Do you believe in ATHEISM?
- Pastor Tony
- Mar 11, 2014
- 2 min read
I don't believe in atheism. Do YOU? It is a strange concept in human history, believing that there is something NOT THERE. I am not so sure how anyone can be an atheist, but a recent article in Charisma magazin (March 2014) by Dennis Prince talks about the Global Atheist Convention recently held in Melbourne, Australia. At the convention a militant atheism was on display. Prince, co-planter of the Kingston City Church also in Melbourne, describes the event as a referendum on challenging religion, in general, and Christianity specifically.
The conference targeted its activism toward certain areas, according to Prince, they are:
Eliminating prayers, in public places
Eliminating any mention of heaven, hell or creation in educational settings (calling such references as child abuse)
Promoting the teaching of Evolution
Oppose home schooling
Offer camps and websites to teach atheism
Aiding faltering clergy, as they exit the ministry
As the above list indicates, atheism has taken a militant turn. This seems to cause fear and trepidation for many. Prince, author of 'I Was Wrong: Why the World's Most Notorious Atheist Called it Quits', makes mention of a few well known atheist that became believers. If there is a take from the article, in my opinion, it is 'don't fear the militant atheist but see that God can even reach them'.
The 'New' atheist can be lead to the truth of God and His Son Jesus. Boasting about their rationalism, when confronted with the facts, the evidence can lead them to belief. Prince mentions many different former atheist, such as biotechnologist Dr. Matti Leisola. Leisola came to Christ through his wife's influence but his closer examination of science and its teachings lead him to 'further study convinced him evolution "stood on a shaky foundation." In an interview with Creation magazine, he said "I first realized it when studying biochemistry and the weak efforts to explain the origin of life based on some rudimentary experiments."' (Charisma 2014).
Prince mentions great granddaughter of Charles Darwin, Laura Keynes, being convinced in Christianity's truth and being wary of the new atheisms apparent anger. A Nobel prize winner, Dr. Richard Smalley, became convinced when studying intelligent design. The most significant conversion, in the article "God's not Scared of New Atheism" Prince wrote for Charisma, may be philosopher professor Anthony Flew. His article, "Theology and Falsification", is said to be the most widely reprinted article on philosophy publication in the last century. Flew came to Christ and even wrote a book called There is a God, in which changed "his old ideas and drawing howls of protest from atheists around the world." (Charisma 2014)
It is a sad statistic, Prince includes, from the Fixed Point Foundation study that claims most college atheist come from a "strong faith background." (Charisma 2014) So we as the Church and individual Christians need to be vigilant and unmoved by the onslaught of this 'New Atheism' as one of satan's attacks. The fact science is mentioned in Prince's article as a factor in leading others to Christ is encouraging.
I have often said, we have no reason to fear any knowledge, wrong or right. If given the opportunity Christianity will stand the test of scrunity and time, as it has for centuries.
GOD BLESS
Tony