“God is Missing”

(Nietzsche Had it Right)

An Endearing Story

Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, are excessively mischievous. They are always getting into trouble and their parents know if any mischief occurs in their town, the two boys are probably involved.

The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys.  The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually.

The mother sent the 8 year old in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon. 

The preacher, a huge man with a deep booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Do you know where God is, son?"  The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.

So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, "Where is God?! Again, the boy made no attempt to answer.

The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD?!"

The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.  When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?"

The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, "We are in BIG trouble this time!"  "GOD is missing, and they think WE did it!"

A Serious Truth

The reality of the matter is that God is missing and WE did do it!

The simple truth is this.  Religious ideas have lost their social significance in western culture.  Thus secularization has become the norm but not just any secularization.  It is a rather proactive even aggressive secularization!

Within Western Culture, when the individual chooses to hold some belief or another that is not agreeable to the culture, then something very interesting but very tragic happens.  More and more that culture seeks to stamp its standards upon that individual in an attempt to mold him into the cultural norm of naturalism and thus secularism. 

At one time religion had a seat at the table and a place in public discourse.  Now it is relegated to eating in the kitchen.  At one time ethical truth was that which was foundational to one’s life and the functions within the group.  It served stabilized however with secularization such is no longer so.  Even the likes of Friedrich Nietzsche, though he sought to decimate Christian belief and compromise ethical thinking recognized that the outcomes of such thinking would be dire.

 “The greatest recent event – that ‘God is dead,’ that the belief in the Christian God has become unbelievable – is already beginning to cast its first shadows. . . . But in the main one may say: The event itself is far too great, too distant, too remote from the multitude’s capacity for comprehension. . . . Much less may one suppose that many people know as yet what this event really means – and how much must collapse now that this faith has been undermined because it was built upon this faith, propped up by it, grown into it; for example, the whole of our . . . morality. . . .”

Nietzsche, in Gay Science at http://philossophy.wordpress.com/

category/philosophy/nietzsche/

Friedrich Nietzsche was right, and even during his lifetime he could see that without there being the influence of the Christian God, the shadows of moral degradation and missing civility were beginning to be cast over Western Culture.  It is interesting to note that Nietzsche spent the last of his years insane and silent.  The only time he broke that silence was to quote the Scriptures he had learned as a young boy.

"Christianity - Is it Narrow Minded?"

Christianity’s Narrow Moral View

The suggestion in this case is that Christian morality focuses primarily on matters of sexual behavior.  To read the article referenced below in the background section leaves one with the sense that the writer is once again grasping at straws. 

The notion that “…everything not prohibited is permitted…” is a construct that has no general historical foundation.  Well that is unless a person picks and chooses historical events that may not even represent true Christianity in order to make his case.  Such is the case here.

Morals versus Ethics

In considering the question one must begin with the difference between morals and ethics.  Morals come from the word mores or that which the majority of a culture or sub-culture believes.  On the other hand ethics is more universal and objective.  Christians as well as others believe such to be transcendent.  To read a treatment of the subject see a brief treatment posted at http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2011/08/ethics-vs-morals.html.  At that posting there are references to other postings on the subject.  

Wild Accusations Against Christians

Wild accusations against Christianity often flow without documentation.  While it may be true that certain clergy may have endorsed slave trade, such accusations must be supported with documentation or they quickly become irrelevant.  What is more, it also must be remembered that it was the Christian Church in general and individual Christians such as William Wilberforce who stood against the culture and was instrumental in the abolition of slavery.

Christians Ignoring Evils—Oh Really?

Slavery is but one of the evils that the Christian Church has stood against.  Therefore, to lay the claim that Christians ignore the very real evils plaguing society is something of a conflicting statement.  It conflicts with the truth and it conflicts with logic. 

The Basis for Evil

Just how is it one can make the determination that something is evil? 

Logically, there can be no evil without there being a standard by which to make such a judgment. (See argument in posting at http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2012/10/are-there-universal-concepts.html).  Again, the question arises as to the origin of that standard by which something can be valued as evil.

