EGN NEWS DESK
Premier Christian Radio host Justin Brierley is optimistic a few regular resurgence of perception in God, whereas historian Tom Holland believes the assured atheism spearheaded by the likes of Richard Dawkins within the 2000s has “crumbled and collapsed”.
They had been joined in Westminster Chapel by Paul Woolley and Grace Fielding of The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) for a dialog impressed by Brierley’s guide, The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, revealed final yr.
“The second I revealed the guide cowl on social media, I used to be deluged with sceptics asking ‘what stunning rebirth?’ as a result of the entire information suggests the alternative,” stated Brierley.
“We are all fairly acquainted with the statistic that tells us that we now have elevated in church decline within the West.”
He continued: “I did not have information to say that ‘x’ variety of secular intellectuals are actually speaking positively about Christianity and I definitely did not have any information saying there’s an inflow into the pews. However, I did simply sense that the conversations that had been naturally opening up did appear to replicate a distinction within the environment.”
Brierley, who has hosted conversations between Christians and atheists for over 15 years on his radio present ‘Unbelievable’, says he has seen a change within the considering of atheists.
“More of the atheists approaching the present are saying ‘I’m not a Richard Dawkins form of atheist’ and distancing themselves from this New Atheist motion,” he stated.
Holland echoed these sentiments, saying, “I fully agree with Justin that this sort of assured evangelical atheism has crumbled and collapsed. I believe it has so many contradictions inside it that it hasn’t actually been capable of put down agency roots.”
He continued: “I believe definitely in Britain, and fewer so within the United states, what we now have now’s a state of affairs the place most individuals merely have no idea sufficient about Christianity or the Bible even to be in opposition to it.
“Justin’s guide is concerning the rebirth of the assumption in God. I believe there’s a slight diploma of optimism in considering that there’s a revival, however I do assume that this concept of Christian civilization within the West stays as important because it has ever performed,” he stated.
Brierley shared with a listening viewers that his optimism stems from the “cultural reminiscence of Christianity” nonetheless being “robust sufficient”.
“We are nonetheless seeing it come again. When Queen Elizabeth died as an illustration, there was a nationwide outpouring of grief and spiritual observance,” he stated.
According to Brierley, questions pertaining to religion have modified over time and it’s essential for Christians to acknowledge this. He said that nice efforts had been made within the mid-2000s to answer the deep-rooted “scepticism” of Dawkins and others.
“Christian apologetics was all about creating 5 arguments for the existence of God and 4 arguments for the resurrection. I simply wonder if it’s time to change tack in that sense as a result of I do not assume that’s the place most individuals are beginning now,” he stated.
He continued: “If we strive an excessive amount of to current Christianity as only a ‘comply with this formulation and signal on the dotted line on the backside’, that may work for some folks however for lots of people you’ve got to begin some place else.
“For me it’s about connecting with folks’s heartfelt wishes, longings and feelings. You’ve acquired to begin with the center and go from there.”
The full dialog might be heard on The Whole Life podcast later this month.
