When God catches even the attention of a staunch atheist, it’s impressive to see.
I went to see Expelled with my husband on the weekend. The whole bit about the educational system knocking down the idea of intelligent design was interesting, but what really intrigued me was Richard Dawkins’s fascination with God. This was evident mostly near the end of the film, when Ben Stein sat down with the atheist for some face-to-face time. Dawkins read from his book, The God Delusion, a description of what he called the “Old Testament God.” It was scathing and even frightening.
What amazed me is the time that Dawkins, who does not believe God exists, has devoted to God. Writing the book takes time, yes, but there’s also the pondering the whole idea of God over and over in his head to come up with not only one description but a whole bookful of observations and arguments (I haven’t read the book, so please correct me if I’m off track here). I thought about the fact that atheists generally view God as a myth; he’s been compared by some to the fairies or goblins of children’s lore. I considered how difficult it would be for me to, for example, write a whole, serious book on the evils (or benefits) of the tooth fairy or the Easter bunny, considering that I have no doubt in my mind that those creatures are make-believe.
Later in the interview with Stein, Dawkins admitted to believing there could be an intelligent designer—if said designer evolved.
I left the movie wondering that if deep within himself, Dawkins doesn’t have just a tiny bit of doubt in his faith that there is no God.
