Fathering Atheism

James Spiegel, in his book, The Making of an Atheist shows how closely atheism and fatherlessness are connected.

The historic consistency of these two things cannot be ignored, and they should be a wake up call to all fathers. Here is a list of a few of the most skeptical figures in the modern era, and the relationship (or lack of!) they had with their fathers.

ATHEISTS WHOSE FATHER DIED

David Hume: was 2 when his father died

Arthur Schopenhaur: was 16 when his father died

Friedrich Nietzsche: was 4 when his father died

Bertrand Russell: was 4 when his father died

Jean-Paul Sartre: was 15 months old when his father died

Albert Camus: was 1 when his father died

ATHEISTS WITH WEAK FATHERS

Thomas Hobbes: was 7 when his father left the family

Voltaire: had a bitter relationship with his father, whose surname (Arouet) he disowned

Baron d'Holbach: was estranged from his father and rejected his surname (Thiry)

Ludwig Feuerbach: was scandalized by his father's public rejection of his family (to live with another woman)

Samuel Butler: was physically and emotionally brutalized by his father

Sigmund Frued: had contempt for his father as a "sexual pervert" and as a weak man

H.G. Wells: despised his father who neglected his family

Madalyn Murray O'Hair: intensely hated her father, probably due to child abuse

Albert Ellis: was neglected by his father, who eventually abandoned the family

THE FOUR HORSEMEN

Daniel Dennet: was 5 when his father died in a plane crash

Christopher Hitchens: apparently his father was very distant (he said: "I don't remember a thing about him. It was all her [his mother], for me.")

Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins: very little is known about their relationship with their fathers.

(The Making of an Atheist, 64-69)

One could easily miss the point of the above information. I am not suggesting that fatherlessness equals atheism in all cases at all times. There are certainly exceptions, and their is obviously nothing one can do if their father dies! But one cannot overlook the fact that the Bible calls men to disciple, discipline, teach, admonish, protect, encourage, and walk with their children. The entire book of Proverbs seems to be geared toward young men, who would have children and would need to know how to teach them! In fact, the Virtuous Woman passage in Proverbs 31:10-31, is not primarily seeking to teach woman how they ought to live. It is meant to teach men what kind of woman to look for (though it certainly should be read as a radical call to biblical womanhood!). Make no mistake about it, biblically speaking, fathers are most responsible for their children.

My point here is not to discredit godly, dedicated mothers. In fact, my point is to help them! Men, it is your (and my) calling and duty and delight to lead and disciple your children. Many of you reading this had weak fathers who were more concerned with work, women, wealth, and the weekend. If you are not careful, you will follow in their footsteps. You must severe your proclivity toward cowardly, distant, aggressive relating and plunge yourself into Christ who will love your children through you. Girls need men who will hold them, take them on dates, and teach them what kind of man to marry. Boys need men who will wrestle with them, pray with them, and teach them how to pursue a woman.

Men affect everyone, especially their children. This might mean you have to put down the fishing and hunting gear or the golf clubs. When you stand before God, he will not ask you how many 10 lb bass you caught or how many 57 Fords you remodeled. He will call to account how well you loved and encouraged your children.

Gotta go, my son is crying!

GB