Taking every thought captive for obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10.5)

The Question
What does someone mean who claims to be an atheist? (5)
Thus far, it’s clear that we should not simply dismiss our friend’s opinion concerning the non-existence of God. He has tried believing in God, albeit to no avail; and he considers the inconsistent lifestyles of those who claim to believe as evidence that God makes no difference in a person’s life, so He must not exist. We have given some thought as to how we might respond to such explanations, for the purpose of initiating an ongoing conversation about this topic.

However, suppose our friend who claims to be an atheist is not just reacting to some experience of his own or observations about how Christians live. Suppose he’s actually given considerable thought to the matter, and perhaps read some articles or books, listened to a few presentations online, and maybe talked at length with some like-minded friends?

Certainly we will want to credit his taking the time to research the matter and to consider it thoughtfully. No one, we will opine, should take such a position – belief in the non-existence of God – without careful study and deliberation.

We’ll want to explore a bit more fully the path which he has traveled to arrive at this point.

We have asked our friend what he means by saying he is an atheist, and he has responded by the confident assertion that he knows God does not exist, and that based on his own investigations into the matter. A second question we will want to ask is a reasonable follow-up to the first: “Given the magnitude of this issue, are you sure you’ve consulted all the relevant authorities?” For of course, he has not; and he will perhaps readily admit that this is the case, since the volume of literature, speeches, and courses promoting arguments for atheism is more than any single person can even peruse, much less study (an Internet search for “arguments for atheism” reveals 5,010,000 entries, and we can be sure that just as many entries exist opposing those arguments).

So we might ask for more details on the particular sources, authors, and so forth which he has consulted and which he regards as sufficient for making so important a decision, as well as the arguments that have persuaded him. At the same time, we will want to ask, how can he be sure these are enough sources, or even the best sources to consult on this question? Is it possible he might have overlooked some important authors? Has he considered arguments and presentations in defense of the existence of God, and, if so, from which sources?

We are trying to help our friend see that he has arrived at a firm position on a very important question – indeed, the most important question anyone can consider – by recourse to a limited number of resources, and probably from only one side of the question. We’ll want to express this, just to make sure we’re both clear about what he’s saying.

We may want to check the firmness of our friend’s position at this point: “So you are a convinced atheist, even though you’ve only consulted a fraction of the resources available on this question, and that largely from one side of the question only?”

If, at this point, our friend answers, “That’s correct”, then fairness requires that we respond by saying, “That’s just not possible.”

He will ask for clarification.

We will obligingly point out that to make the claim that there is no God, and to affirm it confidently, assumes that one knows not just a few things about this particular question, but everything that can be known, not only about this question but about everything else as well. In order to assert with confidence that God does not exist requires more than observations, experience, and study; it requires one to be omniscient. For unless one knows everything about everything, one cannot be certain that God does not exist. For within one or more of the fields or disciplines or areas of knowledge concerning which our friend knows very little or nothing at all, the possibility of God exists, and should not therefore be dismissed.

Again, to hold that God does not exist, is a presumption of omniscience, which no one can possess.

And if our friend should insist that he is omniscient (which he will not), then, by common definition, he would be God, and his claim to there being no God would unravel.

So, since by his own admission, our friend is in possession of very little of the relevant information on the question of God’s existence; and since he readily will admit that he does not know everything about everything – and is not himself God – we will ask him to rethink his position on the matter. He cannot know God does not exist, so he’s not an atheist of that sort. And if he is convinced that God does not exist, on the paucity of evidence he has considered, then we should perhaps remark his manifest gullibility concerning a matter of such enormous significance.

So when someone claims to be an atheist, he simply cannot mean that God does not exist. That explanation for his atheistic convictions is simply not open to him or anyone. And while he can mean that he is convinced God does not exist, he will at least have to agree that he has come to that conviction on the basis of very little evidence, and that undoubtedly one-sided.

So we will ask again, “What do you mean by claiming to be an atheist?”

For reflection
1.  Do you pray for the non-believers in your sphere of influence, your Personal Mission Field? Do you pray for opportunities to talk with them about what they believe, and what you believe?

2.  When someone claims to be an atheist, how do Christians typically respond? Based on what you’ve seen so far in this series, what would you recommend as the best ways to begin a response to such a statement?

3.  Meditate on 1 Peter 3.15, Psalm 119.41-43, and Colossians 4.6. How do these passages lead you in being a witness for the Lord?

How could you begin to initiate conversations with people that might lead to talking about the Lord and the Gospel? Talk with some Christian friends about this question.

The Week features insights from a wide range of topics and issues, with a view to equipping the followers of Christ to take every thought captive for Jesus. Please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.