Dawkins vs. the Pope – Atheism barely treading water

A lot has been said about Richard Dawkins’ and Christopher Hitchens’ interest in arresting the Pope and having him charged. What’s most interesting about this, in my view, is D&H’s implicit endorsement of Christianity. It’s become a well established statement of principle that atheists have no philosophical way to account for their moral positions. There can be no absolute moral declarations from a relativistic faith. Their moral outrage at the Pope implies a standard against which he can be judged. But atheism has no rational basis for such a standard, least of all a standard that sounds Christian with concern for vulnerable children. D&H have to climb up into the lap of God in order to slap Him in the face. (No, I don’t mean the Pope when I say God.) That’s the essence of D&H’s hillarious and irrational atheistic worldview – they have to use the moral and epistemological tools that God has given us in order to launch their battle against Christianity.  Read more... (231 words, estimated 55 secs reading time)