30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 14

Reason 14 - Disillusionment with Prayer

 

“For many atheists, the perceived ineffectiveness of prayer plays a pivotal role in their rejection of religion. They notice that prayers often go unanswered or produce outcomes indistinguishable from chance. This leads to skepticism about the existence of a divine being who listens and responds.”

“...you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” – James 4:2c-3 NLT

Interesting that Atheists choose NOT to believe in God because they don’t get answers to their prayers. Have you ever considered that He may have either answered their prayer, but they didn’t recognize the answer because it’s not the answer they were looking for, or He didn’t answer it because He was trying to spare them from the consequences that He knows wouldn’t be pleasant. I guess that would only apply to those in His family. Everything hinges on the motivation of your heart. You must accept the fact that God is NOT akin to a genie in a bottle with unlimited wishes.

We think we KNOW what is best for us, but we really have no idea. What guidelines should we follow when we pray. A non-Christian asking God for something is like a person not related to you asking for something from you expecting to get it. That person has NO TIES to you whatsoever, so why should he or she expect to get ANYTHING from you? While God knows the non-believer, because He created them, they are not His child. They ask with the wrong motives. They are asking someone they either do not know or don’t believe it. Those asking with that thought process seem to be floating a test prayer to see if it gets answered.  

The entire system of prayer is NOT based on your WANTS, but what you NEED. Yes, Psalm 37:4 DOES SAY: “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Is an atheist delighting themselves in the Lord? Since they don’t believe in His existence, I would have to say NO. You would be misinterpreting scripture if you focus on the latter part of the verse. Once individuals become truly born-again the DESIRES of their heart begin to come into line with God’s. THOSE desires are the ones the verse is speaking of. 

I’m quite certain that there’s been an atheist or agnostic in the world today that has prayed for their spouse or child to be healed from a terminal disease out of desperation. They do not understand the way prayer works. If you pray for healing and they die then your prayer has been answered. “WHAT?! How can you say that!!” Easy. Just because a prayer doesn’t turn out the way you wanted doesn’t mean God failed to answer your prayer. Death is the ultimate healing. Sounds weird, I know, but think of it this way. Your loved one will NEVER be sick again. They will never feel pain again. They have effectively been HEALED, just not the way you wanted. Don’t be mad at God. He does that which He knows is best for the party being prayed for, not the one praying. After that harsh reality, God proceeds to administer comfort and peace to those left behind. It’s a difficult pill to swallow, but it is NOT all about you. God knows what He’s doing. It’s your choice not to believe ANY of this, but please don’t insult God by blaming He who has no faults or flaws. If you think He is an evil tyrant who doesn’t care because of things that you possibly brought on yourself in your disbelief, then so be it. No one can CONVINCE you to believe anything you don’t want to believe. Just remember, you don’t have to believe in God, but you can. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org.

 

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 13

Reason 13 - Freethinking Ideals

 

“Atheists often value intellectual freedom and critical thinking above adherence to dogma. They see freethinking as the ability to question, challenge, and evaluate ideas without fear of divine retribution or societal condemnation. For many, religion imposes limitations on inquiry, particularly when it demands blind faith or unquestioning obedience to authority.”

 

It seems pretty apparent that those who choose Atheism simply want to live their own life without ANY interference from an unwanted source. As far as “fear of divine retribution” goes, I suppose it would depend on what you had in mind regarding “questions, challenges and ideas.” I feel a little bad about all this because it seems like maybe the writer may have had some pretty bad experiences with Christians. Not all Christians are heaping condemnation on non-believers, but some do, without question. Shame on them. That is NOT what loving and serving God is about. Scripture is crystal clear, WE ARE NOT THE JUDGE, therefore we are not called to judge others. The Gospel of Matthew tells us rather firmly, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” ^{(Matthew 7:1-2)} Only God can judge, “James 4:12 addresses God being the one true judge saying, ‘There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?’”

We are called by God to love others, regardless of their back story, their appearance or their current beliefs. Yes, we do believe that those who reject Christ will indeed go to hell. That doesn’t please ANY of us, especially Almighty God. 2 Peter 3:9 states, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 

Christians believe that a man can either be born once and die twice or be born twice and only die once. What do we mean by that? We are all born once physically, but do not become born spiritually until we receive Christ into our heart and lives. Once that happens we are born a second time. Because we are born that second time, we will only die once, physically. In John 3:3, 5 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” ... “I assure you; no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” So what is the second death? “The second death is mentioned on multiple occasions in the book of Revelation and is synonymous with the lake of fire. It is a ‘death’ in that it is a separation from God, the Giver of life. It is called the ‘second’ one because it follows physical death.” ^[1]

The whole idea of “blind faith” isn’t quite what it sounds like. “A dictionary definition of blind faith is ‘belief without true understanding, perception, or discrimination.’ But is this the kind of faith God desires us to have? More to the point, is the kind of faith God gives us a blind faith? Is our faith really to be blind, without true understanding?” ^[2] We believe by faith, but it isn’t blind. As we read the scriptures we gain spiritual understanding as to who God is, and who we are with regards to Him. How is that blind? 

