Uwe Siemon-Netto
There seems to be a growing consensus around the globe that godlessness is in trouble. "Atheism as a theoretical position is in decline worldwide," Munich theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg told United Press International Tuesday.
His Oxford colleague Alister McGrath agrees. Atheism's "future seems increasingly to lie in the private beliefs of individuals rather than in the great public domain it once regarded as its habitat," he wrote in the U.S. magazine, Christianity Today.
Two developments are plaguing atheism these days. One is that it appears to be losing its scientific underpinnings. The other is the historical experience of hundreds of millions of people worldwide that atheists are in no position to claim the moral high ground.
Writes Turkish philosopher Harun Yahya, "Atheism, which people have tried to for hundreds of years as 'the ways of reason and science,' is proving to be mere irrationality and ignorance."
As British philosopher Anthony Flew, once as hard-nosed a humanist as any, mused when turning his back on his former belief: It is, for example, impossible for evolution to account for the fact than one single cell can carry more data than all the volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica put together.
Flew still does not accept the God of the Bible. But he has embraced the intelligent design concept of scholars such as William Dembski who only four years ago claimed to have been mobbed by pro-evolutionist colleagues at -- of all places -- Baylor University, a highly respected Southern Baptist institution in Waco, Tex.
The stunning desertion of a former intellectual ambassador of secular humanism to the belief in some form of intelligence behind the design of the universe makes Yahya's prediction sound probable: "The time is fast approaching when many people who are living in ignorance with no knowledge of their Creator will be graced by faith in the impending post-atheist world."
A few years ago, European scientists sniggered when studies in the United States -- for example, at Harvard and Duke universities -- showed a correlation between faith, prayer and recovery from illness. Now 1,200 studies at research centers around the world have come to similar conclusions, according to "Psychologie Heute," a German journal, citing, for example, the marked improvement of multiple sclerosis patients in Germany's Ruhr District do to "spiritual resources."
Atheism's other Achilles heel are the acts on inhumanity and lunacy committed in its name. As McGrath relates in Christianity Today: "With time (atheism) turned out to have just as many frauds, psychopaths, and careerists as religion does. ... With Stalin and Madalyn Murray O'Hair, atheism seems to have ended up mimicking the vices of the Spanish Inquisition and the worst televangelists, respectively."
John Updike's observation, "Among the repulsions of atheism for me has been is drastic uninterestingness as an intellectual position," appears to become common currency throughout much of the West.
The Rev. Paul M. Zulehner, dean of Vienna University's divinity school and one of the world's most distinguished sociologists of religion, told UPI Tuesday: "True atheists in Europe have become an infinitesimally small group. There are not enough of them to be used for sociological research."
The only exceptions to this rule, Zulehner said, are the former East Germany and the Czech Republic, where, as the saying goes, de-Christianization has been the only proven success of these regions' former communist rulers.
Zulehner cautions, however, that in the rest of Europe re-Christianization is by no means occurring. "What we are observing instead is a re-paganization," he went on, and this worries Christian theologians such as Munich's Pannenberg and the Rev. Gerald McDermott, an Episcopal priest and professor of religion and philosophy at Roanoke College in Salem, Va.
For although in every major European city except Paris spirituality is booming, according to Zulehner, this only proves the emergence of a diffuse belief system, Pannenberg said, but not the revitalization of traditional Christian religious faith.
Observing a similar phenomenon in the United States, McDermott stated that the "rise of all sorts of paganism is creating a false spirituality that proves to be a more dangerous rival to the Christian faith than atheism."
After all, a Satanist is also "spiritual."
Pannenberg, a Lutheran, praised the Roman Catholic Church for handling this peril more wisely than many of his fellow Protestants. "The Catholics stick to the central message of Christianity without making any concessions in the ethical realm," he said, referring to issues such as same-sex "marriages" and abortion.
In a similar vain, Zulehner, a Catholic, sees Christianity's greatest opportunity when its message addresses two seemingly irreconcilable quests of contemporary humanity - the quest for freedom and truth.
"Christianity alone affirms that truth and God's dependability are inseparable properties to which freedom is linked."
As for the "peril of spirituality," Zulehner sounded quite sanguine. He concluded from his research that in the long run the survival of worldviews should be expected to follow this lineup:
"The great world religions are best placed," he said. As a distant second he sees the diffuse forms of spirituality. Atheism, he insisted, will come in at the tail end.
Другие работы по теме:
Rhinoceros Endangerment Essay Research Paper Rhinoceros Endangerment
Rhinoceros Endangerment Essay, Research Paper Rhinoceros Endangerment There are five types of rhinoceros on Earth. They are the Indian, Sumatran, Javan, Black, and White rhinos. All five species of rhinos are very close to extinction. The rhino population made a rapid decrease in the 1970?s when half of the world?s rhinos disappeared.
