A while ago, I came across the following quote from Richard Dawkins:
"(…) I lately started to think that we need to go further: go beyond humorous ridicule, sharpen our barbs to a point where they really hurt.
Michael Shermer, Michael Ruse, Eugenie Scott and others are probably right that contemptuous ridicule is not an expedient way to change the minds of those who are deeply religious. But I think we should probably abandon the irremediably religious precisely because that is what they are – irremediable. I am more interested in the fence-sitters who haven’t really considered the question very long or very carefully. And I think that they are likely to be swayed by a display of naked contempt. Nobody likes to be laughed at. Nobody wants to be the butt of contempt…"
I must say it was rather surprising to me that Dawkins so openly admitted to the employment of this shameless strategy. Actually, many people (atheists and theists alike) have responded negatively to it. This seems to have led Dawkins to remove the corresponding article from his blog (original link doesn’t work anymore).
Weeks later, I came across a completely unrelated topic here started by @BradKramer linking to an article of Creation.com. That article is as “anti-BioLogos” as conceivably possible which is to be expected from YEC writers. But what shocked me was the contemptuous tone of the article. I was thinking by myself, if they really want to “save” BioLogos and affiliates, such contempt is not an efficient approach at all… Something just didn’t seem to fit.
Going over this whole situation in my mind, suddenly something clicked. Linking back to the quote of Dawkins, I started to entertain the idea that those YEC articles are not aimed at helping Evolutionary Creationists to “repent” at all… Instead, those tactics are aimed at convincing the “fence-sitters”: those Christians that haven’t made up their minds yet on the topic of origins. Apparently, any means are allowed for attaining that goal, even if it neccesitates the contemptuous ridicule of fellow Christians (given that they even accept ECs as having authentic faith).
What do you guys think, is this idea correct? How could we foster more respect? Will this situation change some time in the future? It kind of confuses me that Christians are actually willing to sink to the level of Dawkins in their way of treating others…