Lk 11:14-23 The Finger of God

Lk 11:14-23 The Finger of God

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Some people said [about Jesus], “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Knowing their thoughts, he said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid to waste…If I, them drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Richard Dawkins has finally come out of the closet, sort of. While speaking at a debate at Oxford University with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the man regarded as the world’s most famous atheist admitted that he cannot be certain that God does not exist. I am “6.9 out of 7 sure that God does not exist.” When asked why he doesn’t call himself an agnostic, he said, “I am.” There you have it! The “world’s most famous atheist” has a speck of faith; a glimmer of hope; a silver lining in a dark cloud. His statement is a far different one to the extremely arrogant claim he made a few years back when he disapproved of a poster that read, “God probably does not exist”. He said he liked it, but that the word “probably” should be removed.

I suspect that Dr. Dawkins may very well have more faith than he would care to admit. He may not consider himself the most famous atheist in the world, but he has definitely made himself to be the most known zoologist in the world; and one that has made his riches neither in zoology or in theology but in philosophy. No scientist will ever be able to prove or disprove that God exists, and any that attempt to do so will be working well outside their box. Dr. Dawkins has made his wealth by working outside his expertise, and he knows it. He may be a rich man, but he is a poor philosopher at best.

But today, there is room for some celebration! It is nice to see a man’s thoughts break free from its pre-conditioned surroundings. It’s nice to know that I don’t have to be entirely conditioned (or forced) to be someone I don’t want to be. The Holy Father knows that very well. He didn’t grow up to be a Nazi even though he lived in Germany in 1941 and was drafted in the Nazi youth. The Holy Father knew how to break free from the hysteria of it all, but not too many of his countrymen knew how to do it. So let’s ask the question: Why were there so many Nazis in 1941 and why are there so few today? Is it because Germans got smarter? Is it because the educational system got a lot better? I don’t think so. I think the answer is very obvious: it is because we allow ourselves to be pushed and pulled, swayed and moved, maneuvered, twisted and turned by the times rather than by the eternal truth.

Why do the most famous atheists come from England and Germany? Is it because they are superior to the rest of the world? That’s definitely what the early evolutionists and eugenicists wanted the world to believe in the early 20th century. Why is atheism and secularism a fairly recent arrival on the world’s stage? Is it because the Enlightenment ended all wars? Did English colonialism bring civilization to the Arabs and the Indians? I don't think so.

I personally find it hard to believe that the "world's most famous atheist" alive is also the brightest man alive! Does being bright or logical or educated have much to do with being atheist? Or does being an atheist (like being a Nazi) have more to do with being snookered?

To be a Christian has always meant being counter-cultural, counter-worldly, counter-conditional. There has never been a moment in the world where a Christian felt at home in the world. Christ blows away all preconditions. To be one requires the following: You have to be in this world and out of it; you have to be smart and you have to be dumb; you have to be wealthy and you have to be poor. You can be a Jew or a Roman. You can be in a position of authority or in no position at all. You have to be mighty and meek; powerful and humble; a martyr to life and a lover of life. You don’t have to be in the majority or in the minority. You can grow up in a functional family or a dysfunctional family, all is grace. You can be the world’s greatest sinner and the world’s greatest saint! You can even be an atheist that admits to a little bit of faith.

The Lord does not divide His house. Instead, He unites it under His Kingdom, a Kingdom that does not change over time but becomes more apparent over time.

Richard Dawkins finally admitted to something that all believers can admit to: that God can very well exist - with or without me. Dr Dawkins has less than 1% of faith, which fits in very well with the less than 1% of the population that believe less in God and more in themselves.

The finger of God is more powerful than the human mind, and Dawkins may very well have had a God moment when he made his comments. He may very well be on the road to a full recovery that will shock the preconditioned minds of his friends and push the button of the gates of Heaven wide open!