The whole concept of “unquestioning obedience” isn’t quite right either. God knows us in our entirety. He knows our heart and knows how we feel about things. We CAN question God, but our questioning Him is not in a rebellious way, but rather in an inquisitive way. We learn by asking questions which leads to understanding. If we don’t feel like obeying we can go to God and share our feelings. He won’t strike us dead for disagreeing with His word. While we believe in the perfect, infallible Word of God, it is our responsibility to rightly divide it. We use trusted resources to gain knowledge and understanding so we can follow the Lord willingly and not contentiously. We are human, we have opinions, we have feelings, and while we believe God knows what is best for us, we can question Him until we feel comfortable with what we are questioning. And if we still have questions, then maybe it’s not God speaking to us after all.

Christianity is presented by some as this rigid, restrictive “religion” that strips away any autonomy we may have, but it really isn’t. Now if you simply don’t want to have to answer to ANYONE, especially someone you cannot see, then I have no answer for you. You have to WANT to know and if you just don’t than all the best and I hope everything works out for you. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org.

^[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/second-death.html

[2] https://www.gotquestions.org/blind-faith.html

 

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 12

Reason 12 - Equality and Inclusion

 

“Many atheists are troubled by the discriminatory practices and teachings found in some religions, particularly against women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. They reject faiths that perpetuate inequality, finding atheism to be a more inclusive worldview that values human dignity over divine authority.”

 

            While women are to be highly revered and cherished, I am well aware of the fact that women are NOT treated that way in many cultures. This is not God’s doing, but rather misguided men who either follow strict, ungodly teachings or do not respect themselves and project that disrespect onto their women. 

            At times it isn’t possible be all inclusive, especially when you have beliefs that are diametrically the opposite of one another.  I should make it very clear that God doesn’t hate gays. He hates no one. He loves us all in spite of ourselves. Many say God made them that way; however, since it is clearly stated in both the Old Testament & the New Testament that it is unacceptable behavior in the sight of God, it is highly unlikely that God would create someone who is the living embodiment of sin. That makes no sense. 

            Romans 1:24-28 speaks to the “inevitable downward spiral of sin”. Those who believe they are safe from damnation because they believe God made them gay, they are making a tragic mistake. “First, people reject or turn away from God. Next they make up their own ideas of what a god should be like and what He should do.” They then begin to turn, perhaps unknowingly, toward ungodly practices. God doesn’t cause this steady progression toward sin. Rather, He allows them to live as they choose. The Lord gives them over to their own sinful desires. 

            As I said earlier, God doesn’t hate anyone. He just offers a better way of living. You can disagree with that, and that’s fine. I just implore folks to look into what I’m saying with an open mind. Whether you accept or reject the existence of God is completely up to you and I am certainly not the one who is the judge. God is. My advice is for you to say to God, “If you exist, reveal Yourself to me in some way”, then pay attention. He may reveal Himself in any number of ways at any time. Possibly not instantly but be open minded and aware of your surroundings. If you think what I’m saying is a load of crap, then dismiss it and go on. You won’t be hurting my feelings. You will be rejecting God, but since you don’t believe He exists why would that matter to you. However, there’s still that nasty sin question that atheists don’t have an answer for. Unless they simply say, “I don’t believe in sin”. That doesn’t make it untrue, just what you’ve chosen to believe. 

            If you’re right and there is no God, then none of us will ever know. We will die and never have another conscious thought. Conversely, if there IS a God, when we die we’ll meet Him and all the questions regarding His existence will be answered. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Romans text & subsequent quoted text are from the scripture notes (p. 2474) from The Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale Publishing.

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 11

Reason 11 - Religious Wars and Conflicts

 

“The long history of violence in the name of religion, such as the Crusades, witch hunts, and modern terrorism, leads many to reject faith. Atheists view religion as a divisive force that promotes intolerance and hostility, contradicting claims that it promotes peace and love.”

