Over 200 people gathered in St Margaret’s Church, Westminster yesterday to hear a lunchtime lecture by Prof Alister McGrath in an event run by Westminster Abbey in partnership with Theos, Christians in Parliament and Christians in Government. Prof McGrath spoke on the topic of Why God Won’t Go Away (the title of his latest book), providing a critique of the ‘New Atheism’, while acknowledging some of the positive developments it has heralded.
Far from providing the last word on the subject, he noted, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris et al have ignited significant interest - people are talking about God now more than ever. “I’m hugely grateful to the New Atheists for beginning this conversation,” he said, “They’ve given us permission to talk about things in a brand new way.”
Prof McGrath spoke hopefully about the perception, position and role of religion in the West, highlighting its ability to generate social capital, and to give people “a reason to get up in the morning”.
People are asking questions nowadays not just about what is true, but what is real, he argued. What has the capacity to change lives? Speaking of his own journey from atheism to faith, McGrath said that when he was young, to be an atheist was to be bold, brave and radical. As he learned more about Christianity, however, he found that it not only had answers to questions of ultimate truth but that as he embraced it, it gave him a reason to live, to hope and to serve other people, which atheism had not provided.
While acknowledging some areas of agreement with atheists – for example recognising that religion can go wrong (but noting the vast difference between this statement and the atheists’ claim that religion is wrong), Prof McGrath expressed a desire for more open and honest conversation. “I have no objection to people critiquing [religion],” he said, “But I do ask that they tell the full story, not just the part that appeals to them.”
The audio of the event is available on the Westminster Abbey website, here. Future events run by Theos in partnership with the Abbey will be publicised on the events page of the Theos website and through our monthly e-newsletter.
