Has science buried God? (DVD)

Oxford debate

HAS SCIENCE BURIED GOD? (DVD)
Professors Richard Dawkins and John Lennox in debate at the Natural History Museum, Oxford
Fixed Point Foundation, 2009
81 minutes

As the introductory commentary in this DVD acknowledges, the topic of ‘science and religion’ is ‘hotter than ever’, and it is the context for this public meeting (not the first) between atheist Richard Dawkins and Christian John Lennox, both professors at Oxford University.

The debate is conducted politely, with restrained, respectful mutual engagement — and the occasional moment of agitation. Neither speaker is convinced by the other’s arguments, although at the very end of the DVD they are shown, side-by-side, agreeing that neither of them is a postmodern relativist. They are both concerned about evidence and truth, and both believe in the rational intelligibility of the universe — the key question is ‘on what basis?’

Atheism versus theism

The main part of the debate focuses on science, atheism and Christian theism. Dawkins concedes that one can make a reasonable case for a deistic god (although he is not convinced by it), but disparages the incarnation and death of Jesus as ‘petty’. Lennox asks why our thoughts have any relation to truth if they are the product of an atheistic evolutionary process (and here Dawkins’s response is particularly weak). For Dawkins, Darwinism has explained the appearance of design: he opposes God (an agent) with the mechanisms studied by science, and claims that appeal to an agent is superfluous. The sophisticated information in DNA is not necessarily generated by mind. Lennox asks how mind can come from matter and argues that the language of DNA points to the Logos (John 1.1). Dawkins charges Lennox with a ‘god of the gaps’: Lennox counters that Dawkins’s position is ‘science of the gaps’. For Lennox, science closes some gaps but opens up others. Jesus’s resurrection, for which the historical evidence is very strong, is very serious and not ‘petty’; and Dawkins does not interact with history here. Jesus’ crucifixion indicates that the universe is moral. Is there ultimate justice without God? So, more fundamentally, is there a God? Has he revealed himself? For Dawkins, morality is important to us, but not to a cosmic God. Morality and purpose are addressed rather briefly in the last part of the main debate. The key question is ‘What is the nature of ultimate reality?’ Ð impersonal matter and energy (Dawkins), or a personal God (Lennox)?

The main debate is followed by a brief question and answer session, and then closing remarks. Lennox points to how the Christian/theistic cultural background contributed to the rise of modern science, asks about the basis for morality, and asserts that the new atheism’s values are actually based on Christianity. Dawkins acknowledges that science doesn’t know everything and claims that Darwin is a model for the whole of science. The DVD ends with a few generally appreciative soundbites from those who attended the debate.

While one might have wished for the exchange to be a bit more animated, and for it to go in different directions at some points, the DVD is worth watching as a fairly easy way into some of the main issues. It is likely to be a useful resource in schools, colleges and universities. It could be used as a basis for discussion in a church home group, or perhaps a church ‘apologetics’ event, although those leading or chairing the meetings will need to be competent and confident to do so. There are, of course, now numerous publications and resources in which one can follow up the questions and responses presented in this DVD.

Philip Duce,
Senior Commissioning Editor (Theological Books), IVP;
member of Avenue Community Church, Leicester

A debate in Oxford

Oxford debate

Atheism versus theism

Main Articles

Other articles