Point the Finger

Alister McGrath has an excellent article in Christianity Today regarding the failure of atheism to win the minds of theists. His article wasn’t entirely critical of atheism, though. Declaring, “the greatest virtue of atheism is its moral seriousness,” Mr. McGrath argues that atheism has served a useful purpose in pointing out the failures and corruptions of the Church.

The most beloved of all atheists, Madalyn Murray O'Hair, would always end her cable access program with the warning that Godism, her pet name for theism, has caused more suffering than any other idea in human history. I would think that greed should receive more blame, but she has a point. Theism has had its share of bloody wars.

But, while we point the finger at theism, let us also remember that atheism is not entirely blameless. Most of the brutal and ruthless tyrants of the 20th century were atheists. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, all were atheists. And they all had, in their minds, good reasons for eliminating theism. Theism was a threat to their power. They preferred to replace the native religions of their nations with their own.

Hitler created the godless religion of Nazism and made himself its Christ. Hitler’s speeches were like sermons, extolling the virtues of the new Nazi gospel. Nazism was complete with its own mythology, rites, clergy, fanatical devotees, even a holy text. Hitler, like other tyrants after him, saw the power he could gain if he did not have to share the people’s love with God. He would become their god, and distort their moral certainty to the point that they would do anything for him, even participate in the murder of their own countrymen.

Stalin had his own plans for replacing faith with fascism. In 1931, the Soviets destroyed Russia’s largest Christian cathedral, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The plan was to build a new, atheist cathedral dedicated to Communism. But, as evidence of Communism’s inherent flaws, the necessary funds could never be raised. Eventually, Khrushchev tired of the gaping hole left by the destruction of the cathedral and built a swimming pool in its place. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox Church was allowed to rebuild the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. A picture of the Soviet’s planned replacement church can be seen here.

Theism, with its belief in an authority superior to temporal powers, is a threat to modern dictators. Atheism, praised for being modern and logical, has often been used as a tool by these dictators to enact their will on the people. So, atheism’s role in man’s evil works should not be overlooked.

–J.E. Heath
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