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EVANGELIZING AN ATHEIST
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22 MARCH 2009
INTRODUCTION
I saw in the news some months ago regarding some Atheist
responding to the Christian themed banners posted in the subways of Europe
threatening non-believers of eternal damnation. Atheists responded by
funding a campaign to counteract the Christian message by posting signs
displayed in and around London and Genoa reading, The Bad News is, There
is No God; The Good News is You Dont Need Him. This is just the latest in a
worldwide campaign to debunk the very idea of God and to mock religion,
especially Christianity.
Context
With the influence of Atheism ideas thru internet blogging, believers
are threatened by the dominating argumentation of Atheists asking for
historical proof of God. Christians, who thought to be faithful, are taking the
bait and engage in a heated argumentation and presentation of proof with
Atheists.
The Problem
Internet blogs are an open venue for interactive discussions where
people share their thoughts openly and unrestrictedly. Atheists are calling
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believers to prove the existence of God. Several problems may result from
the following:
1. Christians with marginal knowledge of the Christian doctrine may be
outlasted by Atheist inquiries.
2. Christians who do not have deep personal relationship with God will
become an easy prey to Atheist arguments.
3. Even if Christians stays unconvinced, the Atheist arguments will affect
the lives of ordinary frustrated Christians.
Significance
This paper aims to formulate a remarkable approach to facing Atheistic
challenges. To formulate a coherent and organized presentation of Christian
position that will explore other modes of proving Gods existence.
Methodology
To gain an understanding of the Atheist arguments, I joined streaming
discussions with various Atheist-led postings. I started making approaches to
the discussions with Atheists through the interactive postings. In the process,
the effort led me to further study other sources of stronger 1Christian
positions. I will present the progress of my discussions with Atheists as well
as the materials I found that provides a better approach to evangelizing
Atheists.
Scope
1 From the Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Fr. Ronald Tacelli, SJ (Intervarsity Press, 1994)
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This paper is focused only on the progress of my research and
discussions with Atheists. I qualify that other Atheist positions may present
other relevant arguments not discussed in my examples.
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I. UNDERSTANDING ATHEISTS CORE BELIEFS
2Atheism is the philosophical position that either affirms the
nonexistence of gods or rejects theism. When defined more broadly, atheism
is the absence of belief in deities, sometimes called nontheism. Although
atheists are commonly assumed to be irreligious, some religions, such as
Buddhism, have been characterized as atheistic.
The term atheism originated from the Greek (atheos), which was
derogatively applied to anyone thought to believe in false gods, no gods, or
doctrines that stood in conflict with established religions.
Atheists reject the idea that a God exist claiming that there are no
observable proof of its existence. Even refutes all religious texts and
mediums as inconclusive and lacks testimonies of eye witness accounts. To
obtain an understanding of the Atheist position, I outlined the basic
arguments against theism3:
1. Science Scientific proof that the Bible is not "The Word of God" as
much of it has been shown by science to be false. For example, the
Bible suggests that the earth is the center of the universe.
2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Atheism3 David Mills,Atheist Universe (U.S., Ulyses Press: 2006) p.24-63
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2. Logic Based on Thomas Aquinas cosmological argument, everything
needs a cause to account for its existence. The so-called "First Cause"
argument, however, is a textbook illustration of ad hoc reasoning. For
if "everything needs a cause to account for its existence," then we are
forced to address the question of who or what created God? If God
always existed, and therefore needs no causal explanation, then the
original premise of the cosmological argumentthat everything needs
a cause has been shown to be erroneous: something can exist
without a cause. If everything except God requires a cause, then the
"First Cause" argument becomes ad hoc [i.e., inconsistent and
prejudicially applied] and is thus logically impermissible.
3. Burden of proof Between two existence, the burden of proof falls
upon the affirmative position: that a god does exist. Atheists have no
obligation to prove or disprove anything.
4. Injustice The Bibleboth Old and New Testamentsis filled with
instances in which God, in various incarnations, supposedly orders
people and armies to be murdered (including innocent children and
women) or to commit murder.
5. Disorder There is some degree of beauty and order within Nature. But
each year, Nature also cruelly victimizes millions of perfectly innocent
men, women and children through natural disasters: earthquakes,
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hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, lightning, fires, drought, starvation and
epidemic disease.
