Meet Nancy. Nancy is an atheist. It wasn't always this way. In fact, Nancy grew up in a religious household and was taught, from a very early age, to have awe and respect for the great "bearded man in the sky."
As she grew older, Nancy noticed inconsistencies in her belief system. Apparent hypocrisy in both the teachings and teachers seemed to run rampant. Nancy's faith began to waiver.
Then it happened... Nancy's younger brother, whom she loved dearly, was killed in an automobile accident. This tragic event sent Nancy into a tailspin of addiction and despair, which eventually landed her in the rooms of Recovery. At first, she embraced the idea of a Higher Power, but as the haze cleared, remembrances of her former life came flooding back. Searing questions plagued her every waking moment, "If there is a God, why do bad things happen to good people? Why doesn't he step in and do something? Why do people die?... why did he let my brother die?"
The more Nancy questioned God's will, the angrier she grew. Her rage culminated in a peddle-to-the-metal peel-out away from God and into the arms of science, where myth and fables give way to tangible fact.
Today Nancy is an atheist. She cannot prove, via the Scientific method, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that God does not exist anymore than a Believer can prove the contrary. That doesn't matter. For Nancy, it's easier to turn her back on the possibilities of a Higher Power than allow herself to believe in an unjust God who lets bad things happen to good people. In response, she wages war on religion, argues her point incessantly, consistently misinterprets scripture in an effort to discredit the Word (much like many of the people she professes to despise), and belittles anyone who disagrees with her. She's an intellectual crusader. A champion for her cause: to disprove the existence of God.
I asked Nancy what it would take for her to believe in God. She had no answer... not because she didn't know what it would take, but because she didn't want to believe. She fed off the resentment and anger, fearful that if she let go of it she would lose the memory of her brother. Sad.
I asked Nancy what it would take for her to believe in God. She had no answer... not because she didn't know what it would take, but because she didn't want to believe. She fed off the resentment and anger, fearful that if she let go of it she would lose the memory of her brother. Sad.
Nancy's not a bad person. Like a wounded animal, she's hurt. She's angry. She's looking for answers. Frankly, she raises a valid point: Why do innocent people die? If there is a God, why do bad things happen?
To begin, let's clarify... an "uncaring God" fails to equate with "no God." God does not have to be loving and compassionate in order to exist. But for the sake of this discussion, we'll address the God of the Bible - a God of love and compassion.
First off, people die. It is the natural order of things. It's only been in the past hundred or so years that this has even become an issue. Prior to that, the average life expectancy was 30 years of age. People died, children died... it was just a normal part of life. Now the average lifespan has more than doubled (due in large part to scientific advancements) and death is no longer an everyday occurrence for most people. It has become a disruptive and unacceptable part of our societal scheme.
The Ancient Greeks believed whole-heartedly in the blessings of a short life. In all Greek myths their greatest heroes died early and with great nobility. Heroes such as Hercules, Pentheus, and Oedipus all met an early demise. When Silenus, the wise old Satyr, was asked by King Midas what he considered to be man’s greatest good, he responded, “Ephemeral wretch, begotten by accident and toil, why do you force me to tell you what it would be your greatest boon not to hear? What would be best for you is quite beyond your reach: not to have been born, not to be, to be nothing. But the second best is to die soon.”
As I've stated in previous posts, "God either exists or He doesn't, there is no in-between." Let's presume, for a moment, God does exist. Under this presumption, we must examine the ideology that He is in some way accountable for His actions. If God almighty, creator of the universe, does not behave in accordance with mankind's understanding of His law, then God is a hypocrite and unworthy of existence. WHAT? That's like saying the Constitution is unlawful because we disagree with it's contents. Impossible! The Constitution IS the law! If God exists, He is the Creator of the Universe, almighty and all powerful, answerable to no one, especially humans.
In His benevolence, he gave us life and, for some inexplicable reason, cares about us. All He asks in return is that we love Him and follow His will. To be clear, we were not created for Him to serve us, rather for us to serve Him. Yet, in our self-important arrogance, we continually turn our backs on the Almighty, declaring His non-existence. We profess to be the masters of our destiny and then when bad things happen we lift our heads to the heavens and scream, “God! Why have you let this happen? Why have you forsaken us?” When no acceptable answer comes, we say, “See, there is no God.”
As Believers, we must understand that this world is not the end, but the beginning. If you were to ask a fetus what the worst possible thing would be, it would say, “Being born." The womb is comfortable, soft and warm; the outside world is unknown and foreign, therefore, a bad thing. This realm is our earthly womb, preparing us for the next phase of existence. The suffering that we experience in this life, such as losing a loved one, is difficult, yet momentary. Death is an unknown quantity, therefore, it's frightening. When all is said and done, it represents peace and the end of the pain and suffering offered by this world. Bad for those left behind, good for those who have moved on.
Ultimately, where would we be if everybody lived forever? Who’s to choose when and how people die? I don’t know about you, but I don't want that responsibility.
In His benevolence, he gave us life and, for some inexplicable reason, cares about us. All He asks in return is that we love Him and follow His will. To be clear, we were not created for Him to serve us, rather for us to serve Him. Yet, in our self-important arrogance, we continually turn our backs on the Almighty, declaring His non-existence. We profess to be the masters of our destiny and then when bad things happen we lift our heads to the heavens and scream, “God! Why have you let this happen? Why have you forsaken us?” When no acceptable answer comes, we say, “See, there is no God.”
As Believers, we must understand that this world is not the end, but the beginning. If you were to ask a fetus what the worst possible thing would be, it would say, “Being born." The womb is comfortable, soft and warm; the outside world is unknown and foreign, therefore, a bad thing. This realm is our earthly womb, preparing us for the next phase of existence. The suffering that we experience in this life, such as losing a loved one, is difficult, yet momentary. Death is an unknown quantity, therefore, it's frightening. When all is said and done, it represents peace and the end of the pain and suffering offered by this world. Bad for those left behind, good for those who have moved on.
Ultimately, where would we be if everybody lived forever? Who’s to choose when and how people die? I don’t know about you, but I don't want that responsibility.
Many a time, as a child, my parents made decisions that directly affected my life and displeased me. I didn't understand the bigger picture and they never held my spite against me. They understood what was in my best interest and continued to love me, no matter the tantrums I threw. It's okay to get angry with God. He can take it.
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