Sam's Song

Senator Sam of Kansas wrote an explanation of his hand-raising experience with evolution in the NY Times, an article that he also sent to the KC Star and probably to many other Kansas newpapers. Since you have probably seen the piece for yourself. I won't try to dissect it and discourse thereon. I merely want to comment on an oxymoron that appears in the summation. The oxymoron is "atheistic theology", a phrase he alluded to in describing evolution gone bad (in his view).

Atheistic means of or pertaining to one who denies the existence of God, or for that matter, any and all gods. Theology means the rational interpretation of religious faith, practice and experience. Religious means of or relating to the divine, i.e. God. Pray tell me, how can one have an "atheistic theology". They are mutually exclusive, ergo, their combination in language is an oxymoron. I feel that people who must ultimately resort to an oxymoron to place a capstone on what they think is an unassailable argument are constructing a veritable house of cards.