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Reason has its place, but the human heart yearns for awe

By Brian Rosner - posted Tuesday, 18 September 2012


In the end, can a materialistic worldview account for the human heart?

To what end is my sense of justice and my yearning for transcendence, and so on, in purely evolutionary terms?

A big challenge for the New Atheists is to engage not just our minds but also our hearts. If you like, our right brain as well as our left.

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What seems to be missing from the atheist accounts of the human condition is an acknowledgement of our vulnerability and frailty, along with our sense of wonder and awe. As Dostoevsky's Underground Man insisted, there's more to life than two times two equals four.

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This article was first published in The Australian on September 13, 2012.



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About the Author

Brian Rosner is the principal of Ridley Melbourne and a fellow of the Centre for Public Christianity.

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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