Dealing with Dawkins
by John Blanchard

Evangelical Press, 2010, 82 pages.

Reviewed by Andrew Roycroft

For many years the term ‘evolution’ was popularly identified with one man’s name: Charles Darwin. While the Victorian scientist’s reputation has by no means waned, another individual’s profile has risen at an exponential rate to take its place beside the father of this most modern of theories. I am referring, of course, to Richard Dawkins. Until his recent retirement, Dawkins served as the Charles Simonyi Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University, but his name has become more sharply identified with the ‘New Atheism’, and its strong statements about the solidity of non-faith and the shakiness of belief. His book The God Delusion has sold over 2 million copies in its English imprint, and has been in the vanguard of the ‘New Atheism’ assault on belief in the Western World.

Given the popularity and publicity which this title has attracted it can be easy for Christians to feel daunted about addressing the issues raised by such a prominent academic, and even of witnessing to individuals who have read it. Inevitably, the Christian press has not been silent, and a plethora of titles have appeared which address what Dawkins has to say about the ‘delusion’ of believing in God.

Among these volumes is John Blanchard’s excellent little book Dealing with Dawkins. Running to just 82 pages, Blanchard does not attempt to dismantle everything that Dawkins has to say in his popular publication, but rather gets to the premises which underpin his argument, and exposes the fault lines which run through them.

A number of things about this title recommend themselves to the reader. Firstly, its brevity means that even Christians who do not count themselves to be ‘readers’ can easily work their way through this material, gaining confidence that Dawkins has not presented an irrefutable case against being a Christian, and resourcing themselves to speak intelligently about why Dawkins is wrong to write as he does. Secondly, the approach which Blanchard takes in his writing is at once rigorous and gracious, strong and measured. The author is careful not to attack Dawkins at a personal level, stating that his aim is to ‘play the ball, not the man’. This is realised admirably throughout the work, with Blanchard approaching the often hostile and bitter rhetoric of Dawkins with precision and clarity, but never vitriol.

One of the key winning elements in Blanchard’s approach is his ability to depict Dawkins as adopting an extreme position, and one which many other atheists would struggle to endorse. This is helpful, as Blanchard often counters Dawkins’ arguments with those of other atheists who find themselves embarrassed by the prevalence of heat and absence of light to be found in The God Delusion. This allows Blanchard to de-personalise his approach to the subject, and also to show that Dawkins is very far short of disproving the Christian faith.

This is by no means to suggest that Blanchard wears kid gloves in his work. He is unafraid of exposing Dawkins’ facile understanding of the Bible, theology and history, and is quick to correct the grandiose statements which The God Delusion is happy to make but not substantiate. His arguments centre around dispossessing science of its overweening sense of omniscience, showing the moral implications of rejecting God, demonstrating the virtuous effect of faith in life and culture, examining the case for God, surveying the authenticity of Scripture, and holding Jesus Christ up as the One who has lived, died and risen again. This is a lot of information to pack into 82 short pages, but Blanchard manages to combine erudition with brevity, and the result is a pacy, punchy book which keeps hold of its central argument throughout.

Christians may make two uses of this book. Firstly it is a great source of encouragement to read solid apologetics such as this, and to have one’s heart warmed by the reason for belief. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Dealing with Dawkins resources individuals and churches with an excellent evangelistic text, one which is thorough enough to be convincing, and brief enough to be digested.

All in all this is a superb little book, painstakingly researched, thoughtfully phrased, methodologically accomplished, and eminently readable. I would recommend that every Christian obtain a copy, read it thoroughly, and distribute it freely.