Inconvenient Faith: A Gospel-Rooted Dialogue with New Atheism, for an Increasingly Non-Atheistic Culture

2017·3.8 MB·English

by  Bond, Travis J.

INCONVENIENT FAITH:
A GOSPEL-ROOTED DIALOGUE WITH NEW ATHEISM, FOR AN INCREASINGLY
NON-ATHEISTIC CULTURE

A THESIS-PROJECT
SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF
GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY
TRAVIS J. BOND
JANUARY 2017
ii
Copyright © 2017 by Travis J. Bond. All Rights Reserved.
iii
For Sarah.
A constant reminder there is a God.
And He is good.
iv
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view –
until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.

- Atticus Finch,
from Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird

v
CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES vi

PREFACE viii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix

ABSTRACT x

CHAPTER

1. THE CHALLENGE: AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEW ATHEISM 1

2. THE GROUNDING: THEOLOGICAL AND SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATIONS 32

3. THE DIALOGUE: LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE NEW ATHEISM 71

4. PROJECT DESIGN: A PRETEST/POSTTEST QUASI-EXPERIMENT 117

5. PROJECT OUTCOMES: ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION 128

APPENDIX

A. PRETEST SURVEY 158

B. PROJECT SERMON SERIES 163

C. POSTTEST SURVEY 225

BIBLIOGRAPHY 231

VITA 238
vi
FIGURES

FIGURE 1: Gender Demographics, pretest vs posttest 128
FIGURE 2: Age Demographics, pretest vs posttest 129
FIGURE 3: Race Demographics, pretest vs posttest 130
FIGURE 4: Region of Residence, pretest vs posttest 131
FIGURE 5: Education demographics, pretest vs posttest 132
FIGURE 6: Religious Affiliation, pretest vs posttest 133
FIGURE 7: Employment, pretest vs posttest 134
FIGURE 8: Sermons Heard, posttest only 134
FIGURE 9: Day-to-day Conversation with Atheists, pretest vs posttest 136
FIGURE 10: Spiritual Conversation with Atheists, pretest vs posttest 136
FIGURE 11: Equipped to Defend Religious Faith, pretest vs posttest 137
FIGURE 12: Atheism’s Regional Increase, pretest vs posttest 138
FIGURE 13: Atheism’s National Increase, pretest vs posttest 138
FIGURE 14: Atheism’s Global Increase, pretest vs posttest 139
FIGURE 15: Atheism Outspokenness, pretest vs posttest 140
FIGURE 16: Understanding Atheistic Worldview, pretest vs posttest 141
FIGURE 17: Understanding Atheistic Morality, pretest vs posttest 142

FIGURE 18: Understanding Atheistic View of Origins, pretest vs posttest 142
FIGURE 19: Understanding Atheistic View of Purpose, pretest vs posttest 143
FIGURE 20: The Biblical Response to Atheism, pretest vs posttest 144
vii
FIGURE 21: Personal Inclination Toward Atheism, pretest vs posttest 144
FIGURE 22: Understanding Atheistic View of Science, posttest only 145
FIGURE 23: Sermon Series More Confident and Better Equipped, posttest only 146

viii
PREFACE
In 2010, a televised report from ABC News caught my attention: “Atheist
Ministers Struggle with Leading the Faithful.” Over the years I have battled all variety
of diverse and sundry temptations common to man. This particular one, however –
outright and sustained disbelief in a personal God while serving in pastoral ministry – is
foreign to me. And intriguing. Having served my first eight years of full-time ministry in
Baptist saturated South Carolina and Roman Catholic drenched Pittsburgh, pure atheism
was simply not an often encountered perspective.
Subsequent to those first eight years of ministry, I have now spent an additional
six years in blue-state, hyper-educated, increasingly non-religious Massachusetts. Since
that 2010 report on atheist clergy first aired, I have become more attuned to both the
growing skepticism within American culture generally, as well as an accompanying
hostility toward evangelical Christianity specifically. Following the Bush administration’s
overt evangelicalism, Bible-based Christianity appears to have moved in the last fifteen
years beyond the margins of mere dismissal – or even acceptability.
A historical and orthodox view of Scripture is increasingly categorized by
unbelievers today as not just irrelevant to the contemporary world, but downright
hostile to human flourishing. The following study seeks to better understand what role
the new, militant atheism plays in this cultural shift. By God’s grace, the pages ahead
will help identify a real and present danger to Christian discipleship while
simultaneously preparing a path forward to graciously answer the atheist’s charge.

ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Saint Augustine once asked then answered, “What does love look like? It has the
hands to help others.” If this is true, then I am blessed with the love of many for I surely
have experienced the helping hands of many. First, I am thankful to my Savior who saw
fit to bestow enough ability – limited as it may be – to allow completion of this project.
Medway Community Church has been my family for over six years, proving
themselves time and again to be a gracious, giving, Gospel-loving gathering of saints. I
am so thankful for these brothers and sisters in Christ who completed my surveys,
listened to my sermons, supported my studies, and provided a sabbatical to complete
this thesis. The MCC staff is excellent, and each of my colleagues picked up additional
duties to allow my time away. The Board of Elders – a band of brothers – promised
upon my initial employment in 2010 that, when the time was right, they would support
doctoral studies. Their word was gold.
I am grateful for those who have taught me at Gordon-Conwell, particularly
David Currie, Ken Swetland, and my academic advisor Gordy Isaac. A special thanks as
well to Chris Gooley, who volunteered his time and expertise for statistical analysis, and
Courtney Tierney who typed a LOT of notes. And many thanks to my daughters, who
sacrificed much Daddy-time over the years to allow completion of these studies.
More than anyone, though, I am grateful for Sarah, the bride of my youth and
the joy of my heart. She spent countless hours reading, re-reading, editing, then re-
editing yet again. Her support is unflagging. Her godliness unmatched. Her wisdom
and beauty a gift I do not deserve.
x