Is Christianity an enemy of reason? Richard Dawkins has a new documentary out by this name and seeks to show how various forms of religion are against reason. I would agree with his conclusion based on the example religious practices mentioned in a description of the program:

Is it rational that the dead can communicate with the living and give sound advice on how they should live their lives? What about sticking pins into your body to free the flow of Chi energy and cure your illness? Or the bending of spoons using your mind alone? Is that rational? Richard Dawkins doesn’t think so, and feels it is his duty to expose those areas of belief that exist without scientific proof, yet manage to hold the nation under their spell. He will take on the world’s leading proponents in their field of expertise, meet the victims who have used them and expose the history of the movements – from the charlatans who have milked these practices to the experiments and testing that have failed to produce conclusive results. (NSS)

Bending spoons with the mind doesn’t interest me, nor does releasing Chi energy to cure diseases, because quite frankly, I agree with Dawkins that this is against reason. What concerns me is whether the person of Jesus Christ and his resurrection are seen as enemies of reason. Is it against reason to look at the historical proof surrounding the life of Jesus and conclude (at least) that he existed and wasn’t your typical 1st century Jew? I don’t think it is. Is it then against reason to believe the claims of Jesus? I don’t think this is either. There is a lot of evidence surrounding Christianity one must deal with before calling it an enemy of reason. Does one conclude that Christianity is an enemy of reason because it is a religion and other religions are enemies of reason? This conclusion is an enemy of reason.

Arguing from the Bible, Dawkins is an enemy of reason. There is nothing new here. Looking at Romans 1:18-22, let the reader understand that two thousand years later I believe with Paul and Dawkins believes with the atheist who suppresses the truth.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.

Finally, what concerns me most is the animosity with which religion is denounced by the very people that deify tolerance. I feel for Dawkins who is grasping for what he can while suppressing the truth.

This is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. (John 3:19-20)

It’s painful to come into the light, but, here, at the right hand of God are truth and pleasures forevermore. Dawkins, come into the light and be saved.