The common answer is that such standards came as culture evolved such values.  However, what cannot be answered is why there are common values in cultures that are separated and have no relationship.  An example is the preoccupation with life, even in the most egregious kinds of activities (infant sacrifice) such were done based upon the premise that pleasing the god would grant a good harvest and such was necessary for life.

In other words such actions as unconscionable as they were—were based upon the notion of the greater good.  That is another universal concept which incidentally is out of step with the “survival of the fittest” notion of evolutionary theory. 

The Good and Evil Judgment

Why then are such things as “…poverty; homelessness; hunger; militarism; a grossly unfair distribution of wealth and income; ecological despoliation exacerbated by corporate greed; overpopulation; sexism; racism; homophobia; freedom-denying, invasive drug laws; an inadequate educational system…” judged to be wrong?  By what standard does one decide these things are good or evil?  Again, one must consider the origin of that standard?

The Question of Responsibility

Arising now is the question of responsibility.  While the Christian church is to be the voice of reason and ethical restraint, there are some matters that belong to government. 

For example in the foregoing list, “…militarism; ecological despoliation exacerbated by corporate greed; freedom-denying, invasive drug laws; an inadequate educational system…” are all issues that fall into the purview of the government.  How is it that any logical thinking person would postulate otherwise?

You Really Want Intrusion?

The same voices that scream bloody murder when the church supposedly intrudes into one’s person life now are equally verbal in asking why the Christian Church is not involved (see previous post at http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2012/12/christianity-does-it-produce-sexual.html).

One cannot have it both ways.  Either one accepts the involvement of the church or doesn’t accept it.  Such again points to the unfair and illogical thinking on the part of those who cynically disparage the Christian church. 

Secular Champions

It seems then that those with secular agenda want the church to champion their secular causes.    However, again it is illogical for the church when it is mobilized brings with it ethical reality and such reality is not comfortable to the secularist. 

In other words, if you want Christians involved then fine but when such involvement does not fit the secular agenda then be quiet!

Put up or Shut up

Consider then the other social problems listed.  “…poverty; homelessness; hunger; overpopulation; sexism; racism; homophobia….”   Where are the atheistic groups?  Have they opened soup kitchens, rescue missions, etc.?  What hospital have they opened?  Christians have the YMCA, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, AA, and many more helping agencies that have their beginnings because of Christian faith. 

In fact if you look at the Christian church you will find that against the mores of Rome they elevated the status of women, giving the leadership in the fledgling church and stood against racism.  As well, the charge of homophobia is the statement of bias by the writer (see below for source).  The truth is that most churches are well able to accept all kinds of people while not endorsing or even agreeing with their life-style and sexual choices.

So then before an avowed anarchist atheist gets too wild in his claims where is the Young Men’s Atheist Association, the Atheist Army, the Red Anarchist, Alcoholics Atheism Anonymous, etc.?  Oh and one more question.  Would you welcome a conservative Bible believing Christian in your group?  I thought not!

Background

To see the list of subjects to be discussed in this series see my blog (Christianity – Is it a Faith Driven by Fear?).  Contained within that blog is a reference, 20 Reasons to Abandon Christianity and in that reference is a list which is the springboard from which this subject has been discussed.

"Christianity – Does it Prey on the Innocent?"

Background

To see the list of subjects to be discussed in this series see blog (Christianity – Is it a Faith Driven by Fear?) in that blog is a reference and in that reference is a list which is the springboard from which this subject will be discussed.

Another Failed Attempt at Disproving the Veracity of Christianity

This argument against Christianity is founded upon the notion that the education of children by Christians is in fact preying upon young minds through terrorizing and fear-mongering.  It suggests that Christians actually enslave children with fear and thus control and co-opt young minds before they are old enough to defend against being manipulated by fear.

Preying People

Who can argue with the notion that there are people who exhibit various forms of predatory behavior?  Preying on others for some people is a way of life.  Certainly of late the media has focused upon the predatory actions of those who are in positions of trust.  However, just as one cannot paint all clergy as sexual perverts because of the behavior of a few, so too one cannot paint all people of faith as seeking to prey on young minds. 