            If you took a serious look at Jesus; how He acted and what He said, you might realize that the religious zealots who went to war in the name of the Lord were NOT typifying common biblical doctrine. Yes, Israel went to war, but that was to defeat those countries who wished to eliminate them. It was their fight for survival as orchestrated by God Himself.  Aside from those righteous wars, many people down thru the ages were slaughtered due to those who wished to force their beliefs on their opposition.  There is a big difference between forcing your beliefs on others and defending yourself against those who wish to destroy you.

Men have always been corrupt. Since the beginning of time they have been seeking ways to dominate those they see as against them. Many innocent folks died needlessly. This was and is WRONG. It is UNGODLY behavior. God proclaims in scripture that He will avenge all wrongdoing against His children when the time comes. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath [and His judicial righteousness]; for it is written [in Scripture], ‘VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,’ says the Lord.” ^{(Romans 12:19 Amplified Bible)}

            Once again I must defer to the present and say that the past is filled with unseemly characters who acted in the name of the Lord but were far from Him. Their morals and ethics were radically skewed based on anger and revenge. They should be condemned for such actions. It’s not God’s fault that these events took place. To stop any of it would mean that God did NOT give His creation a free will to do as they pleased. Innocent people die all the time and those who do the killing have had their conscience seared over. People come to God of their own volition and follow His decrees of their own free will. Violence isn’t part of God’s 

plan for humanity. Especially in the age of grace that began when Jesus came into the world.

The violence that took place should be no reflection on God. For Him to eliminate all wars for all time would once again dictate each scenario man finds himself in. That would smack of tyranny to me. Satan is the ruler of this world and while God is greater than him in every way, He allows him to do as he wills up to a point. The Book of Job is a perfect illustration of that. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 10

Reason 10 - Occam’s Razor

 

“Occam’s Razor* suggests that the simplest explanation is often the best. For atheists, natural explanations for the universe and life are simpler and more plausible than invoking a supernatural being. They argue that adding the concept of a god complicates the equation without adding explanatory value.”

            Atheists seek to explain the “universe and life” based on what? So called experts on the topic who believe they have all the answers to life’s existence. Is this not based on theories, which are NOT facts. What seems logical to man isn’t necessarily logical. It is logical to scientists; however, chances are normal man without scientific knowledge may not understand such theories. Again, it would seem as though they are putting the cart before the horse, so to speak. As if they are saying, “We don’t believe a God exists and with that premise we give you these thoughts on why.” 

            While it is true that Christians cannot unequivocally prove the existence of God, atheists or scientists cannot prove without a shadow of a doubt that He DOES NOT exist. It is a free will choice we have to believe or disbelieve. But who gave us the right to a free will? You would think admitting to a free will choice would satisfy the atheist. All they would need to do is say, “Okay, I choose to believe there is no God.” Fine. So why are they hell-bent on disproving God. Why should they care? You believe, I do not. Enjoy your life. 

The only reason Christians seek to spread the gospel is because we’ve been commissioned by God to do so. So, why is Christianity such a threat to certain factions in this world? Because sin is revealed. Most other religions don’t mention sin. They don’t even imply or hint at it. 

It is curious to me that Occam’s Razor is a reason atheists use to dispel belief in God. What could be simpler than stating the belief that there is an all-powerful spirit deity who created all things and loves His creation unconditionally? Why does that sound simple to me? It seems much more complicated to do research, come up with equations, and invent theories based on human intelligence. That would imply that the creature is wiser than the One who created it. Oh, wait, atheists don’t believe in God. 

All individuals deal with preconceived ideas planted in your mind thru the years by parents, teachers, friends, and life itself. We must try our best to put them aside as we seek to find out what we would believe to be the truth. Whether one believes in God or not, they will have to accept whatever consequences take place as a result of their decision. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

* Occam’s razor is credited to William of Ockham, a Franciscan theologian and philosopher who lived during the late 13th to mid-14th century, though he was not the first to propose it. (Durandus of Saint-Pourçain and John Duns Scotus were among those who articulated the idea earlier.) 

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 9

Reason 9 - The Burden of Proof

 

“Atheists argue that the burden of proof lies with those making extraordinary claims, such as the existence of a deity. Since believers have yet to provide convincing evidence for their claims, atheists see no reason to accept them. They adopt a position of disbelief until presented with sufficient evidence, much like a jury evaluates a case.”

I’m not exactly sure how this reason is any different from reason 1, a lack of evidence, but I’ll address the reason just the same. As stated in the first post, there is NO VERIFABLE EVIDENCE forthcoming. That would negate the need for faith. Those with an open mind can search the scriptures looking for the positive affirmation found there, rather than seeking reasons NOT to believe. 

