Waking Up to the Wonder That Is Around Us All the Time

I have been reading with pleasure the writings of the so-called "New Atheists" including Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. There is much that an open minded person of Faith can gather from these prominent thinkers. Two salient points bear mentioning. Religion must be examined by the light of our own reason. It is important to question our assumptions and make our own informed decisions regarding our beliefs about the world and our place in it, using the full capacity of our intellect. Secondly, religion has a powerful influence on our thoughts, opinions, and most importantly, our behavior towards our fellow humans. I believe we have a responsibility to ask ourselves if our beliefs lead to division and separation, or towards tolerance and unity.

Lest anyone think that these authors are not aware of the mystery and beauty of our universe, listen to the brilliant Oxford scientist Richard Dawkins' series of lectures regarding the elegant process by which life gradually evolves on this planet. In these lectures, Growing Up In the Universe, Professor Dawkins encourages "shaking off the anesthetic of familiarity and waking up to the wonder that is around us all the time".