These two ideas, Evolutionary
Approach and Original Monotheism are at odds and will be continually at odds in
a Post-Christian society. For a fundamental assumption on the part of atheism
is that of the evolutionary model for not simply biological creatures but also
for culture. In so assuming the Atheist logically follows the outcome of what
should happen in an ideal circumstance, namely that of progressively tighter
organization, belief systems and reason. This would continue until there is no
more need for religious institutions and doctrine, as reason would dictate. But
against this idea stands Original Monotheism, which assumes that religion began
as monotheistic and spiraled out of control in to polytheism, henotheism,
animism and fetishism while a segment of that original monotheism was preserved
by that original deity (the Christian God).[1]
The evidence for Monotheism is, it
would seem, weightier than that of the Evolutionary Approach. For the
Evolutionary Approach assumes that all culture and society are gradually
evolving into more and more unity, but in many ways society and culture do not
seem to be evolving in that direction at all. Therefore Original Monotheism’s
approach of an almost devolution of religion and society makes a good case.
It is this portion of Corduan’s
book and the way in which he interprets all religions discussed therein through
the lens of Original Monotheism that makes his book unique and, presumably,
more helpful to those aiming at living in, or already living in, an ever
increasing Post-Christian culture. But John Dickson provides helpful insight
into what is now being faced in American Culture at large, namely the issue of
pluralism.
While quoting Chris McGillion from The Sydney Morning Herald Dickson writes
of what sophisticated pluralism is,
“The very diversity
of religions… speaks to a truth – that all people in every time and place have
felt the need to respond to the infinite… The various religious traditions are
the ‘how’ of that response… All religions are truthful in far more important
ways than some of their propositions are false.”[2]
In reading this description of pluralism C.S. Lewis comes to
mind, “We cannot tell it because it is a desire for something that has never
actually appeared in our experience. We cannot hide it because our experience
is constantly suggesting it, and we betray ourselves like lovers at the mention
of a name…”[3]
that there is indeed something more mankind is aiming for, reaching for, or
grasping at attaining because within all humanity is a hardwired desire for, as
McGillion would say it, “the infinite.” But Lewis does not leave off with the
same conclusion McGillion’s does, nor does he assume, as so many pluralists do,
all religions are the same but rather he continues with,
“These things – the
beauty, the memory, of our own past – are good images of what we really desire;
but if they are mistaken for the thing itself, they turn into dumb idols,
breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the thing itself;
they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of tune we have
not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.”[4]
So it is that pluralism, while seeking to describe the paths
of religions almost grasp hold of Blaise Pascal’s God shaped vacuum
inside of us all.
Thus
in contrast Corduan’s book helps those of a Post-Christian culture become more
aware of the arguments of those around them while Dickson would be of more help
to one in a Post-Modern culture. Corduan writes of more about the basis behind
religions and, from this position, discusses the belief systems of various
religious systems. Dickson attempts to present a fair treatment of each
religion based on their fundamental doctrinal beliefs.
[1] However Original Monotheism
assumes that God is real and God is at the center of all. This is the idea that
Atheists will indeed argue against. But the question at hand is not to argue
for or against the existence of God but rather to pose the question, “If
Original Monotheism is true, then…”
[2] John Dickson in A Spectators’ Guide to World Religions An Introduction to the Big
Five. P 218 Lion Hudson, 2008
[3] C.S. Lewis. The Weight of
Glory p 30-31. Harper Collins, NY 1949
[4] Ibid