Atheists have seemed to put Christianity on trial where they are the judge, prosecuting attorney, and jury all in one. They read books my atheistic authors who spout unproven notions regarding why Christianity is false and God in fact does not exist. I believe that Christianity is attacked as much as it is because it is the only faith-based system of belief that threatens their sensibilities. With Christianity atheists have to deal with the sin question and having to give up their autonomy to serve rather than be served or simply serve themselves. 

If one goes into a research topic with preconceived ideas their research will be slanted. It seems to me that atheism is rather self-serving. The individual can handle anything that comes their way. They don’t need advice from sources they don’t believe in. They see themselves as their own god, so to speak, because they make all their own decisions without input from anyone else or from like-minded people. 

Not all Christians are judgmental or harsh. Those who truly believe have figured out that living out their faith publicly will have a much more positive effect on those they encounter each day than just rattling off bible verses in what may feel like a condescending way. Christian must strive to BE JESUS to non-believers. Show others what it means to be a genuine Christian and not just a Christian in name only. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 8

Reason 8 - Negative Personal Experiences

 

“Personal experiences, such as hypocrisy, abuse, or exclusion within religious institutions, often lead to disillusionment. For example, someone hurt by judgmental or corrupt religious leaders may question the validity of the faith they represent. These experiences can spark a deeper investigation into the foundations of religion, culminating in atheism.”

I certainly get that a negative experience could drive you away from organized religion. I suppose I’d feel the same way. As I said in an earlier post, bad experiences shouldn’t cause you to completely turn away from God altogether. Change churches, but abandoning God altogether only hurts you, no one else. Although, having said that, I guess it all depends on your upbringing. If you grew up either in an ungodly home or a very strict religious home, that experience could drive you away from “religion”. Perhaps that’s why I tend to turn away from the term “religion” and use instead “relational”. You see, I believe we can all have a very personal, intimate relationship with the Creator of all things if we so desire.

Bad things happen to everyone at one point or another in their lives. That goes for Christians as well as non-Christians. It is understandable that those bad events would taint a person’s overall view of whatever was involved with the bad event. I’ve known people who have walked away from a church because of the way they may have been treated or ignored or even shunned, but they didn’t turn away from God. They understood the flaw(s) that can exist in church run by humans who might be overzealous or misinformed regarding their rendering of scripture and simply went to find a church more to their liking. Those who have it in their mind to find problems will indeed find problems, even if they happen to be fabrications in their mind, like “I don’t like the way the worship team sings” or “the minister preaches over my head”. 

It's sad that many churches seem to think they are THE place to go and believe they only ones who rightly divide the Word of God. I’ve known of churches like that. More times than not they tend to be judgmental as they stubbornly cling to their own viewpoint, leaving no room for change. 

If you see no need for some God to rule over you, then by all means, continue down the path you are on. But don’t blame the God you don’t believe exists for any bad thing that may happen to you. It simply doesn’t work that way. You’ll have to grapple with where evil comes from on your own. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 7

Reason 7 - Moral Independence

 

“Many atheists reject the notion that morality requires religion. They argue that ethical behavior is rooted in empathy, social contracts, and evolutionary biology, not divine commandments. By rejecting religion, they embrace the freedom to create their own moral code, which they see as more adaptable and relevant to modern society.”

            

            That’s interesting. Atheists believe they can “create their own moral code”. What would they base that code on? So in other words every person in existence should be able to create their own moral code. What if someone believes it is morally right to kill someone who they have determined is a really bad person? Would that be okay? Or it is okay because it doesn’t affect you personally. Who says what is good and what is bad? Who determines what is moral and what is immoral? An atheist would have to put together a moral code that worked for everyone in existence, wouldn’t they? Or is it that you establish your own moral code and whatever anyone else does is their own business? Hmmm. I don’t think that really works. What you think is moral may not garner any support from those in your sphere of influence. What then? 

            In spite of what anyone may think, mankind if truly incapable of living a moral and/or ethically sound life independent of all others. Put a group of 20 people in a room together and see how many people will agree with one another regarding proper morals and ethics. I’ll bet not too many. So how is this supposed to work? 

            In Christianity, God has established a set of statutes for living that work for all who would care to live by them. They are based on loving God and each other. On treating others as better than yourself. On treating others the same way you’d like them to treat you. Life shouldn’t be ALL ABOUT YOU. Christianity seeks a selfless life that lives out those examples Jesus Himself lived while He was alive on earth. Allowing for differences in understanding and our ability to question things, Christianity is quite a nice belief system that highlights peace, hope and love as their main influencers. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 6

Reason 6 - Indoctrination and Fear Tactics

 

“Religions often use indoctrination from a young age and fear-based tactics, such as the threat of eternal damnation, to enforce belief. Atheists reject this as psychological manipulation, arguing that a truly loving God would not rely on fear or coercion to gain followers, further supporting their disbelief.”

