Good Friday - and atheism - 04/16/22
It was a very good Friday. Very rarely do I attend large and highly-organized events, but we arose at 4am to prep and then drive to Tucson for a Good Friday interdenominational breakfast at La Paloma. We joined in with well more than 1,000 energized and joyous people. What a rewarding and inspiring circumstance and environment!
The main speaker was Eric Metaxas a brilliant and Yale-educated thinker, researcher and writer. Best-selling works by Metaxas include three biographies (“Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery”), (“Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy), and (“Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World”). Metaxas also wrote what appears to be the most popular and shared op-ed ever published in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God”.
Metaxas spoke on that subject yesterday, relating key factors from his latest book release “Is Atheism Dead?” Subsequent reflection on that question - particularly after experiencing some very recent posts here on the Campfire – tells me that, no, atheism is not yet dead. But, it is going through the pre-death agony due to ongoing findings as well as non-outcomes of scientific endeavors. Another factor is the self-delusion, ineptness and frustrated anger of atheistic proponents. What a contrast to the experience of yesterday – to rejoice so strongly, with so many souls, in such deep Faith. And, the rejoicing continues. Sunday will be big.
Good Friday was capped in the afternoon by wonderful time with our grand daughter Elizabeth and our son in law Brian – the very first time they have been able to visit our new place. They and their mom/wife, our youngest daughter Andrea, never were able to visit during the past two and a half years due to Andrea’s prolonged fight against a fatal illness. We all keenly realized the poignance of her not being with us here yesterday. It was gratifying to see and hear how well they are doing and, especially, the many ways in which Brian has embraced the role of the single parent dad in guiding and nurturing this lovely girl through her final two years of high school and her search for the right college.
If Good Friday is similarly important to you, I hope and trust that it was a great day.
The main speaker was Eric Metaxas a brilliant and Yale-educated thinker, researcher and writer. Best-selling works by Metaxas include three biographies (“Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery”), (“Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy), and (“Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World”). Metaxas also wrote what appears to be the most popular and shared op-ed ever published in the Wall Street Journal entitled “Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God”.
Metaxas spoke on that subject yesterday, relating key factors from his latest book release “Is Atheism Dead?” Subsequent reflection on that question - particularly after experiencing some very recent posts here on the Campfire – tells me that, no, atheism is not yet dead. But, it is going through the pre-death agony due to ongoing findings as well as non-outcomes of scientific endeavors. Another factor is the self-delusion, ineptness and frustrated anger of atheistic proponents. What a contrast to the experience of yesterday – to rejoice so strongly, with so many souls, in such deep Faith. And, the rejoicing continues. Sunday will be big.
Good Friday was capped in the afternoon by wonderful time with our grand daughter Elizabeth and our son in law Brian – the very first time they have been able to visit our new place. They and their mom/wife, our youngest daughter Andrea, never were able to visit during the past two and a half years due to Andrea’s prolonged fight against a fatal illness. We all keenly realized the poignance of her not being with us here yesterday. It was gratifying to see and hear how well they are doing and, especially, the many ways in which Brian has embraced the role of the single parent dad in guiding and nurturing this lovely girl through her final two years of high school and her search for the right college.
If Good Friday is similarly important to you, I hope and trust that it was a great day.