Contemporary Atheism Essay Research Paper Contemporary atheism
Contemporary Atheism Essay, Research Paper Contemporary atheism is a positive and new humanism trying to re-found and re-construct the entire human universe of thought and values. It shows the possible abuses of religion and points out all concepts of God are only imperfect means to see him. What they say about God couldn’t possibly be.
Cheers A Semiotic Analysis By Berger Essay
, Research Paper Cheers : A Semiotic Analysis by Berger In Arthur Asa Berger s essay, he conducts a semiotic analysis of the comedy television show Cheers. In his analysis of the show he points out many characteristics that refer to semiotics. Even though one could not agree with all of his findings, many of them are reasonable.
Waterford Crystal A Case Analysis Essay Research
111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
Analysis William Cullen Bryan Essay Research Paper
William Cullen Bryant’s “To a Waterfowl” Analysis: By the title of this poem one can only come to the conclusion that the poem is about nature. Bryant loved nature as a young boy. The beginning of this particular poem starts
Kive Essay Research Paper
# a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Grapes of Wrath, The – Book Summary and Analysis Grapes of Wrath, The – Book Analysis Grapes of Wrath, The – Joads’ Journey Great Expectations – Powerful Themes in the Novel
Long Term Analysis Essay Research Paper Analysis
Long Term Analysis Essay, Research Paper Analysis by a Long Term Creditor The interest a long term creditor is currently receiving is 5.6%. A long term creditor could receive as much as 22.7% working somewhere else in the same industry. So, currently the industrial average is giving 17.1% more interest than workingat Cameco Corporation, which is quite a big difference.
Gentic Engineering Essay Research Paper 1 httpwwwdenisonedugriffirppaperhtm
Gentic Engineering Essay, Research Paper 1 denison.edu/~griffi_rp/paper.htm Genetic diversity is precious and should not be touched, even with the overwhelming temptation to do so. The gathering of genetic knowledge does not guarantee wisdom in deciding about human diversity. (Suzuki, Genethics, 345-346) A generalization must, then, occur.
The Cask Of Amontillado Lit Analysis Essay
, Research Paper Clint Kale 11/22/97 Literary Analysis Literary Analysis: The Cask of Amontillado In Edgar Allan Poe’s short story, “The Cask of Amontillado,” a character named
Antony Analysis Essay Research Paper Antony Analysis
Antony Analysis Essay, Research Paper Antony Analysis Short Essay The beauty of William Shakespeare s writing does not lie in his actual writing, but the themes in which his plays suggest. Almost all of his plays can be connected to a higher theme, one that most people can relate. In the play, Antony and Cleopatra, the theme of manipulation runs ramped.
The Decline And Fall Of The Roman
Empire Essay, Research Paper The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire The Pax Romania was a great time for Rome, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The decline of Rome, however, was more than simply a good thing to be ended. It had problems that only surfaced every few decades, until the fall, when all the problems were shoved in Rome s face at the same time.
The Vandals And The Decline Of Mediterranean
Navigation Essay, Research Paper 439 Gaiseric an Vandals conquer Carthage with a fleet they had been using for destructive raids on Sicily. Romans try to make agreements with Gaiseric, he broke, and 3
The Old Man And The Sea An
Analysis Essay, Research Paper The Old Man and The Sea: An Analysis I read this book for the first time in high school and I remembered it just as well as if I had read it yesterday. As I read it again I remembered some of the
Laws Courts And Policies Essay Research Paper
Sep. 16 1999 Law, Courts, Politics Data/ Analysis The American President’s and Their Judges The appointing of judges to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals is the responsibility of the United States President. This responsibility does not go without its benefits. Because the law can at times be “flexible” when deciding a case, a president is most likely going to choose a judge with the same background and goals as he.
Fall Of Rome Essay Research Paper What
Fall Of Rome Essay, Research Paper What were the most important reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire? Why? The seemingly unstoppable Roman Empire was bound to fall after the many aspects that made Rome such a dominant empire started to fade away. Rome was the center of the world and the thought that such a worldwide power could decline was unheard of.
The Ones Who Walk Away From Om
Essay, Research Paper ” Ode to the West Wind” was written by Percy Bysshe Shelley shortly before his death in 1822. Shelley spent the majority of his life in England where he was born to an upper class family. He attended Eton for his primary education and Oxford University until he was expelled for the publication of The Necessity of Atheism.