            The sad part about this is that atheists are not allowing for ignorant people, who call themselves religious and even go to church regularly, who may be a little unhinged regarding their beliefs. Their behavior is a stain on Christendom & any other religion that has such incidents, but it shouldn’t be a call out against God. Almighty God doesn’t literally control peoples thoughts, words, and/or actions. People worldwide improperly interpret their religions sacred text and act accordingly. That is a blight on them personally, not their entire belief system and/or God Himself.

            What it seems like to me is that those who do not wish to believe look for ANY reason to fortify their position. Indoctrination and fear sound like tactics used mainly by cults and not mainline religions. There are always exceptions to that in any group, but I would say that stating these things as sound reasoning for NOT believing in an unseen deity seems to me like a fishing expedition. 

            I whole heartedly agree with the atheists on this one. There is absolutely NO room for any manipulating maneuvers. A person does not go to hell because they don’t embrace all the doctrines of a religion. The leaders of that religion may think so, but they would be incorrect in their thinking. God IS a “truly loving God” who DOES NOT “rely on fear or coercion to gain followers”. Not at all. Never. Those who propagate that way of thinking are misguided and not at all pleasing to Almighty God or whoever they worship.

            This is why God views the heart of an individual while humans are unable to do that. Don’t believe in the existence of God if you like, but please don’t make the tragic mistake of lumping all believers from all religions together and judge them based on the actions of a scant few. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 5

Reason 5 - Cultural Relativity of Religion

 

“Religions vary widely based on geography, with different cultures worshiping different gods. Atheists argue that this cultural relativity suggests religion is a human invention rather than a universal truth. If one's faith depends largely on where they are born, they reason, it undermines claims of absolute truth.”

 

“Cultural relativism is the view that concepts and moral values must be understood in their own cultural context and not judged according to the standards of a different culture.” - Wikipedia

 

            Certain “religions” were started in a certain region of the world and there you will find the largest concentration of followers. They are open to everyone, but they do not seek to ambitiously spread their belief system as a rule. Some “religions” demand allegiance or death. Christianity is, as far as I know, the only belief system that speaks of the prevalence of sin and has the only plan that exists to remove it. The other “religions” cater to the individual and his or her enlightenment or growth into a deeper acceptance of their tenets, which largely involve peace, love, kindness, mercy, and passivity. While that is a noble mantra, they put the onus on the individual to achieve these characteristics on their own thru meditation, fasting, etc. But what of sin? If you are to achieve an other worldly existence after death then you must adhere to their beliefs. The origin of their beliefs come from regular individuals who claim to have achieved a certain level of spiritual understanding. Therefore followers revere the individual who either has long since died or is still living and fully accepted as their leader.

            The thing about the doctrines of Christianity is that they are true in any region of the world. Some of the stories and/or illustrations given may mean something a little different when looked at thru the lens of the original time period, but it doesn’t alter the main message being conveyed.

            The existence of sin is side stepped by most other belief systems, with few exceptions. Christians believe they are given a free will by God to do as they please, with the idea that once born again of the spirit they will seek to do that which is pleasing to God and highly beneficial for them. If a person dedicates his life to follow Christ, yet doesn’t change his behavior one iota, then what was the point of becoming born again to begin with. Most other “religions” have rules and regulations that must be followed. Christianity has statutes that are laid out in the Bible that we are called to follow for our own betterment; however, we don’t HAVE to follow them. Not following could lead to becoming disillusioned, and resentful where the individual begins to doubt what he believes. What you put into it is what you will get out of it. 

            Just because there are a plethora of “religions” in the world today, that doesn’t mean they are all false. Satan works overtime to trip people up with false teachings that keep them from the truth. This begs the question, “Is there an absolute truth?” That is a deep subject for another time. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministry

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org         

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 4

Reason 4 - Scientific Understanding

 

“As science advances, it provides natural explanations for phenomena that were once attributed to gods. The Big Bang theory, evolution, and neuroscience explain the origins of the universe, life, and consciousness without invoking a deity. Atheists often see science as a more reliable, evidence-based framework for understanding the world than religion.”

