Are Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens actually fulfilling God's prophecy?

Question

The Scriptures prophesy in 2 Peter 3 that in the last days "scoffers" (skeptics and mockers) shall arise encouraging people to turn away from God and walk after their own lusts. Within the last few years there have arisen many atheists, most notably Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennett, who are inadvertently fulfilling precisely what this prophecy says. Do you think that this may be a sign that we are indeed in the end times and the activities of these men are ironically a fulfillment of God's prophecy?

Answer 1

People who believe that the existence of skeptics such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett are an indication of the end times coming are delusional, partaking in wishful thinking, and are not well versed in history.

Skeptics of religion, and especially critics of Christianity, have existed since the religion’s inception. Men like Socrates questioned theism, especially in its polytheistic format, as a general concept, over 2000 years ago. David Hume and Thomas Paine undermined the two most powerful arguments for the existence of God, the cosmological and teleological arguments, over two centuries ago. And many critics of the 20th century such as George H. Smith (Atheism: The Case Against God - 1979) and Michael Martin (Atheism: A Philosophical Justification -1991) have written incisive polemic destroying theistic contentions from every angle.

So skepticism in religion is not in any sense a new phenomenon. It has been around and it will always be around. There is nothing prescient about what was written in the Bible, concerning the rise of people who are skeptical. After all many questioned Jesus’ teachings and the Apostles’ testimony during their time, so it naturally follows that people would question God and his tenets in the future. One does not have to attribute this to supernatural prophetic ability, but just plain common sense.

So the current rash of atheistic criticism is nothing new, but it feels like it is because the Internet and the general media have made information accessible to more people than ever before. Usually subjects like atheism were confined to academia. With the institution of new communication technologies, these previously fringe and esoteric subjects have become democratized and accessible to the common man.

There is no “fulfillment of prophecy” here, just your wish that there was.

Answer 2

There have been so called "scoffers" since the very beginning. It's just that now you can't just kill or imprison them for not maintaining your beliefs. Now if you're a well respected member of the scientific/academic community and you fashion a thorough argument based on empiricism and logic you're more likely to get tenure at a major university. I'm sure plenty of people called Gallileo, Dostoevsky and Nietzsche "scoffers" for their terrible ideas (sarcasm). Even in the 60's people were equating atheism w/ communism or facism, which was tantamount to treason in the USA.

Answer 3

You know, this is part of the reason why theists (in my opinion, unfairly) have a reputation of not being able to think. Instead of actually responding to Dawkins' and Hitchens' arguments, you automatically dismiss everything they say as "end times prophecy". I think people would give Christians a lot more credit if so many of them didn't just throw up their hands and shout "it's end times prophecy! God predicted it would happen!" at every person who argues against their religion.

Answer 4

Actually,I agree withyou.They (along with many others)do appear to fulfill Daniel 12: 4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED.

Answer 5

That is about the least insightful "prophecy" I've ever heard. There has been opposition to religion, since the conception of religion. Saying that people will mock it is like saying the sun will rise tomorrow.

Answer 6

You do realize that there have been scoffers through out the years? This period of time is no different than any other.

Of course, if this is a fulfillment of prophecy, it is a rather weak one.

Answer 7

Well said Eleventy!!

I am currently reading a Daniel Dennet book, and have read at least one from the all the others you mentioned.

Who knew that atheists were capable of doing work for god?!

Answer 8

Amazing! I prophesized that people would continue to be skeptical of something that makes little sense and people are told to just believe or they will be punished. Am I god?

Answer 9

do you think skeptics played a part in the end of the Mayan callender world?

Answer 10

Look up 'self-fulfilling prophecy' in a dictionary.

In any case, 'people won't believe this' is a pretty lousy prediction.