Atheism

1. Atheism–24thJuly 2016
“Even after Jesus hadperformed so manysignsin their presence, they still wouldnot believe in him”(
John12:37).
Atheismisalack of belief inanyGodand deitiesaswell asa total denial of the existence of anygod. It is
a growingmovementthatisbecomingmore aggressive,more demanding,andlesstolerantof anything
otherthan itself - asis exemplifiedbyitsadherents. Isatheismasoundphilosophical systemasa
worldview orisitultimatelyself-defeating?Isthe requirementof empirical evidence forGoda mistake
inlogicor is ita fairdemand? Can we prove thatGod existsoris that impossible? Findout more about
atheism,itsarguments,anditsproblemshere atCARM. Learn how to deal withthe argumentsraised
againstthe existence of Godthatseekto replace himwithnaturalism,materialism, andmoral
relativism.
Generally,adefinitionof atheismincludesthe belief thatthere isnoGod.Many modernday atheists
preferthe designationof "SecularHumanist"or"materialist,"butthe commonthreadamongthe
differentvarietiesof atheismisalack of acceptance of theism –whichis the belief thatthere isagod!
The "evidence"foratheismexistsinphilosophyandideology.Itdoesnotexistinanyphysical,scientific
or testable form.Interestingly,the atheistisdependentuponthe supernatural.Atheismdependsonthe
occurrence of events,which,atleastsofar, have notbeenexplainablewithinthe natural realm.Among
these are the notionsof: a. Universe comingtoexistencefromnothing.Thereforeitisan effectwithout
a cause…life appearingfromnon-life!Thisbeingthe case,the atheisticworldview mustaddresstwo
fatal mistakesitmakesregardingthe conceptof faith:Firstisthat the Atheistssay that faith is onlya
religiousconcept.Secondly theysay that faithmeans believinginsomethingwhere there isno
evidence.Let’sconsiderboth:.
In termsof the firstpoint thatfaithisonlya religiousconcept,some honestatheistswilladmitthat
atheismisa worldviewandfaith.One example isatheisticscientistGeorge Kleinwhowrote:“Iam an
atheist.My attitude isnotbasedonscience,butratheron faith. . . The absence of a Creator,the non-
existence of Godismychildhoodfaith,myadultbelief,unshakable andholy.” Threescore faithisnot
mealya conceptthat can be thisway forthat, but a intrinsicallystrongbelief.We canunderstandwhen
we read Hebrews 11: 1-3, “Nowfaithis confidenceinwhat we hopefor and assuranceaboutwhat we
do not see. 2
This iswhat the ancientswere commendedfor.3
By faithwe understandthat the universe
was formedat God’scommand,sothat what isseen wasnot made out of whatwas visible”.
As to faithbeingdefinedasabelief thatlacksevidence,nothingcouldbe furtherfromthe truth. Foran
example Science hasfaithinlogic,mathematics,natural laws,andthe intelligibilityof the universe and
believesall suchthingsare firmandwill neverchange.Peoplealsoacton faitheverydayfrommeals
theyeatin restaurants,medicinetheytake fromdoctors,andmarriagestheyparticipate inwiththeir
spouse. Inthe NewTestament,the word pistisisusedfor “faith.”It is “a state of believingonthe basis
of the reliabilityof the one trusted";“trust,confidence”;“thatwhichevokestrust”;“reliability,fidelity
pertainingtobeingworthyof belief ortrust.”Inother words,the ideathatfaithmeansblindbelief in
the face of opposingevidence isforeigninScripture. We getagood understandingwhenwe readwhat
issaid in Psalm86:2: “Guardmylife,for I am faithful toyou; save your servant who trusts inyou. You
are my God”.

2. Contraryto general thinking,the atheistbelief systemreliesonfaithtoo.The atheistfaithisnotina
"god,"per se,butin the hope that natural explanationswill somedaybe discoveredforseemingly
supernatural events.Inanutshell,the atheistfaith statementis asfollows: A. Goddoesn’texistbecause
science explainsthe universewithouthim; B.Evenif a finely-tuneduniverse andcomplex life onearth
suggesta firstcause/designer,there’stoomuchpainandsufferinginthe worldtobelieve inGod;(C)
The Bible doesn’tprovide anyguidanceonthe subject,because it’smerelyaproductof myth,legend,
and religiouscontrol;and D. A moral andmeaningful life doesn’trequire God,anyway…
But as Christianswe believemuchdifferently!We have faithinGod and throughsame we have the
possibilityof salvationfromthe manysinswe have done inourlifetime.We needto share ourChristian
faithwithas manyas we can duringourday to day lives. We needtoexplainwhoGodwas,whoHe is
and whoHe will be toeach andeveryone of us on earth.Insteadof hearsay like inthe case of the
atheist, we have the bible whichhas the reliabilityof the manuscriptsfromwhichtoday'sBibleswere
translated.Remarkably,there iswidespreadevidence foritsabsolute reliability.We canlearnfrom
Romans1:17, “Forin the gospel the righteousnessofGodis revealed—arighteousnessthat isby faith
from firstto last, justas it is written: “The righteouswill live by faith.”