Christianity – A Final Word?
The pamphlet that gave rise to the previous nineteen postings is 20 Reasons to Abandon Christianity by
Chaz Bufe. (Available at http://www.seesharppress.com/20reasons.htm). This
will be the last posting tied directly to the pamphlet, though the subjects of
the previous postings will be revisited from time to time.
The pamphlet concludes with the following observation.
“A
Final Word: These are but some of the major problems attending
Christianity, and they provide overwhelming reasons for its abandon-ment (sic).
(Even if you discount half, two-thirds, or even three-quarters of these
arguments, the conclusion is still irresistible.)”
Three points to be made
regarding this statement.
1.
“A Final Word” suggests that there was or is
coming the final authoritative statement regarding some matter or another. That seems a bit arrogant especially when it
comes to arguments that are weak on data and philosophically illogical.
2.
Taking the “Final Word” statement and testing
the hypothesis thereof by considering it in the reverse one arrives at the
thought in the form of a question,
Even if one cannot discount half, one-third,
or even one-quarter of the arguments proffered, does that not leave the
possibility that Christianity is indeed valid?
3.
The irony is in the statement of irresistibility. Except for the extreme determinist, there is
absolutely nothing outside of the material world (and even some things inside the
material world) that is totally irresistible.
So it is that
all that is found here leads one to make a choice. The choice is this. After examining all of the evidence that Mr.
Bufe presents and that which I’ve argue in response, which is more likely to be
true? Again, what is the truth of the
matter when it comes to the treatment of these subjects?
Anecdotal
Arguments
The best that Mr. Bufe and others
can offer is anecdotal evidence for the criticisms that they have of
Christianity. Such evidence is often
chosen without consideration of the larger body of truth/reality as evidence by history and/or data. 
One can point to the Crusades
and the Inquisition and make the claim that more people have died because of
religion than for any other reason.
Conveniently ignored since the data does not fit the paradigm are the
millions killed by secularists (Mao, Stalin, etc.)
There are many examples of the “good”
brought about by people of faith. These
too are conveniently ignored. Most
certainly included would be the Christian Church’s place in the establishment
of healthcare, in the founding of educational institutions, and in the
launching of humanitarian organizations.
These are but three of the many.
Erroneous
Assumptions
When the discussion includes
science, the erroneous assumption is that it was the dawn of the Renaissance
and secularism that exponentially increase scientific discovery. Again the data does not support the point. In reality it was the Protestant Reformation
and the Roman Catholic Counter Reformation that set the environment for scientific
discovery.
It would appear that one's biases formed the underlying assumptions. Would it not be more profitable to seek out genuine truth/reality by doing serious inquiry into history, the history of science, and Church history. Well, perhaps the truth is not as important as the argument.
Disregarded
Data
When the discussion is broaden
out to include other religions Mr. Bufe and his kind find themselves seriously
disadvantage in that 83% of the world’s population believes that there exists something
beyond the material world. Often this
claim is discounted again with wild speculation as opposed to hard data.
What
about Speculative Assumptions?
The point is that some things
have to be believed in order to be seen.
The reverse is also true! Some
things have to be doubted in order not to be seen. The argument that God is illogical is only
logical to the one who steeps his mind in such skepticism and doubt.
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