Irreligious Hostility and Religious Hospitality

We live in an age of increasing hostility to religion. I do not just mean more “nones” on censuses or declining church attendance; I mean more people who openly declare religion to be backward, unethical, and ultimately negative. I’m thinking of figures like the New Atheists, any number of contemporary science educators, and those in the general public who think Boko Haram represents the norm of religious representation. I’m here to tell them they’re wrong and they should read some philosophically intelligent atheists.

The religion of the New Atheists is a gross caricature of homophobia and pedophilia. First, I would like to remind them of a few things: the Catholic Church operates the largest charity service on the planet. It helps more people every minute than Richard Dawkins has in a lifetime. The Salvation Army kept my grandmother’s family fed at Christmas. On a more local level, I often see commercials for Jewish nursing services and my church in England raises a couple thousand pounds a week for charity. Love is the essence of Christianity, if not all religion.

“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.”

We just don’t like to brag about our accomplishments because that isn’t in the spirit of love, but self-love. Second, even if we could discount all of the good things religion has done, are we going to throw it off because of its perceived homophobia and such? All people do wrong. Religion may provide justification for or motivate wrongdoing. But this is true of any secular ideology as much as religious faith. Communism, fascism, and social Darwinism are secular and yet capable of everything from homophobia to holocaust. So, no the Crusades, while terrible, do not count as a reason to outlaw religion. We’ve all done wrong and we can all be forgiven.

So then, I have advice for both believers and non-believers. For my religious brethren: remember that only love works against hate. But do not act self-righteously. We are called to seemingly impossible love. For my anti-religious brethren: know you are loved and forgiven. We are all imperfect. I also advise you to read some intelligent atheists like Feuerbach, Nietzsche, and Camus. Atheism means nihilism and that isn’t easy, but it’s consistent. Drop the pseudo-ethics and embrace your heritage. Love must guide the way.