PHILIP HALCROW
evidence Within reason The Christian Evidence Society it used a van with a fold-down pulp
Edward Carter
For 150 years, the Christian Evidence Society has been arguing the case for Christianity. Its chair, the Rev Canon EDWARD CARTER, talks with Philip Halcrow about Darwin, debates and why Richard Dawkins ‘has defined his parameters wrong’
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TS origins were in the era of Charles Darwin, so it seems appropriate that its present chair, the Rev Canon Edward Carter, tells me: ‘The good thing about the Christian Evidence Society is that it has evolved quite creatively.’ Edward explains how the society, which discusses and argues for the Christian faith, began in 1870 and has continually found new ways to commuicate its message, so that it is now celebrating its 150th anniversary. ‘Early on, there were some big public events, and that was in the first flush of the Darwin debates and the discussions about science and religion,’ he says. ‘It’s easy to overdramatise it, but at the time there was a sense in which some of the old certainties of faith were under attack. There were a variety of responses. Some people in the churches pulled up the drawbridge and said: “You can’t interfere with our spiritual insights. We just know we’re right.” Others realised that such an approach wasn’t going to work in terms of trying to explain the faith. ‘The basis of the Christian Evidence Society was that, by discussion, debate
10 • War Cry • 20 June 2020
and presentation of ideas, it would be possible to talk about the faith in a reasoned way. It has been about seeing what philosophical and theological issues the world is talking about and then beginning a conversation. Doing that has meant different things in different eras, because what people are talking about has changed over the past 150 years.’ Earlier this month, the group’s Facebook page hosted a live discussion with theologian NT Wright about God and the coronavirus. A series of lectures scheduled to take place to mark the society’s 150th anniversary – but inescapably cancelled – was due to have explored quotes that have gained widespread attention over the past few years, including journalist Christopher Hitchens’s assertion, ‘Religion poisons everything’ and comedian Stephen Fry’s questioning, ‘Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?’ The Facebook live stream highlights
that it is not only the specific topics up for discussion that have changed. The Christian Evidence Society’s methods have too. It previously would appear at open-air gatherings where it would engage with the ‘freethinkers’. It once owned a van that had been modified to feature a fold-down pulpit. It has published booklets in print and more recently online. ‘Nowadays,’ says Edward, ‘instead of soapboxes on Speakers’ Corner, we have a website and social media.’ Through these, the society draws attention to archaeological finds, philosophical discussions and scientific discoveries to make the case for Christianity. Edward explains that the group’s work is not about presenting ‘some mathematical proof of God’ but of exploring ‘reasonable ways in which we can understand the spiritual aspect of life’. What constitutes Christian evidence? ‘Different people would start in different places,’ says Edward. ‘One person would
Our work is not about presenting mathematical proof
