It would probably be Richard Dawkins’ worst nightmare if the famous atheist said something that proved the Bible is uncannily true.
But that’s just what he did when he asked when Americans would get over their hang-ups over cannibalism. He thinks we should all start eating lab-grown “human meat,” for a reason which I think will become clear in this commentary.
But, before I explain how Dawkins’ idea actually proves the Bible right again with this outrageous idea, a little background is in order.
While no one but Dawkins, to my knowledge, is actually proposing that humans begin eating each other, he threw his idea out there in response to a tangentially related news story.
It seems a company called JUST is planning to debut what they call “clean meat” – actually lab-grown chicken, sausage and fois gras – in restaurants in the U.S. and Asia later this year. And what is “clean meat,” as they call it? It is meat made from stem cells harvested from animals and grown in a laboratory for several weeks. Presumably, it is “clean” meat because it does not involve taking the life of an animal.
It should be pointed out, however, that the Bible has a different definition of “clean” in connection with what we put into our mouths. God listed animals as “clean” and “unclean.” For instance, dogs, cats, rabbits and pigs, among many other kinds, are unclean. All shellfish are unclean. Certain other kinds of fish are unclean. God put them off limits for human consumption. They are just not regarded as “food.” You can look up the details in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. You will note there is no mention of eating or not eating human flesh in these chapters.
Elsewhere, in the Ten Commandments, for example, the murder of other humans is condemned. But the Bible elsewhere clearly condemns cannibalism as a curse, as in Leviticus 26:27-30, Deuteronomy 28:52-57, Ezekiel 5:7-11, Lamentations 2:16-21 and Jeremiah 19:7-10. It’s a punishment that results from disobedience and rejection of God and His commandments. In addition, in 1 Corinthians 39, there’s a clear distinction made between the flesh of humans from the flesh of animals.
Nevertheless, in all cases of humans eating human flesh found in the Bible, it happens as a result of famine or siege and the resulting starvation.
And this is where Richard Dawkins comes in.
He apparently has reached something of a new zenith in rejection of God in human history. That’s not to say that there haven’t been societies that resorted to cannibalism or willingly chose it in history. There is little doubt some cannibals are still around today. But there’s a difference with Dawkins. He is advocating cannibalism for others even though it’s unlikely he has actually participated in it himself. He sees cannibalism as a Judeo-Christian “taboo” that should and must be overcome.
Now, the Bible has something to say about that kind of God-hating, too.
You can find it in Romans 1. Here’s the relevant passage in verses 18-24:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.
What does this mean in the context of this topic?
It means when we purposely and systematically reject God and His ways, we are corrupted. Those, like Dawkins, who profess themselves to be wise, become fools. We become much more likely to embrace abominations – like cannibalism. Thus, Dawkins unwittingly provides evidence the Bible is true – something he is loathe to do but simply can’t help himself.
My advice?
Don’t do that.
Don’t reject God. Find out what He asks of you – His creation. You might find out it’s pretty reasonable and all for your own good.
After all, who are you going to believe – God or Dawkins?
Watch this interview of Joseph Farah discussing ‘The Restitution of All Things”:
[jwplayer yDnqft39]
