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Apologia Report 16:8 (1,058)
March 3, 2011
Subject: Atheism's "paradigm-induced blindness"
In this issue:
ATHEISM - "paradigm-induced blindness" that leads to a damaged "sense for God's existence"
CHRISTOLOGY - once again the "quest for the historical Jesus" is history
INTERNATIONAL CULTIC STUDIES ASSOCIATION - new energy and new publications
SCIENTOLOGY - a stinging review of the anthology by James R. Lewis
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ATHEISM
Few books come with a subtitle as powerful as this. Few will likely result in such instant polarization. With great satisfaction, Doug Groothuis reviews The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief, by James S. Spiegel [1]. Groothuis finds that Spiegel affirms the conviction that "atheism is rooted in rebellion" while appreciating the need to construct the case for theism.
Spiegel "argues that the evidence supports theism (the laws of nature, the existence of the universe, and the emergence of life) and that naturalism is self-defeating since it cannot account for human rationality (summarizing Alvin Plantinga's argument)." It's "not a perceived lack of evidence for God's existence" that prompts "the descent into atheism," writes Spiegel. Prior to willfully rejecting God, the atheist's response is "precipitated by immoral indulgences and typically a broken relationship with his or her father." Thus, the atheist's motivation is caused "by non-rational factors, some of which are psychological and some of which are moral in nature."
The resulting state of the atheist is a hardening mind-set brought on by "paradigm-induced blindness" and a damaged "sense for God's existence." Groothuis reports that "After articulating the intellectual and moral errors of atheism, Spiegel concludes with a brief but insightful chapter called 'The Blessings of Theism.' Here he explains that Christian theists can develop intellectual and moral virtues and live honestly before God" thus describing newfound freedom in Christ.
Groothuis closes with an appeal to conscience, asking atheists to consider what rings true deep inside themselves as they ponder the reading of this text. Areopagus Journal, 10:1 2010, pp47-48.
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CHRISTOLOGY
Darrell Bock recommends the "Top 5 Books on the Historical Jesus" in a sidebar on page 66 of the November 2010 issue of Christianity Today. Three of the titles stand out because of Bock's annotations: 1) The Origins of New Testament Christology, by I. Howard Marshall [2] - "Marshal explains the meaning and background of the key titles applied to Jesus (Lord, Savior, Son of Man), as well as the scholarly debate surounding them. 2) The Christology of Jesus, by Ben Witherington [3] - "Witherington takes the titles of Christ in conjunction with Jesus' actions and mission. 3) Jesus and the Victory of God, by N.T. Wright [4] - "Wright places Jesus in his Jewish context, showing how the key themes in his life worked together."
With "The Jesus We'll Never Know," Scot McKnight gives a great explanation of what all the "questing for the historical Jesus" has been about over the last few decades - and why the findings of "scholars" aren't necessarily better than anyone else's opinion. McKnight begins this history in 1980, although we wish he had included the famous 1906 book [5] on the historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer, who took the non-Christian position that Jesus was a failed eschatological prophet.
McKnight gives well-deserved attention to the question of whose opinion about Jesus can we trust. There's no denying that all the debate has been vigorously academic, and McKnight declares that this "scholarship has come to the end of the road." He recommends two scholarly obituaries about historical Jesus studies. And to top it off, CT tacks on the opinion of two scholars (N.T. Wright and Craig Keener) who say we shouldn't abandon studying the historical Jesus all together. Christianity Today, Apr '10, pp22-28.
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INTERNATIONAL CULTIC STUDIES ASSOCIATION
Until recently, we have found that secular cult-watching camps have separated into those that were sociology-based and those that were psychology-based. Changes for the better at the ICSA are blurring this distinction and 2010 appears to have been a very good year for the ICSA. Two new publications have replaced the ICSA's journal, Cultic Studies Review, which ended in 2010, its ninth year.
The new four-color ICSA Today magazine has a focus on "the community of people interested in contributing to ICSA's goal of helping people." Our first look comes from the 42-page edition of volume 1, number 2. With it, the photographic illustrations of many faces are matched to names that we've come to recognize from reading the Cultic Studies Review over the years.
Their second new publication, the International Journal of Cultic Studies, has a more strongly academic focus and uses a full-size 8-1/2 by 11-inch format. Its three co-editors hail from universities in Spain, Canada, and the UK. We were also interested to see sociologists Stephen A. Kent, Ronald Enroth, and Eileen Barker listed as members of the large IJCS editorial board.
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SCIENTOLOGY
Perhaps Terra Manca's review of Scientology, James R. Lewis, ed. [6], will serve as a small indication of what readers can expect to find in the International Journal of Cultic Studies (1:1 - 2010, pp83-88). Manca (Ph.D. candidate, University of Alberta) finds that this volume is "most likely to please persons who take an uncritical view of Scientology."
After her introduction, Manca includes a section called "Background of James R. Lewis," wherein we read that Lewis is the Executive Director of AWARE (Association of World Academics for Religious Education), which "actively worked to help produce positive public images" for controversial groups such as The Family/Children of God, the Church Universal and Triumphant, and Aum Shinri Kyo.
Following this, Manca writes: "The failure of this anthology to address in depth the debates about Scientology in countries such as Belgium and Germany is part of a larger pattern of missed opportunities to discuss vital issues about the organization." Example after example follows.
Those who follow the subject closely find it quite interesting that his book has its own Wikipedia page. <www.j.mp/icpVqx>
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SOURCES: Monographs
1 - The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief, by James S. Spiegel (Moody, 2010, paperback, 144 pages) <www.j.mp/fdJ6Sy>
2 - The Origins of New Testament Christology, by I. Howard Marshall (IVP, 1990, rev ed, paperback: 144 pages) <www.j.mp/iaftYX>
3 - The Christology of Jesus, by Ben Witherington (Augsburg Fortress, 1990, paperback, 324 pages) <www.j.mp/gTOcY6>
4 - Jesus and the Victory of God, by N.T. Wright (Augsburg Fortress, 1997, paperback, 741 pages) <www.j.mp/fB7KS0>
5 - The Quest of the Historical Jesus: A Critical Study of its Progress from Reimarus to Wrede, by Albert Schweitzer,
6 - Scientology, by James R. Lewis (Oxford Univ Prs, 2009, hardcover, 464 pages) <www.j.mp/icFYKo>
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