Dawkins, not too different from the pew goer?

Richard Dawkins is one the most brilliant scholars of our time, but that's not what makes him similar to many people who gather together on Sundays claiming themselves "Christian."

For those who may not know Dawkins, the title of this post should shock (okay, maybe not shock) you a little because he is one of the strongest voices in contemporary atheism. His The God Delusion has sold over 1.5 million copies, not bad for a book published in 2006.

So what makes your average pew goer similar to Dawkins? Folk religion. This BBC news story reveals that Dawkins not only does not want to purge Christianity from the UK, but he enjoys singing Christmas carols. Dawkins is quoted saying, "If there's any threat these sort of things, I think you will find it comes from rival religions and not from atheists."

Although overstated, I do think there are people who file in the door on Sunday morning because they "enjoy singing carols" in a sense, but not much else. Furthermore, we too often blame others, especially other religions for the weaknesses of the church or for the attacks on Christianity. Why take responsibility and try to... I don't know, repent and change, when you can blame others?

As time progresses in this country and the West, Christianity will more and more become a folk religion (which it already has for some) providing meaning, rituals, and holidays for our lives; but no real transformation or witness. To that I say our churches are full of atheists.