The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God?

Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash

I have to say that I was intrigued, but initially unconvinced by Justin Brierly’s case for The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God on first hearing. Now I haven’t read the book, but I’ve listened to various podcasts about it with Justin and think I’ve got the gist of it.

Part of me was incredulous because I’ve read and written about the statistics on religious decline in the West (USA, UK, Europe, Australia, NZ, Canada, etc) and it doesn’t exactly give you the impression that a revival is about to break out at any moment.

That said, I’m beginning to rethink my pessimism.

First, as I’ve pointed out, even Richard Dawkins is now promoting “cultural Christianity.” Instead of arguing with creationists, Dawkins is now arguing with gender activists that there are only two sexes, and claiming that free-speech is better than censorship. He definitely prefers the old foe compared to the new one!

Second, in a Twitter video, Russian-British comedian/commentator Konstantin Kisin talks about being a “lapsed atheist,” which sounds like a guy who desperately wants to be religious. He says while religion might lend itself to violence, the absence of religion seems to create even more and worse violence.

Third, I’ve just watched the video of UK comedian/commentator Russell Brand talk about his recent baptism. This is very interesting and dare I say moving, he makes some good points about why young people want “God” in their life. This dove tails with the conversion of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who went from Islam, to atheism, and now to Christianity. She told Richard Dawkins it was very much part of a spiritual yearning in her life.

Fourth, in an interview with Justin Brierly, historian Tom Holland talked about how a cancer diagnosis and its cure led him to become a kind of believing agnostic.

As much as I feel a sense of dirtiness by paying any compliment to an Englishman, I’m starting to think that Justin Brierly is right. Perhaps there is a surprising rebirth of belief in God.

But why?

Well, I think a lot of people are realizing that a Christian-based society is better than a Caliphate or Rainbow Stalinism.

Spirituality is better than living through our devices in some technologically infused hedonistic hellscape.

Religion provides meaning, purpose, and a moral compass to human existence.

Christianity is a great story of love through sacrifice, love of neighbor, redemption and reconciliation.

And maybe … the Holy Spirit is moving in amazing ways today!