Un-sermon

I was stuck in the Baltimore airport for several hours on Thursday -- the flight was canceled because I was supposed to be on it, is my theory. Anyway, although I had some reading material and even work I could have done, I went and bought The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins because I figured it would be more entertaining.

I don't usually bother to read that sort of thing because the non-existence of God has been obvious to me since I was old enough to think for myself, and indeed, I didn't really encounter any new arguments or ideas. But I continue to find myself befuddled by the difficulty we have in communicating with religious people. Dawkins was not writing for me, but for believers. He and I both know that few of them will read his book. Perhaps it will be helpful to some waverers or questioners, but the very definition of faith is to believe without evidence, or contrary to evidence.

As Dawkins points out, having unshakable faith is a badge of honor to believers, and he quotes several of them as proclaiming proudly that their belief will remain completely unaffected by facts or logic. Martin Luther, for example, condemned reason as the enemy of God. Under the circumstances, there isn't much hope for dialogue. That has been my experience in fact. I have tried many times to draw the faithful into a reason-based discussion of the nature of reality and they just won't participate. I suppose they know it is pointless because they already know that religion is preposterous, but they have chosen to ignore what they know and live a make believe life. So why waste time reviewing the obvious?

Nevertheless, I still feel we need to try. So I will return to my habit of long ago, of philosophical posts here on Sundays. For a time I was using another blog for the purpose but without the partners and interlocutors I once had there, I don't think it's worth maintaining on my own. But if anyone does care to join in these discussions here, from whatever point of view, you are welcome.