The Dawkinator

Posted by Christian St John in Faithblogs | 0 comments

I read an article (read article here) this morning which revealed that atheist campaigner, Richard Dawkins, is calling for the Pope to be arrested during his UK state visit for crimes against humanity. He said that the Pope should be arrested because of his recent alleged cover up of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. On the issue Dawkins said, “This is a man whose first instinct when his priests are caught with their pants down is to cover up the scandal and damn the young victims to silence.”

I agree, something has got to be done. For too long the sins of the “fathers” have been covered up and it’s about time that someone stood up to the powers that be; is Dawkins this someone? It’s ironic that Dawkins is taking on the Catholic Church, because if he does he really is David standing before Goliath – the only difference being it would probably make it easier if he went into battle with God on his side, as David did.

Thinking further on this, and to somewhat play devil’s advocate, I do wonder why Dawkins is so bothered by this issue; is it just another attack on his part in a long line of attacks against “Christianity” and God? The question that comes to mind is does Dawkins really believe that what has happened is a crime against humanity? After all doesn’t Dawkins believe that we humans have evolved from animals; isn’t it reasonable to expect that the “animal” side of humans would come to the surface every now and then? Should we be all that shocked when humans act less than human if in fact we are nothing more than glorified beasts in the first place? No one prosecutes monkeys when they fight and kill; no one tries sharks when they attack, kill, and eat other marine life; no one locks up raccoons for B&E or disturbing the peace.

And yet we have this higher standard for humans?

The thing is if we come from animals how did we come up with our law system and how do we conclude what is right or wrong? According to Dawkins there is no higher power, only life and death. With this in mind, the point must be made that if we simply came from animals and there is no higher power then does any one of us have the right to say that what another person does is wrong or bad?

For instance, if I don’t have a rule how will I know how long something is? I can guess, but at the end of the day I’m just guessing. There is no way I, or anyone else for that matter, could measure out 19 meters exactly without some kind of rule or measuring implement. So it is with life. If we have no rule for life then we are just clutching at straws and should we be surprised if we get the “measurements” wrong?

Not to defend anyone, but if Dawkins is right and there is no God then The Ten Commandments are just an idea, the golden rule of “do for others what you would have them do for you” is just the ramblings of some mixed up and misguided middle-Eastern man, and the Bible is nothing more than the greatest fabrication ever. So I would ask Dawkins how he came to the conclusion that what has happened is wrong? If there is no rule for life then are we not free to live how we want without fear of reprisal, because if there is no God then our law system is based on a lie.

However, I do support Dawkins in calling out the corruption in the Catholic Church in that I do believe that there is a higher power and that God has spoken His laws and ways into history and into human existence… and these laws, guides, moral values have been broken. The line has been crossed. I do find it a shame however that Dawkins cannot see that what he is doing is a good thing according to biblical standards, even though he stands opposed to those very same standards. Let us pray that Dawkins and co will see that what they are doing is a righteous thing and that they are standing for something I’m sure Jesus Himself would stood up for.

Now that’s irony!

Christian St John
April, 2010