The Many Faces, and Causes, of Unbelief - Apologetics Press

than Oxford professor Richard Dawkins conceded as much.
In his book, The Selfish Gene, Dr. Dawkins discussed at great
length the gene’s role in the naturalistic process of “survival
of the fittest” and admitted that, according to the evolutionary
paradigm, genes are “selfish” because they will do whatever
it takes to ensure that the individual in which they are
stored produces additional copies of the genes. In commenting
on the effects of such a concept on society as a whole, he
then lamented: “My own feeling is that a human society based
simply on the gene’s law of universal ruthlessness would be a
very nasty society in which to live” (1989b, p. 3).
When men act consistently, when men act congruously,
and when men act correctly—in keeping with the cardinal doctrines
of their respective world views—which system has more
to recommend itself, belief or unbelief? To ask is to answer, is
it not? One system—belief—teaches that we should esteem others
better than ourselves, love our neighbors, and be self-sacrificing
even unto death. The other—unbelief—teaches a “survival
of the fittest” concept that makes nature “red in tooth
and claw” so that the strong subjugates the weak, might makes
right, and “selfish genes” ensure that it is “every man for himself.”
Truth be told, whom would you rather have for your
neighbor—the believer, or the unbeliever?
UNBELIEF
When you see the above section heading of “Unbelief”
listed as a cause of unbelief, you might think that surely I
have erred. How, pray tell, could unbelief be a cause of unbelief?
Please allow me to explain.
It is my contention that unbelief engenders more unbelief.
In his book, Therefore Stand, Wilbur M. Smith compared
unchecked unbelief to
...a contagious disease. Unless it is restrained it grows
in intensity, and will infect an increasingly large number
of people. It is difficult to determine whether this
is an age of unbelief because so many men do not believe,
or many men do not believe because it is an age
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