Atheists are some of the most religious people I know. As with any worldview their faith-based belief that there is no God motivates them to live a life where meaning comes about, not intrinsically, as with theism and their belief in a good Creator God, but accidentally through the chance collision of molecules.
Like theism atheists have a worldview that is based on accumulated evidence to support their beliefs. However, unlike theism, with Christianity in particular, the atheist’s evidence is woefully lacking plausibility. Christianity has a wealth of sound evidence based on history, archaeology, science, and prophecy to support it. Atheism, on the other hand, has to rely on wild speculation that stretches their faith to the limits of believability. As Pastor John MacArthur noted: “As Christians we accept one big miracle: God, and everything else makes sense. An atheist denies God and has to have a miracle for every other thing.”1
And this is where Christianity and atheism as religious worldviews part company. Christianity is anchored to sound faith based on testable events, whereas atheism is based on blind faith. Christianity believes that an all-powerful supernatural God created everything in the universe out of nothing. Atheists, however, believe that nothing created everything out of nothing. I think Charlie Campbell eloquently states the stark contrast between these two worldviews when he shares: “I believe it takes far more faith to be an atheist than to believe in God. Atheists believe that everything that exists (the entire universe with its billions of stars and planets) came from nothing and by nothing. Nobody x Nothing = Everything. That takes a lot of faith!”2
Atheists are also at a loss to give answers to life’s big questions such as where did I come from, what is the ultimate meaning of life, and what happens to me when I die. And as I shared in a previous devotion the atheist, when life throws him a difficult trial, has no way to make sense of the suffering he has to endure. In fact, he can’t even blame or curse God for his suffering because he doesn’t believe He even exists. Since the atheist has no god to believe in he places himself as the supreme person in his universe and spends the rest of his life searching for a reason for his existence. Searching every pathway, every byway, overturning every stone, examining every philosophy, and experiencing every feeling, as he comes to the end of his journey, the answer he finds is that none exists!
For the Christian his worldview is full of meaning and joy in the journey with a final destination that is in reality just the beginning of an eternity of supreme bliss. For the atheist, his worldview is bleak and ends as abruptly as it started with despair being his constant traveling companion.
For the atheist his faith is indeed blind, his meaning is based on the accidental collision of molecules, and his final destination is the grave. I am just so glad that 40 years ago God opened my blind eyes and delivered me from a world of atheism. Back then I had no time for God, didn’t even believe He existed, and yet in His awesome mercy He saved me from my bondage to sin and despair. I pray that my blog has blessed you over the past year and a half and that it has helped you to fall more in love with Jesus and the Bible!
1 Charlie H. Campbell, Apologetics Quotes (Carlsbad, California: The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry, 2020), p. 49.
2 Charlie H. Campbell, Apologetics Quotes (Carlsbad, California: The Always Be Ready Apologetics Ministry, 2020), p. 54.
“Christianity is anchored to sound faith based on testable events, whereas atheism is based on blind faith.”
Is our faith based on “testable events?” This begs many questions. What events? Who’s doing the testing? What is the standard for passing a test that we can base our faith on? Is it the testable event we believe in or God? Are these events visible?
The Bible is very clear that our faith is based on unseen belief. Consider the following verses and how you would go about testing these statements:
Heb. 11:1-Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Heb 11:6-And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists.
2 Cor. 4-we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Heb. 11-Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Rom. 10:17-So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
This verse states that our faith is based on the Bible and not “testable events” that make man the judge who decides what is worthy to base our faith on.
Heb. 11:7-By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark.
Rom 8:24-For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
2Tim. 3:15-And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul, the great apologist, declared that Timothy’s “salvation through faith” was based on the Word of God and not evidences.
Yes, there are evidences that surround us and declare the existence of God but we know from Romans 1 that “what can be known about God is plain to them.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God. They became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Without the sovereign work of the Spirit, evidences only lead to darkened hearts. Satan is fully aware of every evidence and believes in God. There really are no atheists.
So, there is actually only one “testable event,” is the Bible the Word of God or not? “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Jn. 5:39
A lot of folks are glad that God brought you out of atheism too since you have blessed them by being a good teacher, friend, and staunch brother-in-Christ! have a blessed day Curt!