[newheart]

"Why should we tolerate a nonbeliever telling us that belief is absurd?"

We tolerate the unbeliever commenting about belief for the same reason that God has not chosen to simply end his little "experiment" with creation. Because it is not his will that any should perish. In time and under the right circumstances brought about by the Holy Spirit, even the confimred atheist like Dawkins can be brought to faith.

If, in fact, we should not tolerate the non-believer, I would be curious to know what form "in-toleration" would take.

[hocndoc]

Dr. Dawkins is the perfect example of those for whom we are admonished to pray, feed and nurture, in order to heap coals on his head (an analogy to the metal refining methods of the day, not really a wish to torture the poor man). Matthew 5:44 and Proverbs 25:21-22

[My2Cents]

A minor correction of impression: I'm not suggesting we not tolerate the unbeliever, but questioning why we should tolerate an unbeliever telling us that belief is absurd. Wouldn't it be great if the grace of God were to penetrate Dawkins' iron-encased heart?! But why should anyone take seriously his ramblings about faith when he has never entered into a position of faith? Again, he speaks of what he does not know.