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THE FAITH
OF AN ATHEIST
By William J. Stewart

Just this past week, I had the opportunity to talk with a self-proclaimed atheist. I found it to be rather interesting conversation. He discussed several things which he found to be adequate evidence, none of which stood to any measure of inspection. Yet, he vehemently stood firm on the grounds of scientific discovery. He related to me that he found believing in God to be an impossibility, due to a lack of evidence. I heard him out, and then decided to share with him some things important to his situation.

I began with the statement; "It takes more faith to be an atheist than it does to be a Christian." If nothing else, this statement certainly perked his interest. He then declared to me that atheism requires no faith, for it is based upon solid scientific evidences. I went on to share the following number of points concerning the faith of an atheist.

To Be An Atheist, One Must Believe....

...THAT GOD DOES NOT EXIST. As we look about us, we see that man is a religious creature by nature. Regardless of where you go, you will find people who have a need to worship some greater being than themselves. The Romans and the Greeks had their mythological gods. Many submit themselves to the worship of Buddha. Allah is considered by a great number of people to be one worthy of worship and praise. But most of all, the God of heaven, the one true God is the focus of many. If you were to stand on a street corner, asking whether people believe in God or not, I say with confidence, that if each individual answered truthfully, you would be hard pressed to find any who will say no. This brings us to one of two conclusions: 1. It is practical and sensible to believe there to be an eternal being who is superior to us, to whom worship is due. 2. The larger part of society are completely irrational.

...THAT MATTER IS EITHER ETERNAL OR IT CREATED ITSELF. To hold to the ideas of atheism, which is in full support of the theory of evolution, one must believe that matter is either eternal or it created itself. Seeing that they have removed the possibility of a Creator, they are left with only these two options. I asked the individual about the nature of the universe: ETERNAL or HAD A BEGINNING. An extremely simple question, but over and over he declined to give a straight answer. Yet, if we look at the evidence, we understand that the universe had a beginning. Scientists themselves attempt to assign an age to our planet, and the universe as a whole. Those things which are eternal have no age. The reason they attempt to assign an age to the world in which we live, is because it bears the characteristics of age. Such things which are eternal are not governed by time. We are told in Scripture that with the Lord a "...day is as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day." Yet, the universe is subject to time. The universe is running down. It is wearing out. Things on earth are corrupt, and worsening year after year. It is approaching an inevitable end. It cannot be eternal. The only other option for those who deny the presence of a Supreme God, is that the universe created itself. That is possibly the most absurd things which has ever been considered. Matter does not have the ability to create itself. A desk cannot bring itself into existence. What man has ever created himself? If matter were able to create itself, our world would be a place of constant confusion, with objects instantaneously appearing all over. Yet such things do not happen.

...THAT LIFE IS SPONTANEOUSLY GENERATED. In denying the existence of God, the atheist must believe that life is able to spontaneously generate. In other words, life can come from that which has none. We understand God to be the Creator of all things, and that He is the source of life. Yet, if we remove God from the picture, we remove the source of life. Thus, somewhere along the line, according to the atheists belief system, life spontaneously came into being. It never had existed before! It has absolutely no source! It just started by itself at some point in time!

...THAT ORDER AND DESIGN ARE RESULTS OF NON-INTELLIGENT ACCIDENTS. As we look about us at the wonders of creation, we understand that God is the Master Designer. He purposefully created the worlds with order. Trees need carbon dioxide, mammals need oxygen. The two exchange these gasses. Our planet is exactly the correct distance from the sun. Any closer, we would burn up. Any further away, we would freeze. Approximately 2/3 of the earth is covered with water. This keeps the core temperature at an acceptable level. The gravitational forces on earth are such that we can walk freely about, without fear of being driven into the ground, nor lifted into space. The human body is a wondrous design. It is designed to repair itself in many instances. It has several functions which automatically are cared for without the need of us thinking about them. As was written, we are, "...fearfully and wonderfully made." The atheist though must affirm that all these wonders, and many, many more are merely the result of an accidental happening. They claim that no intelligence was involved in the forming of our world. It was simply the process of a "big bang." If such is possible, that something as wonderful as the universe can result from an unintelligent "bang", would you not think something so much simpler, say even a watch could be manufactured by accident? Disassemble a watch and place it into a small box. Shake that box as much and as hard as you can, you will never result in a watch.

...THAT NON-CONSCIOUSNESS EVOLVES TO CONSCIOUSNESS. The theory of evolution affirms that we are the descendants of a one-cell organism. This one cell organism has no consciousness. It does not know that it exists! We, who are conscious of ourselves, and of the happenings surrounding us, according to the assertions of the atheist have evolved from this creature. How is it we became conscious beings? Can consciousness come from unconsciousness? If it can, does that mean that someday my desk will be aware of itself? I should hope not! It may decide then to walk away, and I'd be out a desk!

...THAT NON-MORALITY EVOLVES TO MORALITY. Atheists have a hard time explaining morality. If we evolved from creatures who operate on instinct, not conscience, how is it that we have developed the ability to use conscience? Where did morality find its beginning? Did one ape finally decide that killing other apes was wrong? Did one decide that it was wrong to steal another ape's supper? No such thing has occurred! Morality finds its origin in the existence of God. He has given a law, which therein establishes morality. No atheist can give a reason for which we should do good. There is none, if we will not be judged. Why should we yield our desires in order to serve others? The answer, we shall be judged!

Truly, atheism is a faith. And without doubt, upon careful examination, it would seem that it might take more faith to be an atheist than to be a Christian. Paul wrote, "...since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." The world which we live in declares on a daily basis, GOD IS. If one is sincere in their search, they cannot help but come to the conclusion that there is an eternal God, who is Creator of all.

"IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH."