Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength    (1 Corinthians 1: 20-25)

A new militant Anti-Christianism is afoot. Best-selling books by the likes of Dawkins, Dennett, and Hitchens and others ridicule and pillory Christianity. Christians are deluded, they aver. Christianity is an anti-scientific font of ignorance. Worse, it's at the root of much evil in the world: it fosters intolerance and hatred of non-Christians, and can be blamed for many wars and other horrors. Humanity would be much better off without it.

This is not the proper forum to offer a full-dress rebuttal of these best-selling caricatures of our faith. There have of course been horrible crimes committed by many who profess to be Christians, and many fundamentalist Christians find it impossible to reconcile their faith with modern science and so reject the latter. On the other hand, our faith has also been an enormous force for good, at the root of the very notion of human equality, and at the forefront of movements for social justice. Moreover, as Etienne Gilson, Pierre Duhem and others have argued, modern science is deeply indebted to Judeo-Christian rational inquiry and to the notion of a world created by a beneficent and rational law-giver. More importantly, we as Christians experience the work of God in our lives, our Lord who in His love transforms and sustains us.

In the face of the new Anti-Christianism, we can take comfort that our faith lives on, even though from its inception it has always seemed foolish to many. As Paul reminds us, "the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." The Word will stand long after the Dawkins, Dennetts, and Hitchens of the world have passed away.

Dear God, though your glory surpasses our understanding, strengthen our faith that we may understand you better, however foolish we may seem to those who reject your Word. Amen

Contributed by Pierre
Sunday August 12, 2007
Liturgical Year C Week 37