tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929683.post-49064826960252972772008-04-28T21:47:00.002-05:002008-11-13T09:20:21.888-05:00<img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jUP79Jkukog/SBUvDv5p8xI/AAAAAAAAAa4/uMVk3dx_U50/s320/age+of+american+reason.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194109486686139154" />There has been a surge of books by atheists in the last few years. Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens are the holy trinity of neo-atheists. Fortunately, there are less demeaning voices among the atheist community. In her book "The Age of American Unreason", Susan Jacoby has given us a fresh voice that is less angry and more conversant than her atheist cohorts are. <br /><br />For Jacoby, the big problem we face is not religion, but instead the problem is anti-rationalism. Fundamentalist strains of religion can certainly become a catalyst for anti-rationalism, but she is clear to state that religion doesn't always have to be that way. The real culprits are poor education, the rise of junk-science, the degradation of our media, and a growing distrust of intellectualism. Jacoby also points out that we have lost our ability to have conversations. We've learned to mimic what our media sources present to us as examples. Unfortunately, that means we spend more time talking past one another rather than listening. The recent political debates are perfect examples.<br /><br />As Christians, we could learn a great deal from the voices of reason. Many of their criticisms are valid. If we have any hope of emerging from our polarized past, we need to invite this perspective to the table. Rationalism does not exclude faith, but it does force the conversation to a level deeper than flimsy rhetoric and ancient dogma. <br /><br />Is there a possibility for faith that goes beyond a simple rejection of reason? Is there a case for an emerging post-atheism?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8929683-4906482696025297277?l=www.faithprogression.com'/></div>Mike L.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15978997781556741350noreply@blogger.com10