The Articulate Atheist

I got a wonderful surprise for my birthday this year.  The family was able to gather all my blogs from 2012 to 2019 printed and bound in a book!  What fun to reread my writings again.  My writing style has changed somewhat but I was amazed that my thoughts were more or less the same.  One particular blog caught my eye and I wanted to pass it on.  It was based on an article in the Opinion section of the El Paso Times (4/20/12) and thought it was worth a repeat here.   We were living in El Paso at the time.  I have added a few more thoughts to the original.

The writer of the article was voicing his opinion concerning inconsistencies of Scripture.   He gave two examples.  The New Testament is replete with stories of loving one’s neighbor, going the extra mile and doing good works for others.  Then he quoted Psalms 137:8-9 where the writer is praying for the destruction of Babylon and its people.  So how can God be saying two things which appear to be opposites?

True……the Bible is a collection of stories. Also true that the stories were given /handed down to a particular group of people 2000 years ago and longer.

These articulate atheists are quick to quote verses which might cast doubt on the veracity of the Scriptures.  But think about this.  The Psalms are a collection of writings by men who were expressing their own feelings as well as their faith in God.  They spoke in exaggerated terms and metaphors.  One must read Scripture not only as a collection of inspired writings…….some were  direct commands or instructions……. but must be read in the historical context in which they were given. 

This particular atheist also comments by saying….”I love my children and have not subjected them to a belief system that extinguishes inquiry, has such an abhorrent history and apparently retards logic.”  

Christians should never be accused of backing away from inquiry.  Blind faith without reasoning will not stand up to the insults and the fractured thinking of unbelievers.  Faith involves commitment as well as knowledge.  We don’t leave our brains at the church door!

The author is confusing issues.  God is not to blame for the horrendous atrocities committed in His name.  God is love Himself and showed us love in a Person!  Man himself has authored his own destructive behavior.

The atheist also wrote. “The Bible was written by men to an illiterate audience.”  How does he know they were illiterate?  They didn’t have access to the printed word but learned by hearing, through teaching and doing. 

How could it be that man alone could develop the principles that have stood the test of time and has guided and shaped our great nation as well as a code of ethics and behavior that have impacted the lives of millions of people! Even the most primitive societies have a code of ethics.  Some type of moral behavior was instilled in mankind from the beginning.  However, it is the Bible itself that brings all of us a faith which has produced wisdom, charity, hope and love. 

I have only one question for these articulate atheists:   “Where do you derive your standard of moral ethics and behavior?  Will you teach your child that stealing is wrong and that hatred of another leads to wars and murders?
Your morality comes straight from God!