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BCF PROFESSOR SPEAKS ON "THE NEW ATHEISM"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2008
BCF students accompanied Dr. Mark Rathel, associate professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida, at a joint meeting of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries of Florida A. & M. University and Florida State University.
Dr. Mark Rathel, associate professor of theology and philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) in Graceville, recently spoke on the topic of "The New Atheism" at a joint meeting of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries of Florida A. & M. University and Florida State University. Twenty students from The Baptist College of Florida were able to accompany Rathel to the event hosted October 2 by the BCM of Florida A. & M.
"The students greeted us warmly," commented BCF student Shane Booker on the reception BCF students received from the Baptist Collegiate Ministries. "Many of them went out of their way to come around to each of our tables and talk to us. They asked us questions about our school and what sort of majors we were after. Then they brought out the food and we knew that God really was in that place. Their hospitality was greatly appreciated."
The name "The New Atheism" describes four best-selling authors influencing the current media-driven culture gaining popularity on college campuses. The principal individuals at the forefront of the movement are evolutionary scientist Richard Dawkins, neuroscientist Sam Harris, philosopher Daniel Dennett, and journalist Christopher Hitchens. The new atheism movement began in 2006 as an uncoordinated movement that came together as the four key authors expressed common themes. For example, all four authors affirm that religion is bad or evil, and Christianity is the most evil form of religion.
Some Christians have nicknamed the four authors of the new atheism movement, "The Four Horsemen of New Atheism." Rathel connected this imagery borrowed from Revelation with the stated goals of the movement: conquer (white horse), aggressive slaughter (red horse), spiritual famine (black horse), and death to religion (pale green horse). During the meeting, Rathel pointed out the logical inconsistencies and weak arguments of "The New Atheism." According to Booker, the conference provided students with assurance of the reasonableness of Christianity and guidelines for witnessing to the truth in light of this renewed attack on the Christian faith.