6. Inconsistencies in Religious Medium The Bible does indeed say that
"God is love" (1 John 4:8). It also says that "Love is not jealous" (1
Corinthians 13:4). Then we are told that "I, the Lord thy God, am a
jealous God" (Exodus 20:5). "God is love" when He is not torturing
billions of non-Christians in Hell or ordering the Israelites to "keep the
virgins for yourselves" but massacre all the innocent men, women and
male children in the confiscated Promised Land (Numbers 31:18).
Another source of interactive discussions from 4a video presentation
from http\\www.YouTube.com of a guy who was once a Christian and has
been defending the Christian faith until his faith cannot be defended
anymore from Atheist inquiries and been converted to Atheism. His
arguments are grounded from the existence of atrocities in the Bible and the
inconsistencies in it becoming glaring. He presented the probability of the
authenticity of each religion claiming to be the right one. He contends that
there are 150 different world religion with at least one million practicing
believers and approximately 10,000 practicing religions. If world religions
share the worlds population, the probability of having a correct one is
approximately 0.01% only. With Christianity having 33,830 different
denominations, it reduces further the correct religion to 0.002% of the total
world population. He also discusses the absurdity of faith in Christianity. With4www.YouTube.com, search To All Christians on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT-mrvrPJIs&feature=emailhttp://www.youtube.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT-mrvrPJIs&feature=email7/28/2019 Evangelizing Atheists - Thesis1
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Gods supposed omnipotence, he cant forgive the smallest sin without killing
Himself. He also criticizes Christians threatening unbelievers to be tortured in
hell by a loving God.
II. ANALYSIS OF ATHEIST POSITION
To better analyze Atheists position, I summarized the basic orientation
that led to their rejection of Gods existence:
1. Self-reasoning Atheists cannot justify the existence of a God
though historical accounts and mediums. Gods existence is not
observable. Science and logic played a big part in this unbelief.
2. Response this presupposes the position of a believer. Some
Atheist positions are developed further as a response to Christian
reasoning. They find Christian reasoning as insufficient and
weak. Christians believing in the power of prayer and faith yet
not all prayers are answered and in its failure, it alibis Gods will.
III. APPROACHES TO ATHEISM
With the number of discussions I joined, Atheist has basic rejection of
Gods existence because there is not enough proof or if there are proofs or
evidence, it cannot be defended with certainty or the available evidence
conclusive. I therefore approach the problems two ways. First, we have to
induce Atheist to start wondering if God exist by directing them to a
Supreme Being. This can be achieved by weakening human intellectual
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capacity as an absolute and sole basis for conclusion. Second, by changing
their position to confusion, it will be an opportunity to present the case for
Christ. The following arguments are basic to my first approach:
1) Atheism claims that lack of proof or evidence devoid the idea of God.
With reasoning, current available information and data is inconclusive.
Therefore, we will criticize the core basis of its position which is human
reasoning. We can argue that, man, being limited in intellectual
capacity, must admit that there are things beyond the wisdom of man.
Therefore it is incorrect to reject an idea if intellectual capacity cannot
yet disprove the evidence otherwise. It is still a current endeavor to
find a cure for cancer. However, scientists and doctors never cease to
believe that there is indeed a possibility for a cure. Same way, we
cannot reject the authenticity of Jesus Christ as evidenced in the New
Testament books, prophecy from the Old Testament, existence of
Christian persecution recorded in the Roman history, and Christians
handed down traditions.
2) 5Humans have qualities unquantifiable by human understanding. We
experience love, fulfillment and longingness which, is only distinct to
the human race. Even if we already achieve all our dreams, nothing
will ever satisfy us without hope. Even in our deepest failures and
weakness, we hope. We always seek for liberation and freedom from
bondage of oppression. And it calls us to trust in something beyond5 Appendix 2, Playing at Athiesm, February 10th, 2009 byRev. Robert Barron
http://catholicexchange.com/author/rev-robert-barron/http://catholicexchange.com/author/rev-robert-barron/http://catholicexchange.com/author/rev-robert-barron/7/28/2019 Evangelizing Atheists - Thesis1
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human capacity. Someone who can turn things around and defy
science. A shout for a miracle. Otherwise, without hope, life will have
no meaning.