In fact, to label all because of a few or even many, is libelous, inaccurate, illogical, unfair, and without merit.  Such a position is not even defensible when viewed historically.  It is another failed attempt to discredit Christianity by those of such agendas.  The facts tell a much different story!

Low View of Children

Too, such a position takes a very low view of children.  It suggests that children are divorced from their parents.  Of course while it may be true of some it is certainly not true of the whole.  After all, where do most children run with their fears and concerns?  Of course they run to the sheltering arms of a caring mother.

What is the purpose?

Then comes the question of purpose.  Were one to look in the heart of hearts of those who have served children over the last 2,000 years they would discover a trend or two. 

Found would be compassionate caring.  These are those who heard Christ’s call, "Don't prohibit the children from coming to Me..."  These are those who were and are a reflection of their leader, the Lord, Jesus Christ.  They were and are nurturing and continually seeking the well being of children in their tutelage and care.

Sacrificial Service in Places of Great Peril

There are those who served and serve today, often at great personal sacrifice and peril.  Even now at risk of their own lives, they sacrifice the luxuries and securities of home in order to go to dangerous places in order to rescue children from sex trafficking.  Such rescue involves training and that training is not limited to religious matters.  Such suggestion as prompts this post as much as says these heroes rescue a child from one bondage in order to enslave in another.  Incredible.

The Reality of History

Deaf Education

Those who seek to discredit the veracity of Christianity with their wild accusations of darkening the early years generation after generation do at least one thing.  They demonstrate their own darkened ignorance of history. 

The truth is that Christians have done more to educate the masses than any other movement.  They gave to the world equal education for both sexes, universal education, education for the deaf, education for the blind, and yes, Sunday school.[1]  That all of these are for the purposes of preying on children’s minds is ludicrous.

Painting of Robert Raikes in Sooty Alley

An example is one Robert Raikes (1735-1811) who started what is today the Sunday School movement.  What was it?  Quite simply he gathered the children of the chimney sweeps in Sooty Alley, Gloucester (opposite the city prison)…teaching the Bible and basic skills.[2]  Notice that included in his training was basic skills and as any prudent person knows, training opens the doors to freedom.

The Real Abuser of Children

Hanoi Communist Soldier Kids

Another inaccurate criticism is that the education of children ranks as one of Christianities greatest crimes.  Of course to make such a statement steers the discussion away from the outcomes of being raised with an amoral, secular view of life.  The outcomes for such a person are much more dire than being raised in the reality of decisions and behaviors have consequences! Just because this is taught in the religious realm does nothing to challenge the truth nor invalidate Christianity.

Were you there?

As is typical of this kind of criticism, it is all too easy to take great liberties in making assertions instead of doing research to find out the truth of a particular question.  Such a person is colored by his biases and thus his scholarship is a bit on the sleazy side.

The reality of the truth weighed against one’s speculations will always leave speculations as wanting.  So too this argument against Christianity.

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[1] Schmidt, Alvin  How Christianity Changed the World

[2] http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-raikes.htm

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[1] http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-raikes.htm

To What is Your Ship Anchored?

The ship was a shallow draft, Fetcher class Destroyer (USS Marshall, DD 676).  She was a left over from World War II and the Korean Conflict.  Now she was relegated to the somewhat less than glorious task of training reserve sailors.  That is she had a skeleton crew, which was to be completed by a reserve crew (Rescrew) that could be called up to man her in wartime or in time of national need.

However, most of all she served as a floating school house for dry land reserve sailors on their two weeks of annual training.  She deserved more than that but in the wisdom of the Department of the Navy that was her lot in life and certainly better than more of her peers who had been sold for scrap.

Oh, yes, she was a she, not an it, because she like most ships had personality and much more, that defined her.  You see you could have two ships built from the same plans and both would have different ways about them.  That is why most sailors speak of one ship that they road and to which they relate, as if she was a spouse of sorts.

This cruise had been to take her from Seattle to Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay, California so the Rescrew could attend fire fighting school.  After all at sea, you had better take care of your ship for it was a long swim home.  

