Difference between revisions of "Atheology"
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The Christian philosopher and [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Alvin Plantinga]] wrote concerning atheology: | The Christian philosopher and [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[Alvin Plantinga]] wrote concerning atheology: | ||
| − | {{Cquote|[S]ome theologians and theistic philosophers have tried to give successful arguments or proofs for the existence of God. This enterprise is called natural theology… Other philosophers, of course, have presented arguments for the falsehood of theistic beliefs; these philosophers conclude that belief in God is demonstrably irrational or unreasonable. We might call this enterprise natural atheology.<ref>[https://strangenotions.com/does-atheology-exist/ Does “Atheology” Exist?] by Dr. Edward Feser</ref>}} | + | {{Cquote|[S]ome theologians and theistic philosophers have tried to give successful arguments or proofs for the existence of God. This enterprise is called natural theology… Other philosophers, of course, have presented arguments for the falsehood of theistic beliefs; these philosophers conclude that belief in God is demonstrably irrational or unreasonable. We might call this enterprise natural atheology.<ref>[https://strangenotions.com/does-atheology-exist/ Does “Atheology” Exist?] by Dr. Edward Feser</ref>}} |
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| + | Daniel Lowe, a student at Fuller Theological Seminary, wrote about theology and atheology: | ||
| + | {{Cquote|Theology and atheology are systematic ways of thinking and talking about god-concepts, religious symbols, religious beliefs, religious traditions, and how they relate to human society. Whereas theology begins by taking basic religious beliefs for granted, atheology begins by questioning them and challenging their validity. Theologians believe that the basic truths of religion can be known; atheologians believe that the claims of religion are questionable at best and may be proven false.<ref>[https://www.quora.com/What-is-Atheology What is Atheology?],Daniel Lowe, a student at Fuller Theological Seminary</ref>}} | ||
In 1990, the atheist philosopher [[Michael Martin]] indicated there was a general [[Atheism and apathy|absence of an atheistic response]] to contemporary work in the [[philosophy]] of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to [[theism|theistic]] arguments (See: [[Atheist apologetics]]).<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> Yet, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with [[Greg Bahnsen]] (see: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] and [[Press release after Michael Martin pulled out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|Bahnson-Martin debate press release]]). | In 1990, the atheist philosopher [[Michael Martin]] indicated there was a general [[Atheism and apathy|absence of an atheistic response]] to contemporary work in the [[philosophy]] of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to [[theism|theistic]] arguments (See: [[Atheist apologetics]]).<ref>''Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith'' by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201</ref> Yet, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with [[Greg Bahnsen]] (see: [[Greg Bahnsen and debate]] and [[Press release after Michael Martin pulled out of Martin-Bahnsen debate|Bahnson-Martin debate press release]]). | ||
Revision as of 19:48, February 7, 2019
Atheology is a resistance or aversion to theology.[1] The atheist Georges Bataille coined the term and concept atheology to describe the “science of the death or destruction of God.”[2] See also: Atheism and science
The Christian philosopher and Christian apologist Alvin Plantinga wrote concerning atheology:
| “ | [S]ome theologians and theistic philosophers have tried to give successful arguments or proofs for the existence of God. This enterprise is called natural theology… Other philosophers, of course, have presented arguments for the falsehood of theistic beliefs; these philosophers conclude that belief in God is demonstrably irrational or unreasonable. We might call this enterprise natural atheology.[3] | ” |
Daniel Lowe, a student at Fuller Theological Seminary, wrote about theology and atheology:
| “ | Theology and atheology are systematic ways of thinking and talking about god-concepts, religious symbols, religious beliefs, religious traditions, and how they relate to human society. Whereas theology begins by taking basic religious beliefs for granted, atheology begins by questioning them and challenging their validity. Theologians believe that the basic truths of religion can be known; atheologians believe that the claims of religion are questionable at best and may be proven false.[4] | ” |
In 1990, the atheist philosopher Michael Martin indicated there was a general absence of an atheistic response to contemporary work in the philosophy of religion and in jest he indicated that it was his "cross to bear" to respond to theistic arguments (See: Atheist apologetics).[5] Yet, in 1994, Michael Martin was criticized for his eleventh hour cancellation of his debate with Greg Bahnsen (see: Greg Bahnsen and debate and Bahnson-Martin debate press release).
In recent times, atheists have fared poorly in debates and there have been a number of notable cases of atheists being unwilling to debate (see: Atheism and debate).
