Have you ever met an atheist? I am sure you have. Most won’t admit it once they know I am a preacher so I haven’t had a conversation with one in years. However, more and more people are admitting to being one, although for the life of me I can’t figure out why.
Often they will try a point out the wrongs of religion and faith particularly when they come to the issue of war. What they like to argue is that because of religions, look at all the wars fought over the years and especially when we look at some of the treatments of people that religions call pagans or even savages. To that extent, we are guilty.
Now, let’s begin the case as to why one shouldn’t be an atheist or a secular humanist for that matter. Since you and I believe in God, I am not going to take time to argue that issue although I could since ultimately we have the strongest case. Consider the following:
1. The two experiments in humanism and atheism resulted in the nazies and communism. 6 million Jews and 20 million Russians not counting the countless millions of men and women who fought to free people from atheistic humanist terror testify to the reality that atheism and humanism in just 80 years killed and destroyed more people than probably all the wars fought in God’s name since the beginning of time.
2. For the most part the hospital systems, the educational systems (including public education), the orphanages, homes for unwed mothers, charities like Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Goodwill and much more were all started by Christians. And that’s only a part of the list.
3. Individual churches run day care programs, food banks, shelters for the home less, soup kitchens, clothing stores, counseling centers and donate millions to people who walk in off the street. God help the poor if not for the churches.
I think you’re getting the point. You see, to have a humane society you can hardly leave it up to those who don’t believe in God. If you want civilization where humanity can reach our greatest destiny, I would hardly leave it up to non-believers. With our faults, give me people of faith any old day.
Peace and grace. Reed