Christopher Hitchens is a renowned author, journalist and atheist apologist. He is currently featured in the documentary
Collision, a record of a series of cross-country debates with Pastor Douglas Wilson, senior fellow at New St. Andrews College. Just as all evangelicals are not nosy hypocrites, not all atheists are grouchy critics. In an article in
Slate, it will be surprising to some what Hitchens finds praiseworthy of his debate partner:
"Wilson isn't one of those evasive Christians who mumble apologetically about how some of the Bible stories are really just 'metaphors.' He is willing to maintain very staunchly that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that his sacrifice redeems our state of sin, which in turn is the outcome of our rebellion against God. He doesn't waffle when asked why God allows so much evil and suffering—of course he 'allows' it since it is the inescapable state of rebellious sinners. I much prefer this sincerity to the vague and Python-esque witterings of the interfaith and ecumenical groups who barely respect their own traditions and who look upon faith as just another word for community organizing."
This quote is quite a contrast to the Campolo/McClaren quote a few days ago. Those guys are the poster boys of, "...who barely respect their own traditions and who look upon faith as just another word for community organizing."
ReplyDeleteI saw this quote as a complement rather than a contrast. You're right--you have to mine carefully the thoughts of McLaren and Campolo, but I think TC got it right--it's like Curly's "One Thing" in City Slickers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Dave. I seldom get any!