 

            The Big Bang is a theory, not based on factual information, but rather human scientific research. My immediate question is if atheists are skeptical of 40 different men writing scripture over 1500 years, then why are they not skeptical of many scientists doing research and having flawless results. Couldn’t they have made mistakes along the way? Did they have preconceived ideas regarding the existence of God and creation that could lead them to faulty conclusions. Science is based on theory, not fact. There is no one alive that can provide perfect, flawless, factual data regarding much of anything, but if you don’t believe in the existence of God isn’t it possible that you might allow for sketchy information to influence your opinion?    

            I’ve said this before ... I believe it takes more faith to believe in scientific THEORIES, then to believe there is a spiritual being who by the power of His word, created every living thing. Not to mention the fact that there are some Creationists who hold to the idea that there really WAS a Big Bang, but it was Almighty God proclaiming: “Let there be light!” - BANG! And there was light.

            Maybe what I’m saying sounds completely ridiculous to you, but can’t you even admit that it is possible? I admit I am biased because I happen to believe in the existence of God. I have chosen to believe this by faith. The thing I find interesting is that those who disagree with this viewpoint are rather rude and condescending about it. Those that disagree ridicule any opposition by name calling and assuming a lower level of intelligence for anyone who would believe in something that cannot be proven or even seen. This is not to say that some Christians are the very same way, but as a general rule, I feel believers approach this whole atheistic thought process with kindness. Maybe I’m wrong. But having one or two negative examples shouldn’t taint an entire pool of people.

            Regarding evolution, I find it extremely hard to believe that man has evolved down thru the eons to the state he is currently in, which is not entirely impressive if you ask me. Due to societal influences throughout the ages mankind has drifted far from his potential. A liberal mindset has made inroads that have not all been positive and in some cases have stunted the supposed evolutional process. Outside forces always have a pronounced effect on people, especially if they are amenable to them. The dark side of man seems to regularly rear its ugly head at critical stages in man’s growth. The THEORY of evolution is not factual and therefore, doesn’t really explain anything unless you are willing to accept it without proof. In my opinion, it isn’t necessary to have a deep rooted understanding of science to accept the existence of an unseen deity. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 3

Reason 3 - The Problem of Evil

“The existence of suffering, evil, and injustice in the world poses a challenge to the idea of an all-powerful, benevolent deity. Atheists argue that a loving God would not allow atrocities like wars, genocides, or illnesses. The disconnect between religious teachings of a just God and the harsh realities of life reinforces atheistic perspectives.”

            Not believing in the existence of God is going to skew the reasoning of an atheist. Take the existence of evil in the world. Christian’s believe there was a rebellion in heaven which caused the ouster of Lucifer from the heavenly realm. His ejection from heaven saw 1/3^rd of the angels go with him. Lucifer became Satan & the apostate angels became demons to do Satan’s bidding. THIS is where we believe evil came from, for this is the account that scripture relays to us. God gave his creation a FREE-WILL to do as they please AND believe as they please. This is essentially because He wants those who are willing to follow, rather than making them follow Him in a regimented way. 

            Now God is omniscient, meaning He knows all that can be known. He knows when people are going to do something sinful and there are no doubt times that He may thwart the effort of the sinful deed succeeding. It is the Christians belief that because God created all things, it stands to reason that He either causes or allows everything that takes in this world. Why would He allow evil? He set things up this way to allow for free will. To stop all evil from taking place simply isn’t the way God constructed His system of belief to work. If there were no evil then there would be no sin and if there were no sin then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die. Perhaps you disbelieve in the existence of Jesus. Flavius Josephus, a noted Jewish historian from the time of Jesus, actually mentions him by name stating that in his opinion He was more than just a man. Now Josephus was not a believer. He simply chronicled historic events from his Jewish perspective. So for me, I tend to lean towards C.S. Lewis’*assessment; that Jesus was either a heretic, a lunatic, or who He said He was, the Son of God.

To allow no evil would be God dictating how we act. In essence that type of world would be a utopian world without free will. Is that really what you want? There really has to be some standard to follow, doesn’t there? Otherwise, how would we know how to act? Man does have the ability to disbelieve in the existence of God, so then if there is no God, where did evil come from? 

I have no idea why God put His redemption plan together this way, but rather than question it, I accept it and live within it’s construct. One day all evil will be removed from the earth, but until that time, we must pray for the safety of mankind and for revival. Just remember, you don’t HAVE to believe all this, but you can. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: An article titled 30 Reasons People Choose Atheism on a blog called Housley - written by Lisa O.; www.gotquestions.org

* C.S. Lewis (b. 1898 d. 1963) was a former atheist who became a lay theologian. He was in his later years a master apologist for the Christian faith.

