We are expected to believe that aside from a very specific type of chrstian (white, mostly Protestant but with a few Latin Rite Catholics thrown in), the entire world essentially believes in eighteenth century European rationalism and nineteenth century European materialism.
We are asked to believe this by an elite culture that simultaneously claims to be totally enraptured with the "spirituality" of "people of color" and "indigenous peoples." In other words, people who logically should have nothing in common with European rationalists and European materialists. In fact, when "poc/ip" are in the news for whatever reason, Charles Darwin and the alleged universal acceptance of his theory suddenly disappears. There is no "evolution." There is only the "dreamtime," the shaman, the lama, or what-have-you. But when the poc/ip leave the scene suddenly these moonstruck acolytes of The Rainbow Serpent once again become the children of Voltaire.
Now, does this make any sense to anyone? Really? It's exactly like the "heels" in old-time "kayfabe" pro wrestling. Logically, the "heels" should all hate each other, yet among them there is only a peace the like of which this world has never known. Each one claims to be "the greatest" and to hail from "the greatest" place, yet there is never the slightest conflict or argument. Instead, the "heels" spend all their time feuding with humble, non-hostile "babyfaces."
Now obviously this particular "heel stable" is based on the inversion of chrstianity (which would not exist if chrstianity did not exist, btw). The only thing that atheist European scientists and Australian aboriginal shamans have in common is the liberal stereotype that "rednecks hate them." So just as the "Pearl Harbor Jap" teams up with the local evil redneck "bully of the town," the world of only matter in motion teams up with the Rainbow Serpent. Isn't that something? Perhaps one day Vince McMahon will create a heel team of The Scientist and The Shaman. They'd be tailor-made to get heat in the Bible Belt.
Of course, just as ridiculous and illogical is the idea that ultimate meaninglessness can serve as a foundation for totalitarian altruism, and yet very few atheists take the logical position that because the universe is without meaning, it doesn't matter what we do.
It's too bad that it took a slimy organization like the Chalcaedon Foundation to promote this book. Although the article says that the author is a believer in "intelligent design"--theistic evolution with a signature.
I like to watch PBS on Wednesday night. There is "Nature," "Nova" and usually some other neat science show. I call it "Nature Night" and everyone knows that I don't do anything on Wed. night because it is Nature Night.
I have noticed something. The science types are using the word "evolution" less and they are using "adapted" and go on to explain that the - animal, bird, earthworm - desired to change or improve something and they "adapted" the change. As if the hedgehog actually willed his tail to grow just that much longer because he needed it to be that much longer.
Occasionally, they do use the word "created" which makes me do a mental double take. But, if they use the word "evolved" more than three times my better half gets to hear me scream at the TV.
Voltaire and all his pals did all they could to move our minds away from faith in God and only have us rely on reason. The thing is that we need both Reason and Faith. Reason explains the what, and Faith explains the why. We need the why.