Othello Act 5 Analysis Essay Research Paper 2
Othello: Act 5 Analysis Essay, Research Paper Othello: Act 5 Analysis Iago’s intelligence causes the self destruction of Othello. He appears to be the most intelligent person in the play, Othello, by the way he acts and
Issues Of Uncle Tom Essay Research Paper
Analysis of Uncle Tom’s Cabin The book, Uncle Tom’s cabin, takes the reader through two very different insights of slavery: the conquest of freedom and the decline of Uncle Tom. Stowe places the reader in the story by including every aspect that a slave would live through. She expresses religion and mortality from both the south and the north.
Us Economy Essay Research Paper US Economy
Us Economy Essay, Research Paper U.S. Economy Shrinks During the third quarter, a falling GDP has the economists worried that the U. S. economy is heading towards a recession. The GDP (Gross National Product) fell at a rate
An Analysis Of The Video
“Like A Prayer” By Madonna Essay, Research Paper An Analysis of the Video "Like A Prayer" by Madonna Madonna first arrived in the national popular culture in 1984 with
Scarlet Letter 2
Scarlet Letter – Dimmesdale Analysis Essay, Research Paper The Scarlet Letter – Dimmesdale Analysis Character Analysis : Dimmesdale Dimmesdale is one of the most intriguing characters in The Scarlet Letter. I think this because he demonstrates in this story that he is a coward, and that he is strong, yet not courageous.
Hitler Essay Research Paper ADOLF HITLER
Hitler Essay, Research Paper ADOLF HITLER’S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND FANATICISM People often claim that Adolf Hitler believed in Atheism, Humanism, or that his religion involved ancient Nordic pagan mythology . None of this is true though. Although one of Hitler’s henchmen, Alfred Rosenberg , did undertake a campaign of Nordic mythological propaganda, Hitler and most of his men did not believe in it .Many American books, television documentaries, and Sunday sermons that preach of Hitler’s “evil” have eliminated Hitler’s god for their Christian audiences.
Soil Analysis Report Essay Research Paper Soil
Soil Analysis Report Essay, Research Paper Soil Analysis Within the next few paragraphs, I will tell you all about the soil sample I collected and did tests on. I got some soil from out of one of my mom’s gardens. This one had a lot of flowers from Florida. This is a summary of what all I did to work on finding everything about my soil.
Great Gatsby Essay Research Paper
F. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby is an excellent portrayal of the frenzied post-war society known as the Jazz Age. During a time of social and political corruption, society was living in excess, and modern values where sharply in decline. It was a time of severe disillusionment, and through the characterizations in the novel, the image of a devalued society can clearly be seen, especially through the lusts and desires of Gatsby himself.
Untitled Essay Research Paper
Shortly before Christopher Marlowe’s untimely death during a bar brawl, he was arrested and charged with atheism, a high crime at the time. Much of the basis for this claim may have stemmed from his controversial play, “Doctor Faustus,” which deals heavily with necromancy and the devil. Using only this play as a basis to decide his guilt or innocence under the charge of atheism, I have found him innocent, with the understanding that if I was a judge presiding over the proceedings of a mock Marlowe trial, I might well have found him guilty.
Globalization And Komatsu Essay Research Paper Globalization
Globalization And Komatsu Essay, Research Paper Globalization and Komatsu The advent of computers and information technology over the past 5 years has made it seemingly more accessible for companies to take their vision and products worldwide. In the 21st century, it has become vitally important for these companies wishing to achieve globalization, to harness the capabilities of the Internet to establish or increase their position within the Global Economy.
Motorola Financial Analysis Essay Research Paper Nicholas
Motorola Financial Analysis Essay, Research Paper Nicholas Alexander Bostic Period 5 11/24/97 Motorola The phone rings. Your pager vibrates off the bed stand. Your PowerPC boots up for the day. Your boss calls you on your cell phone claiming that you?re late. The supercomputers that operate the streetlights in your neighborhood continue to keep your streets safe.
Dodge Neon Essay Research Paper Since its
Dodge Neon Essay, Research Paper Since its introduction to the consumer market in January of 1994, more than 1.5 million Dodge Neon sub-compact cars have been sold worldwide. The Neon competes with such cars as the Chevrolet Prizm, Ford Escort, Honda Civic, Mazda Prot?g?, and Nissan Sentra for attention from a certain market segment.
Financial Analysis Of Cisco Essay Research Paper
CISCO Introduction Cisco Systems, Inc is one of the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Their hardware and software solutions are used for linking computers and computer networks so people have easy access to informatin. Cisco has a strong financial status, it is showing stead growth and Products Cisco Systems produces the industry s broadest range of hardware for building networks and for allowing others to access those networks.
Computer technology
Development of computer technologies. Machines, which are able to be learned from experience and not forget that they studied, and able to work unassisted or control of man. Internet as global collection of different types of computer networks.