Human beings need religion. People who proclaim themselves to be ‘non-religious,’ still possess sacred beliefs and values. Every person believes in right and wrong. It’s inescapable. Refusing to acknowledge those beliefs as ‘religious’ is just stubbornness.
In their silly attempt to divorce themselves from religion, God-haters often preach the gospel of ‘Critical Thinking.’ The primary dogma of this religion is that rationality, reason, and logic are sacred. Like every other religious belief, this dogma cannot be empirically proven. It must be accepted by faith.
A rational, reasonable, logical person will admit to having faith. It is simply conceding that there are things we believe which we cannot confirm to be true. Anyone who tells you that they have no faith, is not thinking critically.
The people who have no faith (or religion) prefer to be called, ‘skeptics’ (rather than ‘nincompoops’). By equating ‘doubts’ with ‘critical thinking,’ the Skeptics claim intellectual superiority over those of us who correctly admit to some kind of religious faith. There is zero basis for claiming superiority other than bias for their presuppositions. A critical thinker will agree. A skeptic will simply sneer.
Dr. Dad values skepticism so much that he’s got a website dedicated to the mission of turning children into smug, banal atheists. He proclaims himself to be ‘raising critical thinkers’ which my skepticism won’t allow me to accept without evidence. Mocking the religious beliefs of others doesn’t qualify as critical thought; especially when you can’t identify a single religious belief in yourself.
If you’re a critical thinker, you won’t need to tell me. Your speech will give you away. By the same token, expecting me to ‘take your word for it’ that you don’t have faith, let’s me know you’re not thoughtful.
Christians: only people who acknowledge God are capable of critical thought. Those who deny God’s existence have nothing to teach.
(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.