On the way back to her homeport, we made a stop for "Liberty" in Vancouver, B.C.  However, as it turned out the channel master could not board us until the next morning so we anchored just outside the harbor to await his arrival.  That is when the following took place.

Sometime earlier the Bridge had called for the "special sea and anchor detail."  So it was that now she is in the hands of those who not only had great skill at the helm but knew best how she answered the helm.

Soon the Bridge called, "All stop" and the constant vibration of the engines slowed to quiet and thus without power  she gradually lost her "way."  There we were "dead in the water" and soon the call came from the Bridge, "Release the anchor."  The anchor chocks had already been removed in anticipation and so at the call of the Bridge, the chain brake released.  It was then the air of the fo'c'sle  was filled with the clatter as the anchor chain which had been stowed under deck in the chain locker, ran out.  

Before long the anchor caught the bottom and once again the chain brake was set.  It was then that the Bridge called for "reverse engines" and slowly if not imperceptibly the anchor was made secure to the bottom.  Most of the slack was then taken out of the anchor chain.  When all was secured, the special sea and anchor detail was secured and since it was late in the afternoon much of "ship's work" was also "knocked off" for the day.

That night as those thing that happen aboard naval ships happen, evening chow, "Sweeper, sweepers, man your brooms, sweep down...," evening call to colors, the movie on the mess decks, lights out, the tides came and the tides went.  The ship rose and fell, as she rode that anchor chain some 360 degrees.  She was secured to her anchor and her anchor held to the bottom. 

This of course brings up a question.  It is a question that one is wise to ask.  To what are you anchored and how secure is your anchorage.  In the ebb and flow of life, various tides and currents seek to drive us in this direction or that. You see we live in the midst of a post-modern, secular, ego-centric culture where truth if it exists at all is seen as relative and ever changing.  Again, to what are you anchored?

Could it be that our skyrocketing suicide numbers, overflowing mental hospitals, counselors with full to overflowing case loads, etc are related to our disconnect and even disdain for God and His values?  Indeed are not our western societies populated by people who are confused, insecure, and easily victimized because they have no secure anchor point. Nothing which will weather the storms and uncertainties of life.

For most of the 10,000 years or so of recent history, western man has been stabilized by a belief in a god of some sort.  To cast off from that notion, as we have in the last 150 years or so since secularism has gained traction, is to leave one adrift and vulnerable as the winds of life blow and the tides of adversity run.

You see that ship avoided drifting into the shallows or the shoals that night and thus suffering damage or loss because her anchor was secure in that which would not move.  It was secure enough except that for a few sailors on deck watch fore and aft and others on watch throughout the ship, little concern was paid to her drifting.  She was as secure as that to which she was anchored.

"Does the God Gene Prove God?"

As If God Needed Someone to Prove His Existence!

There are I suppose two positions one might take when it comes to genuine science.  One can join the weight of history and view science as that which reveals and explains Scripture and faith.  There of course is another option.  It is that one can join the relatively recent (post enlightenment) group and seek to discredit Scripture and faith by using Science.

The discredit crowd will choose their particular issue and claim that the Bible in general and Jesus in particular could have said something about it.  Of course, such would turn the Bible into a science book rather than what it is, the revelation of just who Jesus is and what He has done for mankind.

Then too, it really would prove nothing for the skeptical would find some other lack and make the same claim that the Judeo-Christian Scriptures are invalid because they do not treat ____________ (you fill in the blank)l

That being said the Bible does contain a great deal of indirect reference to matters of nature.  For example Jesus talked about the coming day of the Lord in terms of various activities in the Jewish household.  Since the coming day of the Lord is a point in time event and since being in bed, grinding, and being in the field would point to that which we call time zones or different parts of the day occurring at the same time.

Another is found in the Book of Ecclesiastes where Solomon writes of wind currents and the water cycle (Ecclesiastes 1:6-7).

Then too consider that much early science was accomplished by people of faith.  Now there were differences in doctrine but the following men were committed Christians.

Copernicus, the first astronomer of the scientific revolution

Galileo discovered the laws of dynamics and is known for his achievements in astronomy. 

