging our children to become adults whose lives are marked by strong moral character, goodness, truth and joy. We need to set the vision clearly before them - and you can’t do that with just a set of rules. If you don’t thoughtfully connect your rules with how they help your children have a beautiful, meaningful life, you have missed the opportunity to raise sons and daughters of purpose.”
“Take the time to inspire your children by sharing your vision of a bright future for their lives. Let them know that you want them to be marked by integrity, fidelity, love and compassion for others. Tell them that you are committed to them, and that you will do everything in your power to help them become a man or woman of grace and strength.”
My apologies to Professor Dawkins but I find Christian ideals more persuasive than atheism. Militant atheism reminds me too much of the loss of freedoms under regimes of Eastern block countries before their collapse in 1989. Having read Dawkins I have every fear that if government adopted his philosophy on life we would not be the free spirits he is so forceful about. As I say, it is difficult to let Dawkins go when I read of good Christian values as expressed by Hagelin. What Hagelin prescribes for family life is endorsed by atheist Matthew Parris in Afica. Well, this ends with Hagelin’s thought for today.
