Richard Dawkins Lecture- Should I attend?

I received an invitation to a live lecture by Richard Dawkins. The title is "The Science of Beauty and the Beauty of Science." I was thinking of taking my children who are home schooled and are very well educated on the science of creation, so I don't have any concern about them being convinced by him. I thought it might be an educational experience for them. However, I also think it might be a complete waste of time.

I was just wondering what others here might think.

In Christ,
Natalie

It's hard to give certain advice to others on this one, but I would take my children if I had the opportunity.

amrkelly wrote: //The thought of sitting my children at the feet of Richard Dawkins makes me personally shudder. Even the title of the lecture is a lie. Not because the visible universe is not the creation of God, but because Richard Dawkins can only use it in a deceptive way. He does not believe in a creation, he believes that life began on a crystal.//

I agree. I would never let them sit "at the feet of Richard Dawkins." I am simply taking them to listen to what he has to say. They have watched many of his debates on the internet and I believe that they are well prepared already. My husband was a science instructor and really taught us about science and evolution. I would never let them attend if I did not think they were prepared. Also, I would attend with them. I have some science training as well, so none of this would be over my head. I know that Dawkins is a deceiver and that he receives all from the Father of Lies. It is very sad. His position comes from a hatred of God, it is so obvious!

I don't understand why you think that his position that life began on a crystal (by the way he is not the only one who believes this) is the same as saying that Satan was the author of life. I am really interested in getting your insight on this.

We watched this film "No Intelligence Allowed" about two years ago.

One of the most striking things that we found in this film was the interview with one of the scientists (I don't remember which one). He claimed that once he gave up his belief in God he felt a freedom that was awesome. This, I believe, is the root of all of their issues: if they believe in God, this will restrict their lives into certain modes of behavior and thinking or else they will feel guilt. By renouncing a belief in God, they no longer have that constraint and therefore they do feel "free."

Lest we judge them too harshly, we must understand that we are not in the same condition as they are only by the grace of God. After an intense period of suffering just 4 years ago when I felt God was not answering my prayers, I almost let go of my belief in God. I could feel and taste the freedom that would bring me, but I felt the hand of God holding me tight and not letting me go there. No doubt, the prayers of my husband kept me.

We need to pity and pray for these men, not react with judgment. What a wonderful thing it would be if all of these men would receive Christ. We were quite saddened in our family when we heard Christopher HItchens state after his cancer diagnosis that he would never believe in God, and that if he ever said that he would have to be delusional. Apparently, he died in his sins. Such sorrow. It is not for not knowing the Gospel. At one of his debates, I heard him give a better explanation of the Gospel than many Christians and even pastors and evangelists give. We must pray for these souls. It is what Christ would call us to do.

Natalie,

We are seeker after Truth,and I really believe if we are seeking to
know an answer in something that we do not yet understand, then we are to continue on seeking the Truth in the matter, But if we know something is a lie,and we are to have our eyes fixed on Truth,to expose my children to the lie and to risk the chance of a seed being planted within
them,...I would just NOT go at all.....unless The Lord should direct me alone to go and speak some Truth to them,only.

Please Natalie,do not think that I am trying to be harse,...I am not,
but with all gentleness am I saying this.

Lovingly always,
elizabeth

Have your children experienced a Crises of Belief and prevailed and found God to be real for themselves??

Have your children been sheltered from the effects of sin??
or have they seen with their own eyes the end of sin, such as drug addicts displaying the reality of the demonic world through drug withdraws or an drunk wallering in their own vomit??

I personaly would encourage rather than take them to a hyped up live lecture of a well dressed highly educated confident extremely persuasive man that is going to present his anti God views extremly charismatically while ridiculing and mocking everything that you have taught your children.
Take them to the slummiest homless shelter you can find to see the end of sin, take them to the most Notorious avenue, in the closest big city that you live near, at 11:00 on a weekend night, Show them what the end of sin is.

Regardless of how well educated on the science of creation they might be, relieze the spirtual war and demonic persuasive signals that will be presented.

Just some things that I would consider if I where in this position.

If you choose to go you might want to talk to your kids about how words are used. In some cases a speaker can and will use humor and comedy to win a crowd over on a subject. Make it sound silly enough and they can prove something wrong to the crowd and the crowd will buy it.

I heard a lecture by Richard on the way home from work today. He was in a debate and he was mocking 'The Heavens declare the Glory of God' . He also mentioned the ridiculousness of sin but put it in the context of science.

simple, He's a New Ager, and teaches such. Period. What fellowship has light to do with darkness? As to me personally making my children pass through the fire.....??????I wouldn't.

I agree with elizabeth.

Children are too impressionable - they have not gone through the fire of having their minds purged and cleansed of a more older and mature person. They will hear snippets of information the devil will use at some point in the future to bring about a serious crises of faith.

