Jan
19
2008
A Challenge From John Seel
I recieved a letter the other day from my friend John Seel. I found this part of it to be especially thought provoking and challenging:
The most powerful aspect of culture is the way it shapes our moral imagination. As Einstein observed, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Books and films such as “The Golden Compass” are opportunities for important discussions with our children about truth and the nature of reality. We need not be defensive or judgmental. God’s truth will prevail. All that is at risk is casual Christianity and unreflective belief. A distinguished atheist philosopher at Princeton University Walter Kaufmann once observed, “Millions do not even know that they deny essential Christian doctrines: they have never bothered to find out what the essential doctrines are. In extenuation they may plead that the evasiveness and the multiplicity of churches create a difficulty; but to be deterred by this when one’s eternal destiny is said to be at stake bespeaks a glaring lack of seriousness.” In other words, assertive atheism can be a good thing if it encourages us to become serious seekers of truth. Many will simply use such films to justify their rebellious attitudes toward authority. We live in Nietzsche’s world, after all. However, more important than blaming atheists for what they think and write is to acknowledge the failure of Christian believers to provide a thoughtful, winsome, and life-affirming alternative in our culture. This is the challenge of our time.