When the human reasoning position is weakened, a case for Christ
must be well presented. It must be presented in a way that it corroborates
the authenticity of Jesus existence. That the organized texts of the books in
the Bible also corroborates itself. Presenting Jesus through dialectical
approach to Christology is the most effective opening to evangelizing an
Atheist.
IV. IMPACT ON CHRISTOLOGY
It is relevant for each Christian men and women to proclaim Jesus
because He is the way, the truth and the life. Everyone must accept Jesus to
experience the Kingdom of God. It is the very nature of Jesus ministry and
existence. Jesus, carried its mission by fulfilling the prophecy of the Jewish
traditions and by extending its saving power to the Gentiles (or unbelievers).
We believers share in the mission of Christ, to 6Go, then, to all peoples
everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.
It is by taking a stand for Jesus that we experience His ministry and life. I am
6 Matthew 28:19-20
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therefore bound to face the challenges of my faith. Even if it means that I
have to challenge the minds of an Atheist.
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APPENDIX 1: SELECTED THREADS FROM DISCUSSIONS
Note: www.YouTube.com presents latest thread being the last
message posted. Earliest messages are shown in the bottom. I usedthe username deadpoolxeon in the discussion.
Thread from To All Christians on YouTube
1ProudFemaleAtheistYou know in your heart of hearts that there is no god. You know in your heartof hearts that when you die, you die - nothing else.
You're just too timid, scared, and stupid to accept your own mortality as
unavoidable TRUTH. So you follow the mythical story that you think will leadyou to "eternal life", thus easing your fears - but increasing your stupidity.
"only in Christ can you ever hope to find peace" what happens to the peoplewho never even hear jesus name during their life?
1ProudFemaleAtheistYou know in your heart of hearts that Jesus is your saviour too, but you don'thave the courage or the faith to commit to the lifestyle He demands of hisfollowers
Funny, my sister is a devout Christian and her "lifestyle" resembles minealmost exactly. What is this little "lifestyle" you refer to? And why would ittake "courage" to follow it?
You're simply trying to insult someone in a "Christian" way - and it exposesyou for the fool you truly are.
sonykroket""understand the peer pressure you must be under, but only in Christ canyou ever hope to find peace sony""
Get lost with your selfrighteous crap, bible-jockey.
ItachiRaikiriI know in my heart that the Green Goblin is the savior prove me wrong....
ItachiRaikiri''I understand the peer pressure you must be under, but only in Christ canyou ever hope to find peace sony. ''
http://www.youtube.com/user/1ProudFemaleAtheisthttp://www.youtube.com/user/1ProudFemaleAtheisthttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/ItachiRaikirihttp://www.youtube.com/user/ItachiRaikirihttp://www.youtube.com/user/1ProudFemaleAtheisthttp://www.youtube.com/user/1ProudFemaleAtheisthttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/ItachiRaikirihttp://www.youtube.com/user/ItachiRaikiri7/28/2019 Evangelizing Atheists - Thesis1
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Whoever said I want to find peace in the first place??
deadpoolxeonyes... to be fair... lets start from ground zero... a Supreme Being... I am sure
that if one seeks deeper into it (the Why's)... it will lead you somewhere andit might or might not be what we already heard before... u look for it... ul findit...
r0sscunCorrect. The main thing is; if you find it, would you accept it despite the factthat it contradicts your "perceived" version of reality? I mean I've triedeverything to justify my "version of reality" once and yet no matter what I doI just kept stumbling. It was only when I learn to accept the truth that hasbeen slapping in my face did my life ever have directions. It made sense; sountil someone can truly show me otherwise, I think I'll remain on my current
deduction.
deadpoolxeonyes... if you rely on man's understanding, it will just lead you to confusion. Iam a proud Christian but I dont necessarily belong to a specific religion... Iam convinced because I learned not because of what they claimed. Anyway,if that SUPREME BEING is really supreme, then HE must be able to hear us allthe time...
r0sscunSame, here. That's why these "jokers" cannot attack me with their "blaming
religion" tactics because I'm not affiliated to any. It's the Bible that knocksme off to regain my senses, not some preacher who's as hypocritical assome people.of course it will contradict reality... because it is us who created reality...apart from the idea of God... there will always be a thousand reason not tobelieve... but our unanswered questions will only lead to it... and everythingthat are not explained can only be explained by a supreme being...
r0sscunIn order to be fair deadpoolxeon, I will remain skeptic to the idea. But I cantell you that my favor lies in the idea that there is a Supreme Being...
sonykroketThe bible = reli-nonsense.
lilshnappinturtleThe Bible is non denominational,but it is the *Truth* sony.
http://www.youtube.com/user/deadpoolxeonhttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/deadpoolxeonhttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/lilshnappinturtlehttp://www.youtube.com/user/deadpoolxeonhttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/deadpoolxeonhttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/lilshnappinturtle7/28/2019 Evangelizing Atheists - Thesis1
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sonykroketHow do you know?