Children, regardless how well educated, grounded in the truth now, can still fall at some point in the future - just do not give the devil any assistance on this matter.

God bless.

ginnyrose

No one has asked how old your children are... if they are old enough to form a constructive argument! I imagine they are being home schooled. But just know too that Richard Dawkins has most assuredly has his fair share of run-ins with home-schooled children!!

All of this doesn't matter, you are the parent. If you want to take them then by all means, take them. Even if it's a waste of time, at least everyone will know it was a colossal waste of time and laugh about it afterwards over lunch or dinner!!

God bless you, Lisa

I thank you all for all the comments and advice. I will prayerfully consider them.

First, let me assure you that I would never take them without first thoroughly preparing them. I would research what he is saying about this topic and teach my children what he is going to say and what the biblical response is BEFORE we attend the lecture.

As I said, this would not be their first exposure to Dawkins since they have seen him on the internet. It would be the first time they would see him live. I know he has a very appealing personality, but so will all sin that they encounter in the world. I know that he is IN darkness, totally deceived by his hatred of God. He is, in fact, not very logical, which is why it is so hard to believe that the whole world follows this man. It is their own hatred of God that has created this following.

My children have watched countless debates about the existence of God and evolution and creation. I understand all the concerns expressed here, which are the same ones I have. But I am training them to be in the world, although not of it, and I will not always be around to counteract these types of teachings. My thought is that I can prepare them better by facing something like this with them and then we can analyze it together. When later in their lives they encounter these types of arguments I feel they'll be better prepared.

As to the ages of my children. Those that I would plan to take are 18, 16, 14, and 11. Of course, the 11 year old would be the most impressionable so in the end if I do go I may decide to leave her at home.

it depends on the maturity level of ur kids. sum kids can handle listen 2 sum1 like him and able to take it in, discern it and handle it. sum can not. thats up 2 the parent. i do disagree with sum who think we should bury our heads in the ground and never listen to any1 who we may disagree with. we certainly dont see the disciples doing that. paul listened to the greeks and waited for his turn. becuz he listened 2 them teach he was able to take their own teachings and show them how what they were really looking for was christ. how can u do that if u never listen 2 any1? 1 of our children is taking classes at a secular college like philosophy and he luvs to come home and study the word and understand why he believes the bible and what is wrong with human reasoning and then go back and argue with his professor. we mustn't be afraid if we have the truth!

It's a good idea to consider their ages.

I am training them to be in the world, although not of it, and I will not always be around to counteract these types of teachings.

This is my perspective as well. I should not give Richard Dawkins so much power by fearing that one hour with him will offset a lifetime with their mother and me. I have made it my mission as a father to be their greatest intellectual and spiritual teacher, just for the purpose of equipping them to critically interpret the various philosophic and cultural influences presently all around them. As a result, I rather enjoy taking them to events like this.

MC

RE:///I know he has a very appealing personality, but so will all sin that they encounter in the world. I know that he is IN darkness, totally deceived by his hatred of God.///

No, I disagree there is nothing appealing about a drug addict displaying the demonic reality in the midst of withdraws, their is nothing appealing about a drunk wallering in their vomitt.

Show them what the end of sin is, show them the World, not some hyped up exalted open blasphemer.

///As to the ages of my children. Those that I would plan to take are 18, 16, 14, and 11. Of course, the 11 year old would be the most impressionable so in the end if I do go I may decide to leave her at home.///

This is completely off, an 11 year old is still under the wing of their parents thinking but the older ones are becoming of an age of questioning what they have been taught,(and they will, they are going to!) They are at an age of a Crises of belief experience,and on top of this reality they are in the midst of a recent traumatic experience, in which they have a head full of whys?? This is the exact sterotype that Dawkins is crafting his messages towards.

RE:///I should not give Richard Dawkins so much power by fearing that one hour with him will offset a lifetime with their mother and me.///

this is extremely disturbing advise!!
One hour is all Richard Dawkins wants !!, that is all he wants!! to give just the right impression.
It happens every day, just the right impression at the wrong time offsets a lifetime of good parenting. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall"
You would give Dawkins power by taking your children into his demonic realm ! that is all the power that he wants!

RE:///I should not give Richard Dawkins so much power by fearing that one hour with him will offset a lifetime with their mother and me.///

This is such faulty logic, Compton would you take your children to a rated X movie as to not give it ///so much power by fearing that one hour watching it will offset a lifetime with their mother and you./// of course not, but yet you believe it would be a rather enjoyable event to take your children to listen to a lecture from a man that is famous because he openly blasphemes the Creator.