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism 2

Contradictions in Religious Texts

“Atheists also often scrutinize religious scriptures and find contradictions, such as conflicting accounts of creation or historical inaccuracies. They also question moral teachings that condone actions like slavery, war, or discrimination. These inconsistencies and ethically problematic passages lead many to view religious texts as human constructs rather than divine revelations.”

“If we read the Bible at face value, without a preconceived bias for finding errors, we will find it to be a coherent, consistent, and relatively easy-to-understand book. Yes, there are difficult passages. Yes, there are verses that appear to contradict each other. We must remember that the Bible was written by approximately 40 different authors over a period of around 1,500 years. Each writer wrote with a different style, from a different perspective to a different audience, for a different purpose. We should expect some minor differences. However, a difference is not a contradiction. It is only an error if there is absolutely no conceivable way the verses or passages can be reconciled. Even if an answer is not available right now, that does not mean an answer does not exist. Many have found a supposed error in the Bible in relation to history or geography only to find out that the Bible is correct once further archaeological evidence is discovered.” ^[1]

            Atheists place their faith in science. They seem to sidestep the question of sin, for it never seems to come up. The way I figure it if you’re bound and determined to debunk the existence of God, then you’re going to enter into your search for truth with a tainted mindset. You’d be looking to prove He doesn’t exist and not looking with an open mind to try to reveal to yourself He DOES exist. You will look at everything with a jaundiced eye. You will look for what appear to be discrepancies in scripture. Frankly, if you are looking for issues, you can make just about ANYTHING an issue. Hence the view that scripture is contradictory, which is a short sighted way to look at it. It would appear that without studying the text with at least a neutral mind, you will find statements that seem to contradict one another, but if you take a deep dive trying to understand the actual meaning of the scriptures in question, you may just see that there are not actually any contradictions after all. 

                  If you want there to be NO God, because to have one complicates your life too much, then you will predetermine the answer. You’re not being fair to yourself. To you science is your god, but science will not answer the question about the existence of God because it is a faith question. We all place faith in either something or someone. Who do you place your faith in? Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

^[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-errors.html

 

 

30 Reasons People Choose Atheism

Lack of Evidence

“For many atheists, the lack of empirical evidence supporting the existence of a deity is a decisive factor. They argue that belief in a god should meet the same rigorous standards of evidence as scientific claims. Without verifiable data like tangible miracles or undeniable divine interventions—they find no logical reason to accept theistic claims.”

 

                  I consider this new study to be extremely interesting. I will take on each of the 30 reasons and show how they are mistaken due to a lack of understanding. I’m neither a theologian, nor the son of a theologian; however, I plan to use a commonsense approach using scripture to counter their claims. They will not be exhaustive writings on the individual topics, but rather what I believe could be said to counter an atheists thought process.

                  Christianity is a faith-based “religion”, though I don’t consider it to be a religion at all. Did you know that the word “religion” doesn’t appear in scripture. I consider Christianity to be relational, in that we begin and continue to establish an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father once we become born-again. 

                  Now, on to the 1^st reason people choose Atheism. Lack of evidence is a flawed way to view a faith-based system of beliefs because evidence is not available, therefore, it cannot be found. Deciding to believe in an invisible God is a choice each one of us must make in this life. Atheists have decided not to believe saying there is no proof. God allows them to see it that way. It’s called a “free will”. They seek “verifiable” proof, something they can experience with their 5 senses. That’s NOT ever going to happen. You see if God’s existence could be proven then faith would no longer be necessary. 

                  The argument of creation itself being evidence of a supreme architect being responsible falls on deaf ears because if a person doesn’t believe in the existence of a God, nothing else will fall in line. Looking for a scientific solution isn’t going to work because science and faith are incompatible. One demands evidence, while the other has no evidence to provide.  Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What is God’s relationship to time? part 2

            We live in a physical world with its four known space-time dimensions of length, width, height (or depth) and time. However, God dwells in a different realm—the spirit realm—beyond the perception of our physical senses. It’s not that God isn’t real; it’s a matter of His not being limited by the physical laws and dimensions that govern our world ^{(Isaiah 57:15)}. Knowing that “God is spirit” ^{(John 4:24)}, what is His relationship to time?

In Psalm 90:4, Moses used a simple yet profound analogy in describing the timelessness of God: “For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.” The eternity of God is contrasted with the temporality of man. Our lives are but short and frail, but God does not weaken or fail with the passage of time.