Where you there when it was writte? You do know the bible has no eye--witness accounts of jesus, right?
So the talking snake, adam created from dirt and eve created from adamsrib is all true?
Hahaha, don;t be an idiot, bible-jockey.
r0sscunlilshnappinturtle, let God do the action. For people like sonykroket, it'sbeyond our capability. He/She's chosen to be a mnokey; He/She's got the IQof a monkey. How can you ever hope to make him/her understand?
sonykroketYou're a selfrighteous bible-maggot, you condescendingsuperstitious clown.
You're an arrogant fool if you think you can judge and act in the name ofyour particular brand of deity?
Ye' hath no shame.r0sscun
Yeah right, an entity with the IQ of a "chimp" and remain naked everydayshowing off his "balls" talks about morality. I mean, how hilarious can yoube? bwahahahaha....LOLsonykroketYou sure are having fun all by yourself, bible-maggot.
I know you people are used to having imaginary friends, dipshit.
r0sscunk, peace out man. Would you settle for a banana instead? hahahaha...
deadpoolxeonyou believe because u r convinced of ur findings not because others tell u to.that means what others believe doesnt matter at all to your faith. No oneknows who goes to hell because only God judges man and no one witnessedit yet. the reason why we cant get what we want in prayers is because weare too attached to the world's logic. our minds process that way. but it issaid... "what the world considers wisdom is nonsense to God"... Bible can
http://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/deadpoolxeonhttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/sonykrokethttp://www.youtube.com/user/r0sscunhttp://www.youtube.com/user/deadpoolxeon7/28/2019 Evangelizing Atheists - Thesis1
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only be understood by a humble heart... without it... we will always resistunderstanding
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Thread from Atheism Week, Day 7: I am an atheist.
deadpoolxeon
If a claim just lacks evidence it means if evidence are available and
presented properly and/or a new idea corroborating a claim be presented,
Atheism must welcome as such. A person still welcoming the presentation of
new evidence/proof about God's existence may be Agnostics. Same way
scientists never rejects a claim that there is a possibility for cancer cure. But
rejecting an idea entirely even with number of evidence (although may not
be well presented) is ignorance.
jjukil
Rejecting a claim on the basis that it lacks evidence is blind and close
minded? What a backwards way of looking at the world.
deadpoolxeon
There are a lot of things man has yet to discover. One of which, is the
scientific proof of God's existence. same way man still is thinking of a cure
for cancer. its undiscovered yet by science. To become indifferent of these
things is a form of ignorance and a limitation of knowledge. With the
existence of overwhelming accounts (although differing) and unexplainedevents defying science, it must be worthy of consideration. But would
atheists be ready to welcome a new knowledge beyond science?
EndOfNumbers
you can question all that you want but being an atheist is blind and close
minded and you really haven't researched
enough to even say that there is not a creator atheist such as yourself like tomock people who know there is God you should stop mocking and get some
facts and take down your videos becauese you're not looking so bright this is
recommended
peepspers
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Well atheism is a lack of belief... so I guess you could take theism or
antitheism.
RomeoneedsaJuliet
Wow, how can you compare God to "spaghetti monster" with no history
documentation or evidence.
It kinda funny how people wants to be cool or unique for not agreeing to
social and moral and publishing there beliefs to others by blogging or making
videos appearance. Kinda of ironic being that she trying to spread the word
of Atheist similar to the way religion was spread.
Just a question, but is there a belief or idea that rejects the ideas of
Atheistism?
tofferkalfor
ROFL I COMPLETELY AGREE MAN
deadpoolxeon
I do think that the statistics are inconclusive and cannot be used as basis for
saying atheism will cause global peace and order. I do think that there is a
lot of misconceptions about Christianity. Although people proclaim they are
believers, but their actions speaks as if they dont. Christians should havebeen humble, simple, content and selfless. but thats outside my point. m just
saying that even the proclaimed believers can be atheist in substance.
fagazine
Yeah dude, religion is a way bigger threat to our survival than things like
nuclear weapons and global warming. Praise science.
thadtrusler
I think your definition of agnostic might need some work before delivery as alogical premise. An agnostic doesn't necessarily have to hold agnostic beliefs
about every specific religion defined. Even as the Flying Spaghetti Monster is
humorous to present as an argument, it doesn't preclude the belief that a
deity of some kind is impossible to prove or disprove. I can still be agnostic
and chose to believe a possible or impossible god does not exist as a
delicious Italian pasta dish.
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jjukil
"atheism is itselve irrational."
I already know you believe that. Like I said, *how* is it irrational to not
accept a particular claim because it lacks evidence?The rest of your comment is irrelevant to the discussion. No one is arguing
those points.
calgaryflames999
the words intelligent and theist do not belong in the same sentence
deadpoolxeon
no bias intended for using "its" tho... humans would be the right term...
thanks for pointing... i guess I can see how you react on thoseundiscovered... but u see, man has an innate wisdom to speculate... there is
always a possibility of knowing what is not known yet... that is why before
cure for TB was discovered, man react and speculate that something can yet
be discovered such as the cure which remained non existent then. Man's
inquisitive nature is never satiated unless they're indifferent
1140Cecile
While atheism is a far better state of being than that of being religious, there
can be a danger attached to "fervent" atheism. There still exists muchphilosophical dialogue regarding whether consciousness exists first or matter
first. There are good arguments supporting the idea the ONLY consciousness
exists and matter is simply an illusion. So, the danger of fervent atheism is in
disallowing the idea of primary consciousness because such has been
associated with religious gods of the past.
phlewis86
Lets get real for a moment. Atheism is just as dangerous as religion. In truth
atheism cannot honestly claim to be the answer to all the ills in the world.There just are no rational bases for this position. The only thing atheist can
claim is since religion is bad therefore we must by default be good. This not a
good rational for choosing atheism as the solution for the world's problems.
People want simple answers to problems are not so simple. These debates
solve nothing.
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eric76ss
... ... ... ? ... ok well finish it now ? what is the goal of a theory if not to be
accepted by a wider scientific comunity reserched and refined, and ultimatly
becoming a law or grand constant which can be factored in when building
houses or cars or curing patients or making candy bars?
damianpoirier
Fact: A testable observation (e.g. that homo sapiens evolved from a line of
primitive men starting at homo habilis)
Law: A consistent natural condition (e.g. that pressure leads to selection,
that actions have equal and opposite reactions, etc)
Theory: A system through which facts and laws are scientifically explained
(theory of gravity, atomic theory, theory of evolution, etc)
Theory is as high as it gets.
eric76ss
continued ... the fact that this age old law has come back under investigation
illustrates my point beautefully, people took it for granted as a constant,
forgot about it , attempted to build other theory's in conection to it, and now
we realize that it wasn't actualy as simple as all that. so much time waistedtrying to build using incomplete knoledge. this is why it is important not to
sell of an idea like evolution for granted, it causes problems in the longterm
you overlook things.
theforsakenatheist
i'm sorry but your point of agnosticism is completely invalid, the term
agnostic as pointed out in one video i saw recently is actually a worthless
term because it applies to everyone, because no one on earth is 100% sure
ethier way, so in a sence we are all agnostic. just because we are unsure ofan idea doesn't mean we have to condone or not condone it's actions.
eric76ss
well technically there all worthless terms, fact is we are all thiest athiest and
agnostic no one is ever but one position, we distinguish ourselves as a
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species by our ability to addapt and change, if by are enviroment but also by
are emotions...
x1tekja
No an athiest (or how you quaintly dehumanized people that apply by using"its") would simply say they don't know if it is not discovered. And there is no
shame in not knowing "something"(thanks for being conspicuously vague
here). So tell me why is it some theist must either compartmentalize or
outright deny something when it does become within our understanding?
Agnosticism could or could not be any better depending on how indecisive
one is on accepting new information.
deadpoolxeon
how can an atheist conclude something if its intellectual capacity is limited in
knowing everything? science and logic are only limited to what is being
discovered... would you regard something beyond understanding and
discovery as none existent?
Thread from Hello angry Christians
deadpoolxeon
Believing must be in words and deeds. Those who proclaim they believe yet
they do not act like one is still an unbeliever. Whoever goes to heaven is not
man's authority but of God. Believers might speculate who goes where but
only God knows ultimately. Therefore, with your question, I may speculate
that they both still have to answer the absence of obedience and love of
God, respectively. No one knows, cause judgment day is yet to arrive.
SavortheSavior
No, it does seem like you have some kind of difficulty in your life that Jesuscould help you with if you just let him in. Obviously, you made a video and
put hard work into this denial, it was hard enough for me to watch it or write
a response for that matter, but we christians do care about non-believers
and their well-being in this life and the next. God bless you.
magicemail
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How about the world has bee crumbling eversince they started teaching
evolution as a fact. Statistics show that hamicide rates, suicide rates, and
teen pregnancy rates have all gone up with the rise of evolution.
twodayslatertdl
why does it matter
fenderman21guitar
Wait, before you answer that, Ive got a better one for you to answer.
You said "when you convert all of your previous sins are forgiven."
Ok, what would happen if 'man A' goes out, and rapes and kills 50 kids.
However, he then goes on to convert to islam
Man B, in this example, is an atheist who gives to charity, and never hurts aliving soul
Are you honestly saying that you are part of a religion which would condemn
man b to hell for eternity and man a goes to heaven?
fenderman21guitar
Is it even worth responding to this guy? Sighh, we have answered these
questions so many times, you are just another mental case brainwashed by
your parents.Ok, you say 'you will barely have time to think about the people in hell' oh
what a lovely thought, so all the billions of people in your imaginary hell
burning for eternity, meh, fuk em, its ther fault eh?
Adelown
that's the thing. Heaven is so rewarding that you will barely think about the
people in Hell. It says in the Quran that God is the most powerful and the
most merciful. In Islam and maybe Christianity i don't know, when you
convert all of your previous sins are forgiven. But of coarse that doesn'tmatter to atheist because they don't think its logic to believe in God, but
then again is it logic to think that everything appeared on its own, c'mon.
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APPENDIX 2: PLAYING ATATHEISM
February 10th, 2009 by Rev. Robert Barron
Search Results
You arrived here after searching for the following phrases:
atheism theology catholic
Perhaps youve heard about a successful campaign sponsored by someatheists in Europe to put placards on the sides of buses propagating the anti-
God point of view. The signs displayed in and around London and Genoaread The Bad News is There is No God; The Good News is You Dont NeedHim. This is just the latest in a worldwide campaign to debunk the veryidea of God and to mock religion, especially Christianity. Like so much of thenew atheism, which has gathered steam since September 11th, 2001 andincludes the work of Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins and their army ofdisciples, this latest expression is popular, flip, and deeply unintelligent.
Around the mid-point of the twentieth century there flourished theexistentialist movement, led by such figures as Jean-Paul Sartre and AlbertCamus. These philosophers argued rather vigorously against the propositionthat God exists, but, to their credit, they saw the deep sadness and feeling of
emptiness that result from atheism. They sensed that there exists in thehuman heart a longing for meaning that nothing in the world can satisfy andhence they pronounced life without God as absurd. The ethic ofexistentialism involved a willingness to accept this absurdity and to assertones freedom in the face of it. Now, I dont think for a minute that Sartreand his colleagues were right about the non-existence of God, but at leastthey were clear-eyed enough to appreciate the terrible tension that obtainsbetween the infinite longing of the human heart and the absence of the onereality that could possibly assuage it. The one thing that they wereintelligent enough never to have said is that God does not exist, but not toworry, we dont need him. Even as they denied him, they knew that God, by
definition, is what the human heart desperately needs. The bus placardsreveal that todays atheists, by contrast, are childish, playing at atheismrather than seeing to the bottom of it.
If we consult the Bible, we find, in fact, a way past atheism. There areparts of the book of Job, many of the psalms, some of the lamentations of theprophets that could have been written by Sartre or Camus on their darkestdays. But the most existentialist text in the Bible is the book of Qoheleth,
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known in older translations as the book of Ecclesiastes. Qoheleth presentshimself as an old man who has seen it all, done it all, achieved it all. He hasexperienced deep friendship; he has explored the wisdom of the ages; hehas built palaces and gardens; he has had sexual delight; he has wieldedpower. And all of it he pronounces wind and chase after the wind, for none
of it has finally satisfied him. But this doesnt lead Qoheleth to despair or toa willful embrace of absurdity. Rather, it leads him to confess his faith inGod, to allow his desire to pass beyond the goods of this world to thesupreme and transcendent Good. Every one of us, if we are honest, movereadily into the stance and attitude of Qoheleth. We experience an achingsense of incompleteness when we fail, suffer, and want but even more sowhen we succeed, rejoice, and achieve. For especially in those times offulfillment, we become acutely aware of what the spiritual writer RonaldRohlheiser calls the holy longing, the desperate need for God.
And the awareness of this need is precisely what pushes us pastatheism. An animal eats enough, finds sufficient shelter, gets his requisite
exercise and he falls blissfully asleep, utterly satisfied. But the humananimal attains all of those goods and many others besides and yet turnsuneasily in his bed, still wanting more, even if he is unable to articulateclearly what that more is. What this proves, so our great tradition argues,is that we humans are very peculiar creatures indeed. We are hybrids andhalf-breeds, part animal and part angel. Our very desire for goods and truthsthat transcend this world proves that there is more in us than an animalnature. If we were, as the materialists and atheists argue, just extremelyclever animals, we should remain as content as any dog when, with oursuperior skill, we attain those simple things that make a dog happy. But ourvery restlessness proves the reality of some alluring and transcendent Good
that we call God.And this brings me back to those buses and their atheist slogans. The
claim that Gods non-existence is a matter of indifference is not onlyoffensive to believers; its actually stupid, even on atheist grounds. And atany rate, once weve been through the finally illuminating darkness of whichQoheleth speaks, we can see that another slogan is far more appropriate:The bad news is: nothing in the world satisfies us; the good news: so what,God exists!Rev. Robert Barron is the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith andCulture at Mundelein Seminary.
4 Comments For This Post1. patti says:
February 10th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Dear Father,
Thanks for your wonderful insight. Im hoping that this article will toucha chord with many who have lost their faith. Perhaps appealing to logic
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if the existence of the inner human longing planted in us all for God, isan argument that will win over those who want proof.
2. SanGabriel says:February 10th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Thank you Father for the article.
An excellent book I just finished reading is; Whats so great aboutChristianity by Dinesh DSouza. It touches on many of the issuesconcerning atheism and religion.
3. christinehamel says:February 10th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
The very basis of atheism defies the laws of thermodynamics. Here is
why. the First law of thermodynamics is that energy cannot be made ordestroyed. This law debunks the big bang theory without God. That is,without God the egg of energy could not have come to be becauseenergy cannot come from nothing. This is a basic law of nature andthey are turning a blind eye to it. So in other words, Atheism defies thelaws of thermodynamics. A supreme being is REQUIRED for anything toexist.
4. plowshare says:February 10th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
The other day I came across a passage in Bishop Fulton J. Sheens_Peace_of_Soul_ that speaks directly to that message on the buses ofLondon and Genoa.
A child who is given a ball and told that it is the only ballhe will ever have in his life cannot enjoy it much because heis over-fearful of losing it. Another child, told that if heis good he will be given another ball, one that will never wearout and will give him unending pleasure, need not be fearfulof losing the first. So it is with the man who has only oneworld, in contrast to the Christian. Even in the enjoyment of
life the first man walks in fear of its end. His very pleasuresare shadowed by death. But the man who believes in a future life,conditioned by morality, has the great advantage of being ableto be happy in this world, as well as in the next. [p. 117 ofMcGraw-Hill edition, 1949.]
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
From theHandbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Fr. Ronald Tacelli, SJ
(Intervarsity Press, 1994)
Mills, David,Atheist Universe (U.S., Ulyses Press: 2006) p.24-63
Good News Bible, The
Barron, Rev. Robert, Playing at Athiesm, February 10th, 2009
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830817743/theofficiapet-20http://www.ivpress.com/http://catholicexchange.com/author/rev-robert-barron/http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0830817743/theofficiapet-20http://www.ivpress.com/http://catholicexchange.com/author/rev-robert-barron/