Because He's being so entertained by their actions! Why should an omnipotent God step into the picture to merely cease the corporeal machinations of those who think they are His equal in logic and persuasion? Why smite the ant that, breaking away from the farm, declares in a strident voice that it knows better than you?
It's much more fun to watch as reality and old age crush the atheists and drive them into lamenting and foaming at the mouth. Besides, there is always the chance that truth of Divinity and an afterlife will breach the defense of their mortal illogic and grant them salvation.
Interesting questions that this post brings up.
I speculate that the reason(s) for Dawkins’ continued existence may be that God uses such mockers to separate out His people. If we can be weakened or destroyed by Dawkins’ bilge, we are not His. We leave the church, etc., stop claiming to be Christians - which strengthens the church.
Another speculation of mine is that it is because of God’s longsuffering. The Bible says He takes no joy in the death of the wicked. It is a demonstration of His mercy to allow Dawkins the air he breathes each moment. It is a wonder, really.
I mean, He could prevent every faithless soul from even being conceived. But He didn’t, and He doesn’t.
As someone who was not converted until age 21, I am grateful for His longsuffering.
About the amputees - it may disturb my “faith healer” brethren - but God didn’t promise to regrow the limbs of amputees. Great miracles were done by Jesus, and by His apostles by divine decree. They were so commissioned, and there is far too much written testimony, even by non-Christians, to have these miraculous healings reasonably denied by historians. I certainly believe that the dead were raised, the blind made to see, lepers healed. . . and that God can do that, anytime He wants to.
However, the purpose of these spectacular healings was to testify to the truth of Jesus being the Messiah, and of his Apostles being the real deal. It wasn’t an ongoing thing, and was never promised to be such.
If people are told that God does miracles through a certain “healer” - and no “healer” has ever regrown a stump - I can’t blame them for questioning the whole package. I rather wince at these claims.