Compton would you take your children to a rated X movie

see, its this kind of "logic" or argument that makes christians look idiotic. listening to this atheist for an hour can hardly be compared to taking ur children to an x-rated movie. my goodness, i cant believe that was even used as a comparison.

if u want people outside the church 2 take u seriously u really need to take a course in logic or persuasive debate. we must be able to speak intelligently and intellectually and be able to articulate what we believe, not come out with mindless statements like "exposing ur children to a lecture from an atheist is like taking them to an x-rated movie".

really. i cant believe sum1 threw that card down on the table. and we wonder why hollywod and the world mocks us. its not always becuz they hate jesus. sumtimes its becuz sum christians deserve to be mocked.

Hello,

I have never understood the fascination with Richard Dawkins. I don't find him particularly interesting or even any sort of special mind. That doesn't mean that he doesn't have something intelligent to say in terms of his area of study. However, I just haven't understood why some point to him as a "revolutionary mind" when he is simply presenting the same tired argument for atheism and evolution that you hear elsewhere.

That said: I have sat in classes taught by men who I considered even greater thinkers and minds than Dawkins but who shared similar views to the ones that he proclaims. However, prior to that, I met and know our Lord -- the Creator of the Universe. As "great" as these men are supposed to be (or think that they are), they are nothing when compared to the God that I spend time with each day. These messages from mere men are no match for the truth of God's Word and the familiarity with God that we spend time with each day.

Would I take my children to hear Dawkins? I don't have any children yet, but I probably would not take young children or children to such a meeting. I certainly wouldn't take them if I didn't know that they truly had a relationship with Jesus Christ.

I think that this is extremely important. Many parents are raising children and allowing them to be subjected to things for which they are not prepared. When I say "prepared," I am not speaking solely about education. The greatest preparation for facing and interacting with the people like this (and anything else in this world) comes from truly knowing the Creator.

During my life, I only attended public schools and secular universities. I did extremely well. However, I feel that I was prepared each and every day by the fact that I met the Lord when I was a youth and knew the truth. I was never "afraid" of being "led astray" by secular professors, evolutionists or scientists. In fact, it helped to know where they were "coming from" so that I could show them where they were lacking in terms of faith in God. I even had professors who told me that they were "secure atheists" until they began conversing with me in their offices.

I suppose that the focus should always be to make the "calling and election" sure within our children. I have listened to Dawkins in the past. He shared how he was a Christian until he weighed the claims of "intelligent design" and compared them with the teaching of "evolution." At that point, he gave up his "faith" and eventually became an evangelist for atheism.

I think that the problem with Dawkins is that he never truly had "relational" faith in God. He may have "believed" in God (or assumed that God existed), but he never truly had a relationship with God. Did he have a "born again" experience? Did he spend time with God each day? Did he read the Word from cover-to-cover over and over again? If he did, no one could come and tell him that God -- the One with whom he spent time each day -- "doesn't exist." This makes all of the difference.

Dawkins was merely CONVINCED about the existence of God and then later was CONVINCED that evolution was true and that, therefore, the God of the Bible could not exist. CONVINCED is very different than FAITH. A person can be convinced of the existence of God yet still go to Hell. Faith might begin with being "convinced," but it is validated only by maintaining a relationship with Jesus Christ.

I think that this difference is why some students in public schools and universities "fall to the wayside" while others thrive in the faith. While I was attending college, I knew students who supposedly "fell away from God." Most of them didn't seem to have a strong relationship with God at all. They were saying and doing the right things because they were told that it was right rather than because they wanted to please the Lord and spent time with him each day. Yet, I knew others who seemed to have "weak faith" yet came to a relationship with God while in college. While the former began to indulge themselves in the things of the world with their new-found "freedom" (of thought and access to worldly things), the latter actually grew strong in faith. They are still walking with Him today.

We truly need believers today who know God intimately enough that their faith would never be shaken even if they were exposed to such things.

Proud papa,

I simply feel my children are prepared to process Richard Dawkins ideas. (Obviously I do not feel Dawkins is pornography. I don't know who should be more offended at your suggestion...him or myself!)

An area of training for my children Ive always felt strongly about is how to handle not just opposition and hostility, but also ambiguity. Christians seem to do much better withstanding outward hostility and opposition, but are not so prepared to handle the ambiguity they are sometimes left to face. Many of evolutions specific arguments are not explicitly addressed in scripture, (however strongly implicitly we feel they are refuted) and being able to handle this ambiguity is a burden every mature 21st century Christian will have to learn to bear.

Outright rejecting men like Richard Dawkins is not a sound strategy to me. The reason this is not a good strategy, is because all he has to do is make sense on one point and my children will start to question my own judgement. Instead, I want them to be familiar with the complexity and ambiguity of these issues, all the while being strong and conservative in their faith in the Lord Jesus, the Gospel, and scripture.

As I said earlier, I'm not advocating what other parents do with their children. I'm only explaining why I am confident I could take mine.

MC