Irrational Atheism (5): Dawkins' Twisted View Of Luther

Richard Dawkins' foolish mistake concerning the location Martin Luther pronounced his famous line "Here I Stand" should make you wonder about his understanding of the history of Christianity. Even so, consider an examination of his claim concerning Martin Luther's view of logic.

Dawkins falsely claims that Luther rejected reason
(The God Delustion, Chapter 5, page 221[2008 paperback edition]).

Only someone who hasn't read Luther would make such a foolish claim(apparently the erudite Christopher Hitchens has also not read Luther, for he also misquotes Luther in an attempt to present Luther as a misologist--one who rejects logic--see his book "God Is Not Great," Chapter 5, page 63).

If Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, or any of their editors, would have taken the time to read Luther's famous speech at the Diet of Worms in 1521, then not only could they have learned where Luther made his famous remark "Here I Stand," but they would have also realized that Luther did not reject logic. Luther embraced logic as an essential tool for interpreting the Scriptures. Indeed, Luther held that logic was the negative test for truth. The "reason" that Luther rejected is what Dawkins would call "common sense." Luther, unlike Dawkins, did not make the mistake of basing truth on empirical conjecture.

Consider what one of Luther's students wrote about Luther and logic in the famous "Table Talk":

"When illuminated by the Holy Spirit, reason helps to interpret the Holy Scriptures."
(Table Talk, Recorded By Deitrich, Number 439, page 71, American Edition)

Luther knew that logic is an essential tool to interpret and systematize the doctrines of Scripture. Here is another quote from Table Talk:

"Prior to faith and a knowledge of God, reason is darkness, but in believers it's an excellent instrument. Just as all gifts and instruments of nature are evil in godless men, so they are good in believers."
(Table Talk, Collected By Cordatus, Number 2938b, page 183, American Edition)

Notice that this quote is also a rejection of today's popular notion of "Common Grace" perpetuated by some claiming to be Reformed.

The above information, along with the information I provide in the video, demonstrates that Martin Luther did not discount logic.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Atheism
• Agnosticism
• Humanism
• Skepticism
• Naturalism
• Darwinianism
• Materialism
• Irrationalism