A little philosophy inclineth man’s mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men’s minds about to religion. – Francis Bacon, English philosopher, statesman, scientist, jurist and author.
Far be it?from any notion that we are hell-bent on a battle of words with the atheists of this country. God knows, we accommodate views and positions – religious or otherwise – that are not our very own, in keeping with our commitment to freedom of expression. But some things need to be unabashedly stated.
The apparently growing fervour for atheism is not likely to suppress our God-centredness or shake our religious standing in this community. We have a deep trust in God, endeavour to live by the principles of good and charity, and by example be the best corporate, social and media entity we can be.
It was never our declared mission or intention with our last NATION Talkback town hall discourse and discussion to stem the tide of Barbadians said to be slipping from religion’s grasp. We merely facilitated reflection on and deep consideration of the effectiveness within our society of religion – Christianity in the main – for our many readers, members of the clergy and others of the public.
Is The Church Losing Society Or Is Society Losing The Church? is a worthy topic and surely full discussion and extrapolation could not possibly be exhausted in those few hours of the night of April 18. We expect that discussion on the efficacy and relevance of the church, of religion and even of God will thrive for sometime yet.
It is this circumstance – the variety of religious thought, the enquiring mind, the shaky faith, the doubt and second-guessing of the church as it relates to the guidance and inspiration of the community generally – that provides fodder for the atheist.
Yet, the atheist is on no sounder ground, for he has need of an indefinitely greater amount of faith to hold true to the things he would rather believe by speculation, than those of us who receive and act upon the great absolute truths we elect to experience and live.
How a great man can be an atheist has been questioned many a time. How indeed, without that sustained faith in a divine Being or power, could we have any meaningfulness and sustainability in our lives and any hope in ourselves?
As we said at the start, we are not at war with the atheist; but we leave with a thought – actually Francis Bacon’s: “They that deny a God destroy man’s nobility, for certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not of kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature.”
