Dawkins to Hitchens: If we Win and Destroy Christianity, won’t Islam Replace it?
In the Christmas issue of The New Statesman Richard Dawkins, the guest editor, asks Christopher Hitchens if he’s worried that Islam will replace Christianity if the New Atheists succeed in their goal of destroying Christianity:
‘Do you ever worry that if we win and, so to speak,destroy Christianity,that vacuum would be filled by Islam?’
Protect the Pope hasn’t got a copy of The New Statesman so we can’t post Hitchens’reply.
But here’s a comment from one of Richard Dawkins friends, the Rev. George Pitcher:
‘For all his claims that Christianity has been a brutal force throughout history, I’m sure Prof Dawkins’attitude, revealed here, isn’t reciprocated. I don’t recall Rowan Williams talking about “destroying atheism”.
So it’s good to know, at last, where Prof Dawkins really stands –and, incidentally, it’s not where the gracious,generous-spirited and libertarian Hitchens stands. Hitchens hates totalitarianism. And it’s totalitarians who have tried and failed throughout history to “destroy Christianity”. Dawkins now sees that as a measure of winning. Good luck with that, Richard. And happy Christmas.’
Protect the Pope comment: The hubris of Dawkins is breathtaking, and at the same time, truly pathetic in its delusion. Pathetic in the sense of evoking pity and sadness.
Imagine the uproar there would be if a Catholic bishop said in public that Catholics should seek to destroy atheism. The media would be whipped up to fever pitch with commentators and pundits screaming about intolerance, inequality and the inherent violence of religion.
But let Richard Dawkins talk about destroying Christianity during the holy season of Advent as Christians prepare for the Christmas, and there is silence, the unholy silence of agreement from the BBC and SKY.
By the way what a joke Rev George Pitcher calling Christopher Hitchens ‘gracious’, and ‘generous-spirited’! It seems the canonization of Hitchens is occurring even before he’s dead.
Indeed Christianity, at least many forms visibily are destroying “themselves” in apostasy, as Jesus Himself said when He returns, will He find faith on the earth? (Lk. 18: 7-8) But thankfully God always has His remnant, indeed the core or essence of the Church Catholic will remain! (Matt. 16: 18) Poor, Dawkins and Hitchens, sad atheist fools!
irishanglican ~ Fr. Robert
December 14, 2011 at 19:37
How long are we going to tolerate people who stir other’s into intolerance? Without tolerance, liberty is short-lived.
Daniel
December 14, 2011 at 19:39
But there can be no “tolerance” in the end with outright error! “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose (reprove) them.” (Eph. 5: 11) For myself anyway, both Dawkins and Hitchens fill this bill, sadly! We must reprove and expose their grave error! And of course we ourselves don’t do this, but it is the “Catholic” truth of God!
irishanglican ~ Fr. Robert
December 14, 2011 at 20:57
The kingdom of God is in the hearts of men. If you apply this to the physical world or political world, you are actually following another kingdom. The force of religion is not force at all, but admonishments, arguments, exhortations, and advice. We cannot force, through legislation or otherwise, into the truth. The power of religion consists in the inward and full persuasion of the mind. And it all truth is God’s truth, they must be persuaded of that truth in their minds. Otherwise, we are creating through force a group of people who profess the truth outwardly but profess another truth inwardly. We must tolerate one another in this world. Our true world is the one yet to come.
Daniel
December 14, 2011 at 21:19
In reality, the Kingdom of God has already come (true in our hearts), and it is pressing its way into this world. This is the Victory and Peace of Christ! But it is never without that tension of the ‘aleady but not yet’! And here quite simply is that spiritual warfare that St. Paul talks of…in many places, Rom. 8: 18-33, etc. ; Eph. 6: 10-20.
irishanglican ~ Fr. Robert
December 14, 2011 at 21:34
I am old and have seen it all: academic and media fashions rise and fall and wither and fade, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
Sandra
December 15, 2011 at 11:07
Amen!
Fr Stephen Smuts
December 15, 2011 at 11:37
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Christopher Hitchens has died… | Momfy's Blog
December 16, 2011 at 08:33
Now there’s only Dawkens, at least for right now. Were all on God’s time!
irishanglican ~ Fr. Robert
December 16, 2011 at 20:04
Hi Stephen, do you now know what Hitchens’ reply was to that question on Islam? Has anyone gotten hold of a copy of the News Statesman?
Too bad they don’t have a free online version (or one-issue online purchase)
Jasmine
December 20, 2011 at 07:47