In a sense, the marking of time is irrelevant to God because He transcends it. Peter, in 2 Peter 3:8, cautioned his readers not to let this one critical fact escape their notice—that God’s perspective on time is far different from mankind’s ^{(Psalm 102:12, 24-27)}. The Lord does not count time as we do. He is above and outside of the sphere of time. God sees all of eternity’s past and eternity’s future. The time that passes on earth is of no consequence from God’s timeless perspective. A second is no different from an eon; a billion years pass like seconds to the eternal God.

Though we cannot possibly comprehend this idea of eternity or the timelessness of God, we in our finite minds try to confine an infinite God to our time schedule. Those who foolishly demand that God operate according to their time frame ignore the fact that He is the “High and Lofty One . . . who lives forever” ^{(Isaiah 57:15)}. This description of God is far removed from man’s condition: “The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” ^{(Psalm 90:10)}.

Again, because of our finite minds, we can only grasp the concept of God’s timeless existence in part. And in so doing, we describe Him as a God without a beginning or end, eternal, infinite, everlasting, etc. Psalm 90:2 declares, “From everlasting to everlasting You are God” (see also Psalm 93:2). He always was and always will be. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

What is God’s Relationship to Time? Part 1

            So, what is time? To put it simply, time is duration. Our clocks mark change or, more precisely, our timepieces are benchmarks of change that indicate the passage of time. We could say, then, that time is a necessary precondition for change and change is a sufficient condition to establish the passage of time. In other words, whenever there’s change of any kind, we know that time has passed. We see this as we go through life, as we age. And we cannot recover the minutes that have passed by.

Additionally, the science of physics tells us that time is a property resulting from the existence of matter. As such, time exists when matter exists. But God is not matter; God, in fact, created matter. The bottom line is this: time began when God created the universe. Before that, God was simply existing. Since there was no matter, and because God does not change, time had no existence and therefore no meaning, no relation to Him.

And this brings us to the meaning of the word eternity. Eternity is a term used to express the concept of something that has no end and/or no beginning. God has no beginning or end, but He cannot be wholly defined by eternity, especially as a measure of time. (God is eternal, but eternity does not equal God. Similarly, God is all-powerful, but power does not equal God.) Eternity is one of God’s attributes, but, having created time, He is greater than time and exists outside of it.

Scripture reveals that God lives outside the bounds of time as we know it. Our destiny was planned “before the beginning of time” (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2) and “before the creation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20). “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3). In other words, the physical universe we see, hear, feel and experience was created not from existing matter, but from a source independent of the physical dimensions we can perceive.

“God is spirit” (John 4:24), and, correspondingly, God is timeless rather than being eternally in time or being beyond time. Time was simply created by God as a limited part of His creation for accommodating the workings of His purpose in His disposable universe (see 2 Peter 3:10-12).

Upon the completion of His creation activity, including the creation of time, what did God conclude? “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Gen 1:31). Indeed, God is spirit in the realm of timelessness, rather than flesh in the sphere of time.

As believers, we have a deep sense of comfort knowing that God, though timeless and eternal, is in time with us right now; He is not unreachably transcendent, but right here in this moment with us. And because He’s in this moment, He can respond to our needs and prayers. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resource: www.gotquestions.org

Dealing with the 3 D’s - Disappointment

DISAPPOINTMENT (def): to fail to satisfy the hope, desire, or expectation of; to frustrate or thwart.

 

            Generally speaking, people get disappointed when things don’t go the way they would like them to. One-way genuine believers can be disappointed in this life is when we need to wait for answers to prayer. And then when the answer does come, it isn’t the answer we were looking for. Being disappointed can become a weight around your neck if you allow it to. And what would a weight around your neck do; it would pull you down.  We mustn’t allow a disappointment to fester like a sore, for nothing good will come from that. 

            A lot of negative attitudes, such as the 3 D’s, can be remedied by shifting your focus. I know I say that a lot. Has it sunken in yet? REFOCUS. Don’t feed your mind that which has the potential to drag you down. Simply do not allow it. With God’s help by His Holy Spirit who resides within you, train yourself to change your reading, listening and watching habits. Feed your mind with that which will nourish your spirit man/woman, not cause him (or her) to atrophy. 

            Life is full of choices. We make them every day. So, you must CHOOSE to seek out spiritually uplifting things to read, watch and/or listen to so you can elevate your mood. Continuing to go back to that which deflates you is like a dog going back to his vomit or a pig going back into his mud hole after being cleaned. YOU hold the key to your own success. That key is God. Reach out and up for God’s reach is never so short that He cannot pull you out of your disappointment funk. Exercise your faith and unleash your trust in the Lord. The power for you to rise above the chaos is easily available to you. Just ask for His help. He will not disappoint.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries