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Christianity Today, April (Web-only), 2009 |

Soulwork

Where to Find the Real Atheists

Lent teaches us how much we Christians hate God.

Mark Galli | posted 4/02/2009 08:44AM

A couple of weekends ago, I attended what was perhaps the Christian non-event of the year, the Christian Book Expo in Dallas. Organizers had expected 15,000 to walk the aisles, meeting authors and buying ...

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Starbix

Posted: April 15, 2009 2:03 PM


Hi, I'm the organizer of the atheist group mentioned in the article. I would just like to point out that the newsworthiness of the article is from the fact that we are the first atheist group in our county which is considered by most to be the buckle of the California Bible Belt. Just thought I'd clear that up. Starbix "DON'T PANIC." -Douglas Adams http://www.tularecountyatheists.com

Anonymous

Posted: April 13, 2009 4:11 PM


Love this essay. It really hits home. Amen!

Kedric

Posted: April 10, 2009 7:25 PM

I am a believer I know God is real I have seen his work firsthand. What i do not understand is all of this atheist rights to not see the ten commandments the right to not see a manger scene. People If we do not stand up for our Christian right soon its gonna be they have a right to not see that church steeple or that christian church or that cross. just explain to me how you see something you say you do not even believe in and are offended, why should it bother you if you do not even believe in it how can it hurt you. Or is it you simply don,t like to be reminded you could be wrong.

Roy	Posted: April 10, 2009 6:28 PM


As a believer, I give it a four for honesty and avoiding the Godspeak style that puts off many atheists and agnostics.

Laura J

Posted: April 09, 2009 7:42 PM


While the author makes a good point i.e. Christians who do not give God a second-thought throughout their day. I would disagree that it makes them atheists. It is, rather, the sin of ungodliness which we need to repent of each and every day our thoughts and actions stray from pleasing God and being obedient to His Will.

Gary	Posted: April 09, 2009 11:22 AM

I attend a large (500 +) pentecostal-ish church where the pastor will check his watch and cut a sermon short if it looks like it might cut into kick-off time for the Packers. Now remember the basic premise of church for the christian : "An all-knowing, supreme being revealing his eternal truths of joy and service to his people via the pastoral message." . . . Yeah, right. The proof is in the pudding.

Jon	Posted: April 08, 2009 1:34 PM


Great article. Been wrestling lately with the meaning and implication of 1 John 3:6 & 1 Peter 4:1. Could some (many) of us be the ones left outside when the door is closed? (Luke 13:23-30) Not promoting the legalism watching everyone else - only me. Thank you Mr. Galli.

frank

Posted: April 08, 2009 3:13 AM

To define terms: a/theist=no God; a/gnostic=do not know if there is a God or not; Christ/ian=Christ living within a follower. A Christian cannot be a true athiest, but can philosophically deny God in word or deed, act or omission. The night Christ was betrayed, the Disciples slept instead of keeping watch and praying. Jesus had told Peter that satan desired to sift him as WHEAT (not a tare) and that he would deny Christ 3 times. Peter denied Christ 3 times, swore and said, "I do not know the man". He was then struck to the heart with remorse for offending God and wept bitterly. When we offend God in our lives, if we are indeed TRUE Christians, we will have remorse and turn again to seek and serve Him. We live this life in the flesh, but the indwelling Christ gives us the power to overcome. As His children, we walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. 1John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness".

toddsaunders.blogspot.com

Posted: April 04, 2009 3:19 PM


Beautiful article. Thanks.

Basil

Posted: April 04, 2009 11:59 AM

If Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart or Ted Haggard saw Jesus in all his glory 24/7 would they have done the things that they did. Or would Robert Tilton or any other televangelists swindle people out of their money? We all lie, are prideful and are mean spirited. So we all lapse into moments of "practical atheism", living as if God does not exist. Thus let's not fool ourselves. We have meet the enemy and he is us.

Martin

Posted: April 03, 2009 10:08 PM


So you think "atheism in general is entertaining"? I don't. Flawed as they are, recent atheistic assaults on Christian faith have taken an terrible toll on many who lack a basic understanding of the Bible. Nothing funny about that.

Mary	Posted: April 03, 2009 4:33 PM


I love making fun of atheists...and their make believe world and narrow-minded brains just give me more and more to laugh about.

Cardw

Posted: April 03, 2009 2:56 PM


This article is short on facts and long on insider superstition.

Margaret

Posted: April 03, 2009 1:21 PM


Yikes, its like he was talking right to me...

Kozak

Posted: April 03, 2009 12:12 PM


Just curious why so many atheists are commenting on an article from Christianity Today. Did they google "atheism", or do they lurk here trying to convert the rest of us??

C	Posted: April 03, 2009 12:11 PM


Nick Gisburne, continue with this attitidue and one day YOU WILL FALL ON YOUR KNEES TREMBLING IN FEAR.

Bjsteck

Posted: April 03, 2009 11:32 AM


I asked that if He was there to let me know. He is and he did, and my life is so much better now. I didn't ask with my head, as if I dared Him. I asked with my whole heart because I needed to know. He is worth finding.

Pastor in Nevada

Posted: April 03, 2009 9:38 AM


I agree with Steve ... same ol' rheteric

PhillyChief

Posted: April 03, 2009 9:34 AM

Spare me the free will, for if your god is omnipotent, he knew I'd be an atheist and he knew I'd never choose to accept the unreasonable claims for his existence, so that means he created me, and many, many others like me throughout history and untold numbers to come simply to burn in hell for eternity. The free will defense doesn't work for an omnipotent god. For the author, let me explain that atheists don't hate gods nor "pretend" they don't exist. We observe the claims for their existence and determine if belief is warranted. So far, no claims warrant belief. Now it might seem like a fun little scare tactic to shock the Christians to behave more to your liking by telling them when they don't they're being (gasp) atheists, but the argument is silly and ridiculous, which means it probably will work very well on the flock. Visit YouMadeMeSayIt.blogspot.com

jamesmorgans

Posted: April 03, 2009 9:32 AM

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Steve P

Posted: April 03, 2009 8:52 AM


Well, that pretty much sums up the story of my life. And the saints were about the sam. "O Jesus, watch over me always, especially today, or I shall betray you like Judas." - Saint Phillip Neri ... "I tell you, I don't know the man!" St. Peter Lord have mercy on me a sinner.

Jimmy

Posted: April 03, 2009 8:27 AM

Christians who live each day choosing not to murder, not to steal, not to defraud workers, not to neglect their kids' needs, not to cheat are great Theists and are in no way practical atheists. The moral choices we make each day prove or disprove our love of Christ. And, finally, the fact that Christians sin does not make them practical atheists---Christians own up to their wrongs and confront them through confession and ongoing repentance. This is what God expects of men, and most christians I have met try to live this way that pleases God.

Doug Knox

Posted: April 03, 2009 8:06 AM

“[A] philosophical atheist cannot hate something he does not believe exists”? While this isn’t the main thrust of the article, we need to consider the statement. An AP report on December 16, 2002 chronicles an agnostic in Perrysburg, Ohio who received a choice between thirty days or AA meetings on a drunk driving charge. He took the thirty days and contacted the ACLU to bring suit against Municipal Court Judge Dwight Osterud for requiring him to invoke a higher power. If God doesn’t exist, why not take the ride and laugh all the way to spiritual healing? Atheism is God hatred. The debating ground isn’t a neutral DMZ where we can argue a hypothetically non-existent god. If we are to understand Romans 1 correctly, only two territories exist. We practice either God reverence or God hatred. On the one hand, practice dialogue with patience and love, but on the other, never forget that the Lord defined the antithesis. We are either for him or against him.

drjay1941

Posted: April 03, 2009 7:33 AM


Seems to me there's a psalm about this kind of atheism--which amounts to insincerity. It takes so many forms in our culture, probably in any culture. Perhaps we should really label it hypocrisy not atheism--because in the end, one continues to worship the god one values: the self.

cfibb

Posted: April 03, 2009 3:25 AM

"If Christians used the same rhetoric, we would be called narrow-minded fundamentalists who don't know how to have a civil conversation." Aww, poor thing. As a species, we'd rise to something like our full height to remember how horridly beyond rhetoric usage Christians behaved when, for centuries, Christianity controlled everyone's world view. To hell with all religion(s). God is man-made. That's the big scary, sobering secret. If that leaves you with a (don't laugh) "hole in your soul" then you'd better get a grip on yourself - because no one else can do it for you. And anyone who allows their priest, minister, reverend, rabbi, pope, bishop, mullah, ayatollah, or guru to guilt them into doing anything are schmucks. But be kind to a schmuck and step aside when necessary. Do not condescend to a schmuck for one could get hurt.

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