BGEA: I'm an atheist, because I just can't see believing in something you can't prove.

I grew up believing in God, but I've decided the only reason I believed was because that's what my parents taught me. They were shocked when I told them I'd become an atheist, but I just can't see believing in something you can't prove. Why should I? — J.V.

Has it ever occurred to you that as an atheist you also believe in something you can't prove?

You see, an atheist says there is no God—in other words, that God doesn't exist. But can you prove it? No, you can't, any more than someone a thousand years ago—before the invention of the telescope—could have proved that other galaxies didn't exist. All you can say is that you don't believe there is any evidence for God's existence. But what if there is evidence that you haven't yet examined? In other words, you have faith that God doesn't exist—but you can't actually prove it.

But could you be looking in the wrong place? Or looking with the wrong attitude? You see, as a Christian I believe in God for one reason: He has revealed Himself to us. How has He done this? He has done it first of all through the majesty of His creation.

But, most of all, He has revealed Himself in a way that staggers our imagination: He became a man. That man was Jesus, in whom (the Bible says) "all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). No, I know you don't believe that right now—but I challenge you to look at Jesus with an open heart and mind as He is revealed in the pages of the New Testament. Don't let pride or anything else keep you from discovering Him.

2 Comments

J 3:16 says 3.9.2012, 1:35 p.m.

Dear B, the words of Jesus Christ stand clear forever: "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." God bless you

B says 5.31.2011, 02:07 a.m.

Unlike the divine creator that Christians worship, the galaxies make themselves very apparent to us, even when we don't have a telescope. All we have to do is look up, and there it all is, right before our eyes. The Abrahamic God which the Bible characterizes lives beyond all that- beyond the farthest reaches of our human cognition. He is unreachable, save by following the right faith promoted by his alleged church of followers. Christians have a very profound world view which requires surprisingly little observation and heaps of spiritual assumptions. However, this makes them neither better nor worse than their fact-driven counterparts, merely different. Don't be frustrated that you can't believe in an intangible thing- investigate the proposed faith, and come away smarter (or even with belief in the divine).I advise you to follow Mr. Graham's advice. Analyze every aspect of religion (not just Christianity, mind you), and see what knowledge you can gain from the wisdom they may afford you on your journey through life. And remember: there is no one right way to live!