Maybe I shouldn’t have been spending so much time thinking about Hell, see Deep Shift: Hell? (no doubt a natural extension to our discussions regarding resurrection), when Religion of hatred: Why we should no longer be cowed by the chattering classes ruling Britain who sneer at Christianity by A. N. Wilson has been such a great surprise and encouragement to many. What are your reactions/thoughts regarding the article and A.N. Wilson’s story?
Note: Two other recent pieces by A.N. Wilson which I found of interest:
Can you love god and agree with Darwin?
Tom enjoys daily conversations regarding living out the Biblical Story with his wife Theresa and their four girls, around the block, at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church (where he teaches adult electives and co-leads a small group), among healthcare professionals as the Northeast Regional Director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), and in higher ed as a volunteer with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). For a number of years, the Christian Medical Society / CMDA at Penn State College of Medicine was the hub of his ministry with CMDA. Note: Tom served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA for 20+ years, including 6+ years as the Associate Director of ESN. He has written for the ESN blog from its launch in August 2008. He has studied Biology (B.S.), Higher Education (M.A.), Spiritual Direction (Certificate), Spiritual Formation (M.A.R.), Ministry to Emerging Generations (D.Min.). To God be the glory!
A. N. Wilson’s announcement of his conversion to traditional Christianity was a complete surprise to me. I knew him only as one of the chattering class and a critic of C. S. Lewis.
His lucid and, one might say, exciting articles, “Why I Believe Again” in the New Statesman, April 2, 2009, and “Region of Hatred” in the Daily Mail, listed as updated, April 11, 2009, in the Mail Online, are, I think, as significant or more so than the conversion of Ayer to deism, so much touted in apologetics blogs. He’s had personal contact with Hitchens, was a colleague with Dawkins, and has interviewed Billy Graham.
Its filled with rejoinders to people with views like my naturalist friend Carl Peraino who co-authored with me “Deepest Differences: A Christian Atheist Dialog,” just published by IVP. I would have referred to Wilson in one of my comments to Carl, had he announced his conversion a couple of years or ago.
Anyway, these two Wilson essays and the New Statesman interview with him (there’s a link at the end of the web version of “Why I Believe Again”) are a great read. Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jim!
FYI: Scot McKnight posted an announcement of the article and has received a few comments. If you’re interested visit
http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2009/04/did-you-see-this-an-wilson-is.html