Writing in the 40’s, C.S. Lewis found himself “constantly opposed not by the irreligion of our hearers but by their real religion.” The “real religion” of the popular world of Lewis’ time was one that he defined as Pantheism. Pantheism is the religious idea that the universe or nature is one with the divine. Pantheistic religions include Hinduism and New Age. Buddhism, though pantheistic, claims to be a philosophy rather than a religion because at core it is atheistic. Nevertheless, most would see Buddhism as a religion as well.
For Lewis to claim that most opponents of theistic belief were Pantheists is not to suggest, however, that most of his opponents were adherents of an Eastern religion. Instead, what Lewis was pointing to was the naturalism of his day that dismissed the idea of God and replaced him with the universe, or nature, or naturalistic evolution. MacArthur argues that Carl Sagan well represented this form of naturalistic pantheism with his motto, “the cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be.” According to Sagan’s description, the universe seems a great deal like a god. It is of YAHWEH that the angels proclaim in Revleation 4:7, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” MacArthur goes on to argue that in Sagan’s worldview (insert: religion), the cosmos is God and scientists are the new priesthood.
In this new religion, all moral and ethical accountability is erased in the name of naturalism, evolution, and survival of the fittest. It is common for those who oppose Christianity or any form of theism to claim that religion is bad for the world and that they are opposed to religion. In truth however, once one has asserted the eternal nature of the cosmos and its power to create, sustain, and end life, one has ceased to worship the Creator and has instead turned to worship of the creation. Naturalism is certainly more advanced in some ways than Native American totem worship or ancient Buddhism, but the claim that all is one is a religious claim.
As Christians, we must recognize the pantheistic religion of naturalism pervading our culture. We are not afraid of or opposed to science. In fact, as believers, we should cherish learning and understanding for all truth is God’s truth. The primary difference between the naturalist and the Christian is not science for science is not where the conflict really lies (As Plantinga has shown very well). Science is the method for discovery and the method is not the issue, the real difference between Christians and naturalists is not the method, but the starting point. Christians begin with a belief in an all-powerful creator who has revealed himself clearly in the Bible. Christians see God as the ground of all being and the Bible as the primary authority. Naturalists begin with the assumption that God does not exist and that the Bible is a fable to be debunked.
Understanding the difference between Christians (and even theists) and naturalists can help believers to be more effective at evangelism and apologetics. An accurate understanding is also important as we engage in the public sphere over issues such as the distinction between church and state. Science should be taught rigorously in our school systems, but if all religion is excluded from the public school system then so too should be naturalism. We live in a constant struggle, not between those who believe and those who don’t, but rather those who believe and those who have traded the truth of God for the lies of Satan and worship only the shadows of God’s glory and beauty displayed in his creation. The naturalist is religious, his god is the cosmos and his priests are those who advocate for and espouse his worldview, but naturalism is not synonymous with science. Christians need not fear science or naturalism, but we do need to be aware. Science should be welcomed and embraced, naturalism should be challenged and corrected. After all the scientific method is only effective if there is a God who has chosen to create in predictable patterns (but that is a topic too long to discuss today).
