Militant atheism and McGrath’s defence of Christianity

• What is militant atheism?

  The view that all religion is bad and irrational
• How are militant atheists different to atheists?

  Militant atheists are very hostile to religion and see it as something to fight against; to prove it incorrect. They believe that events such as the virgin birth, miracles and resurrection are not logical. They focus on the literal sense of religious belief, believing it to be equivalent to those who believe in Santa Claus
• Who is Richard Dawkins?

  An atheist fundamentalist and evolutionary biologist. His book the God Delusion criticises religion heavily
• How does Dawkins refer to God?

  As a 'psychotic delinquent
• What is the main criticism of militant atheism?

  They misrepresent mainstream Christianity by only focusing on literalism when many Christians do not hold this belief. They fail to recognise that there has been conflict waged by non religious states and that religion has contributed to intellectual thought and development
• What is the straw man argument?

  An informal fallacy based on misrepresentation. They define religious beliefs in over simplified terms or attribute extreme or minority views to all believers and only criticise that
• How does Dawkins respond to Christian ideas about the origin of the universe?

  God causing the Big Bang is ridiculous and science would prefer to call the start 'singularity'. Anselm's argument of existence as more superior than non existence is 'slippery
• How does McGrath challenge Dawkins in the 'Dawkins Delusion'?

  Shows that Christianity is compatible with science. Scientists can still accept the possibility of God, as Dawkins claims that science automatically leads to atheism
• What does McGrath say the limits of science are?

  Science cannot demonstrate the true nature of reality because there are no tests that can show where truth lies
• Why did McGrath question Dawkins approach of focusing on fundamentalism?

  He says that Dawkins clearly holds some atheist views unquestionably. Dawkins refuses to believe that one could come to a different conclusion, despite having a background in science (scientific methods accept other conclusions). In that sense, one could argue that Dawkins has his own form of fundamentalism but based on atheism, so he is what he criticises
• What is cognitive bias?

  Dawkins favours evidence that supports the point of view he has already chosen
• Dawkins vs McGrath - proof of God?

  Dawkins - just like Santa, it cannot be proven, we believe because we are told (infantile)

  McGrath - some people convert (for example AJ Ayer). Adults believe in God, they use reason and a mature understanding of the world
• Dawkins of McGrath - God of the Gaps

  Dawkins - we use God to fill in gaps in our knowledge

  McGrath - theology is important to understand big questions. Science and religion both has limits, so they are both necessary to understand
• Dawkins vs McGrath - origins of religion

  Dawkins - religion is a superstition and irrational

  McGrath - Dawkins has no scientific evidence against God creating the universe