Kepler, the German astronomer, a contemporary of Galileo

 Newton on the Scriptures

Newton's mathematics influences optics, mechanics, and celestial dynamics*

These are but a few of the men who are joined by women who made a difference not because they devalued Scripture by their science but because they valued both Science and Scripture.  In fact, if you read the article cited below you will find that Newton wrote over a million words in his discussions of Scripture.  

Well, then what happened?  Why the change?

 

"Shifts in Thinking"

Perhaps the greatest influence was as the result of the Great Enlightenment and the coming of rationalism.  The point of agreement between Judeo-Christian (European thinking) and Rationalism is that there at least is genuine reality.  They did not agree on what constituted truth but they at least could agree that there was such a thing as truth.  Such difference was largely based upon the difference between revelation and rationalism (Modernism).

Again, there were different beginning points the outcomes were many times divergent but at leas there was an agreement that there was some kind of genuine reality.  However, a third movement would enter the picture--a movement that begin with yet another starting point.  The movement is Post-Modernism and further distanced itself from Scripture and matters of faith. 

Beginning some 150 years ago, the shift became more pronounced with a further move away from the Divine and toward secularism.  Secular Science came to the fore with the result that it was not even willing to exist along the side of Faith and Scripture.  In many cases it sought to discredit the Judeo-Christian Scriptures. 

Hitchens

 

"Extensions of Science"

As many will know, if you follow mathematics, physics, etc. out far enough they begin to merge into a philosophy as opposed to what we think of as algebra or geometry.  When that happens others enter the discussion, philosophers.  So it is that the likes of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens not only enter the discussion but as their thinking gains traction, they begin to influence what happens back up the process and in the arena of research.

Now the outcome of research is that it is not so much science but philosophy and so instead of provable science you now have speculative or theoretical science with it emphasis on probabilities etc.  Of course the more speculative and probability you add to the discussion the more one's biases and presuppositions can enter into the discussion and such is not without influence in the outcomes.  Empiricism is now lost.

 

"The God Gene"

Now add the "God gene" into the discussion.  Of course such spawns a plethora of discussions and debates.  What secular science cannot answer is the reason it is there for it serves no evolutionary purpose.

For those who accept the notions of there being a Divine designer and Creator, the idea of a God gene is not problematic.  Such being a genetic reality (if it is true) is consistent with something that Christians have been saying for years.  God created man with a need for the Divine.  The Bible tells it this way, "...that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them." (Romans 1:19).  Once again, the Bible is not a science book but peaking through its pages is science.

On the other side of the discussion the secular evolutionist would say that such is simply a mutation, a quirk of the evolutionary process.  Further they would argue that this is a genetic dead end and that one day it too will mutate away and man will become completely free of the need for religion.

 

"Secular Spirituality"

Of course, this presents another problem.  What is one to do to meet the need fostered by the God gene when it is activated?  The answer is a fairly recent division of spirituality and religion.  That is to say that one can have a spiritual dimension in life without the inconvenience of Scripture, doctrine, creed, and denomination, etc.   

At a recent lecture on the subject, it was presented that things that speak to the deepest parts of man, speak to this spiritual dimension.  Such things as poetry, music, other of the arts, and a whole host of physical experiences will plunge the individual to a revelation, a consciousness of this arena of the individual.  Even Richard Dawkins give some credence to the notion of spirituality calling it "sexed up atheism." 

+ + + + + +

In closing, it seems to me that this notion of there being a spiritual dimension to man even though conflicted still in all takes us back to the beginning point of this post.  It seems to me that it takes us back to the Judeo-Christian notion of revealed reality.  However, since God is not involved this time it is getting in contact with the inner self.

That being said, would it not be easier just to give in to the God that is, rather than seeking the god that is within.  Remember the God that is, is infinite while the god within is finite and temporary.finite and as fragile as our mental capacity to understand and choose our way.


An interesting treatment of the "God gene" may be found at http://www.bethelcollege.edu/users/berkebj/Marian/God%20in%20Our%20Genes%20TEXT%20ONLY.pdf 

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* see article at http://www.christianity.co.nz/science4.htm