Foxhole Deists
A friend referred me this morning to the latest study results published by The Barna Research Group, one of the leading market research companies specializing in cultural trends that impact the Christian church.
Their latest project was to identify whether there has been any signficant shift in "religious behavior" in the USA during the past decade. A summary of their findings is found here.
The study focused on seven "behaviors," and found significant shifts in four of them. I won't divulge the details here...the summary is an easy read...but I did find interesting this blurb, taken from the behavioral area of prayer (emphasis in the following is mine):
So, almost 40% of the atheists and agnostics surveyed admitted to engaging in prayer? It would be fascinating to know more details: to Whom (or whom) were they praying? For what purpose did they pray? And, most importantly, how effective did they judge their prayers to be?
There's much debate in the Church about whether God answers the prayers of unbelievers. We do know that He answers at least one kind of prayer - the one where one who is lost turns to Him for salvation - but one could argue that such a person is no longer an unbeliever at the point of that prayer.
Then there's the passage in Mark 9, where the father of the demon-possessed child beseeches Jesus for help: "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." This passage seems to indicate that belief is in some respect a process, rather than a yes/no response.
As in so many spiritual issues, I don't have a good answer for these questions, at least not one I can clearly articulate in writing. God will hear whom He will hear, and my judgment as to the efficaciousness of another's prayer is completely irrelevant.
What does seem obvious from Barna's findings - and I take some encouragement from this - is that some/many of those who profess to be atheists or agnostics, when push comes to shove, have perhaps more faith than they will otherwise admit.
I think, too, that our riches, our seeming mastery over the world, hides that need from many. Until they find themselves in the place where they realize that it can be very dark, and very cold, and very forever…
Daniel, truer words were never writ. In fact, next time I think I'll just report the facts, and let you provide the commentary! ;-)
Posted by: Eric at March 2, 2004 08:58 PM:Blushes:
Thank you!
Please don’t; conversations are so much more interesting than monologues!
Posted by: Daniel Morris at March 3, 2004 02:11 AM
I found these wonderful articles on Prayer, on Bible Study, and on Holiness by that great Anglican bishop of two centuries ago, John Charles Ryle, over at the http://www.torontochristianbooks.com site. Well, well worth reading!
Here's the linking quote from their index page:
"We also warmly recommend these superb writings, "Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." by John Charles Ryle, "Bible Reading" by John Charles Ryle, and "A Call To Prayer" by John Charles Ryle, to our readers. You'll find a selection of J.C. Ryle's books below them, on the same pages. They make for some of the most profitable, edifying, encouraging and uplifting Christian books available, and are classics which have stood the test of time!"
Posted by: Peter Atkinson at March 14, 2004 04:40 PMAbout the publisher
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The most committed atheist I ever met held—strongly—to the belief that the universe itself needed interested, and interesting, observers. Quantum physics proved it. He admitted no creator, no divinity, but he believed reality itself needed—longed for—people to be its eyes, its ears, its mirrors, its voice…
In the dark moments of the night, under the cold, crushing weight of the sea, he would admit he yearned for solace. For reality to respond to his being. But he thought it intellectually dishonest. It shamed him.
His reality itself—as cold a reality as anyone can imagine, with no soul, no heart, no love, only laws and chaos—needed partners, needed participants. That even a confirmed atheist needed to feel that he was at home in the universe, despite the mental pain it caused him, speaks volumes. Possibilities seem few: we are that way because reality itself is built that way—whether you seek it as God, or not. Or we are built to need it, by design.
Prayers, therefore, are only natural. That atheists call on some un-named but necessary Providence doesn’t surprise me. That it surprises them, always does.
I think, too, that our riches, our seeming mastery over the world, hides that need from many. Until they find themselves in the place where they realize that it can be very dark, and very cold, and very forever…
And, if you pay attention, you can see foxholes everywhere. If you walk around with your eyes closed, you may never see any. My pity goes out to them, who never see…
Posted by: Daniel Morris at March 2, 2004 07:04 PM