In the beginning of the 21st century a militant form of atheology called New Atheism developed in the Western World but that movement quickly began to decline within seven years and then quickly died out (see: Decline of militant atheism in the West and Decline of the atheist movement).
Eric Kaufmann, an agnostic and professor at Birkbeck College, University of London, whose academic research specialty is how demographic changes affect religion/irreligion and politics, wrote in 2010:
| “ | Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's demographic deficit means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm.[6] | ” |
On December 23, 2012, Kaufmann wrote concerning 21st century global desecularization:
| “ | I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.
On the other hand, the secular West and East Asia has very low fertility and a rapidly aging population. The demographic disparity between the religious, growing global South and the aging, secular global North will peak around 2050. In the coming decades, the developed world's demand for workers to pay its pensions and work in its service sector will soar alongside the booming supply of young people in the third world. Ergo, we can expect significant immigration to the secular West which will import religious revival on the back of ethnic change. In addition, those with religious beliefs tend to have higher birth rates than the secular population, with fundamentalists having far larger families. The epicentre of these trends will be in immigration gateway cities like New York (a third white), Amsterdam (half Dutch), Los Angeles (28% white), and London, 45% white British. [8] |
” |
Decline of atheology in Western World philosophy departments
See also: Religion and education
In 2001, the atheist and philosopher Quentin Smith declared:
| “ | Naturalists [atheists] passively watched as realist versions of theism … began to sweep through the philosophical community, until today perhaps one-quarter or one-third of philosophy professors are theists, with most being orthodox Christians…. God is not 'dead' in academia; he returned to life in the 1960's and is now alive and well in his last academic stronghold, philosophy departments."[9] | ” |
The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the issue of the existence of God, are theists (72 percent).[10]
In 2004, Professor Alister McGrath, professor of historical theology at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, who is an ex-atheist, declared, "The golden age of atheism is over."[11]
See also: Antitheism and antisocial behavior and Atheism and narcissism
Social science research indicates that antitheists score the highest among atheists when it comes to personality traits such as narcissism, dogmatism, and anger.[12][13] Furthermore, they scored lowest when it comes to agreeableness and positive relations with others.[12]
Sergei Golovin on atheology and the former Soviet Union
See also: Atheism and communism and Atheism and irrationality and Atheism and historical revisionism and Collapse of atheism in the former Soviet Union
According to the University of Cambridge, historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power."[14]
The article After Communism's Collapse: Creation in the Crimea declares concerning atheology and the former Soviet Union:
| “ | Sergei Golovin has a Master's degree in geophysics, and lives in the Crimea region, Ukraine, where he heads a creation ministry, the Christian Center for Science and Apologetics.
Sergei spoke of the vast cultural and philosophical differences between people in the former USSR and the West. 'Three generations of communist "atheology" has trained people not to search for a logical answer,' he said. 'The logical contradictions in communist ideology were carefully explained away as just the "dialectics of history". So even if they see contradictions in parts of evolution theory, many still just accept it.'[15] |
” |
Books on atheology
- Systematic Atheology: Atheism’s Reasoning with Theology (Routledge Studies in the Philosophy of Religion) 1st Edition by John R. Shook, Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (December 6, 2017), ISBN-10: 1138079987
- Erring: A Postmodern A/theology By Mark C. Taylor, Publisher: University of Chicago Press; New edition edition (April 15, 1987), ISBN-10: 0226791424
See also
- Antitheism
- Militant atheism
- Atheism and hatred of God
- Rebuttals to atheist arguments
- Atheism vs. Christianity debates
- Atheism and reason
- Atheism and critical thinking
External links
Notes
- ↑ Atheology, Collins dictionary
- ↑ Atheologies Reading Group, Princeton University website
- ↑ Does “Atheology” Exist? by Dr. Edward Feser
- ↑ What is Atheology?,Daniel Lowe, a student at Fuller Theological Seminary
- ↑ Open Questions: Diverse Thinkers Discuss God, Religion, and Faith by Luís F. Rodrigues, page 201
- ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann
- ↑ Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020
- ↑ 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious, Tuesday, April 30, 2013
- ↑ Theistic critiques of atheism by William Lane Craig
- ↑ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?
- ↑ http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/bpnews.asp?ID=18837
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Science Shows New Atheists to be Mean and Closed-Minded
- ↑ Why Sam Harris is Unlikely to Change his Mind by JONATHAN HAIDT, February 3, 2014 8:36 pm
- ↑ Investigating atheism: Marxism. University of Cambridge (2008). Retrieved on July 17, 2014. “The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.”
- ↑ After Communism's Collapse: Creation in the Crimea, Creation.com