My fellow blogger, Dinesh D'Souza, asks where atheists are when tragedies like Virginia Tech shooting happens? I'm not an atheist (I'm agnostic), but the answer is simple -- they don't have to be anywhere. They're not the ones with the grand theory of the wonderful, benevolent God who is going to save us all. A thousand times better question is -- where is Jesus?
Or Mohammed? Or Moses? Or Ganesh? Or Apollo? Or Thor? Why didn't any of them ride to the rescue? Here's the real answer, although it makes a lot of you very uncomfortable -- because they don't exist!
They don't do wonderful magic tricks. They're not waiting to the end of time (usually after most of the people on earth are killed according to the so-called holy books) to show up to rescue the few good people left. They're not going to show up any of these tragedies. Because they are a figment of your imagination.
Atheists have nothing to answer for. Whereas, all of the religions claim to have all the answers. So, here's a simple one: Where the hell were you when we needed you?
Yeah, I know, God works in mysterious ways. Excuses are a dime a dozen. You claim there's a magic man up in the sky, so you bear the burden of proof. Ante up. Where is he?
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Where is Jesus?
Posted Apr 18th 2007 6:40PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, Religion, Islam, Christianity, Virginia Tech Shooting
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 6)
1. Honestly i feel the same way but that doesnt mean im going to do what this individual did.Everybody is brainwashed and lied to there whole life.Just like as a little kid you where told santa and the easter bunny are real.Im sorry but just like those two as well as many others "God" jesus or any other religious features are not real.Everybody is so afraid of death that they believe there is a better place well there aint. But dont get me wrong that gives you NO reason what so ever to shoot ANYONE let alone a school of children.Now before you get all upset at my comments do me 1 favor ask yourself. Has anyone ever really answered your prayers. Have you ever heard a voice when you pray about your problems. If you have you would probably be considered crazy and would be prescribed to medication.Crazy funny world right.LOL
steve at 7:15PM on Apr 18th 2007
2. . . . As much as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren you have done it unto me.
To answer your question, Jesus was in the midst of his people and with every sparrow that falls to the ground. I don't expect you to believe it or understand it, but it's still true. And there were many Christians helping and consoling those that were hurt and injured during such a devastating time of grief.
The world was once perfect, and what made it perfect was freedom of choice and free will, but the bible says that Adam chose to excercise the negative side of his free will and chose death and corruption over life. Jesus was there allowing Cain to excercise his choice just as he was there allowing Cho to excercise his choice. His wisdom is too far greater than mine to understand all of his ways, but I know by faith that he was there.
dalosophy at 7:22PM on Apr 18th 2007
3. It is when belief is so contrary to our experience that controversy over religion erupts. Have a little compassion for your fellow man and try not to judge him too harshly when he holds beliefs that try to give meaning and purpose to life; even when they seem completely prepostrous to the ration mind.
Everyone has to come to his own conclusions about God and whatever saving grace there might be in living. Quite honestly I cannot believe in a God that contradicts himself and that is what a lot of religions have God doing. In the search for the right belief for you, I suggest that you dwell on your rightful place in this world. If you have a rightful place, you will mostly like find a need to believe in something beyond yourself.
Dan at 12:06PM on Apr 19th 2007
4. Why is it that most people that dont believe in God only ask about him when something bad happens, to be fair, shouldnt you hold Him accountable for the good things as well, for example, the fact that you are able to breathe and read this right now. Its funny how it is against the law to pray in school, but when something like this happens, everyone is asking where's God?.
musikangel at 8:22PM on Apr 18th 2007
5. Did you ever see the movie Stepford wives? You see, God didnt create robots. He made man where he could freely make choices. Its by what man does and thinks where his heart is revealed and this is just what God wants. You can not change what you don't know where a robot knows and discerns nothing. God allows man to do evil and good. Its up to the invidual. You ask where is God? If you seek him, one day you will hear him speak to you. That my friend, is a marvelous moment. ~Raven
Raven Smith at 8:27PM on Apr 18th 2007
6. Quote: . They're not waiting ..to rescue the few good people left.
Atheists have nothing to answer for. Where the hell were you when we needed you?
There are no good people. To be good is to be morally excellent. No one meets that standard but Christ alone. Only Christ is able to meet the demands of a perfect, just, Holy Law of God. Christ can redeem you from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us. Read Romans. Read John 3-all of it.
Atheists have this to answer for: the evidence of a Creator is in all creation. If there's a painting, there's a painter, a building, a builder, a creation...a creator. God gave a conscience to know right from wrong. He also gave us the 10 Commandments to show us His absolute standard of perfection. Creation and conscience are witnesses against us. Check out www.needGod.com
Oh, and Jesus is in Heaven, interceding. He will return to judge the world in righteousness.
The Bible is the only book of it's kind. The truth about the Truth.
fisherwoman at 3:14PM on Apr 20th 2007
7. Rather than they don't exist -- you wrote their names, so they must exist on some level --- it is the myths behind them that aren't real. Each were human and their life and accomplishments embellished for selfish political purposes or to promote a cult of personality. It is thier teachings that should be heeded, not the myth that has propelled them into supernatural status.
gate keeper at 8:36PM on Apr 18th 2007
8. Cenk is right. Religion is a way for the human brain to deal with the inability to explain its origin; it's the brain's job to assemble everything, rationally or otherwise, into a coherent, managable whole. When logic can't succeed toward this end, then faith is born. There are far too many other things to worry about to allow this conundrum to distract us... care of our young, water, food, avoiding becoming food. But there comes a time in our evolution when we have to cast this crutch aside and face the realization that we are the masters of our own fate, and that life is chaotic and in a constant state of flux. Atheism is just as much of a trap. Any ism involves a preconceived way of perceiving things without proof; atheists have faith that there is no possibility in the existence of a god under any circumstance or in any form.
When we're talking about people comforting others in times of grief faith is a somewhat irrelevant thing to consider. If someone is suffering, it's a natural human reaction to want to help that person.
I guess i'd describe myself as agnostic now, no god here, but i feel spiritually connected to the universe as it were... regardless, i was raised catholic, altar boy, junior ministry, the whole deal, and i saw a lot of those people do and say a lot of unchristian things... i never felt that any of it made sense, yet i knew moral right from moral wrong because my parents instilled that in me as the way good people treat each other in the world, regardlesss of religion. Do unto others, yes, amen! But i could've done without all the guilt and self-loathing that it was wrapped in.
Where were the atheists, Dinesh? I don't know. Where is religion when we need it? Right where it's always been, dividing people the world over. Us and them. I'm right, you're wrong. A world without religion is the best chance we have for a world that is simply "Us."
Tyson at 8:51PM on Apr 18th 2007
9. This God vs.no God arguement is so stale I can't believe people still engage each other in it. If God reveals Himself (for lack of a better personal pro-noun)to you you will believe in Him If not, you won't. Seek and you will find, (if you are not too impatient)Knock and the door will be opened (Unless you have locked it with proud preconceptions)Arrogance shuts out any possibility of receiving the truth as you already believe you have it!
Tony at 9:03PM on Apr 18th 2007
10. Where else? He's going to school at Messiah College.
Webster Hubble Telescope at 9:17PM on Apr 18th 2007
11. Thank you for this essay. I don't argue reglioin with people unless they insist on arguing it with me. I thought D/Souza's essay was almost unbearably stupid and dense.
Elizabeth A. Root at 11:30PM on Apr 18th 2007
12. Why is it all the evil in the world is blamed on God and yet nothing of good is attributed to Him?
Mo at 9:28PM on Apr 18th 2007
13. Cenk - I totally agree with your post 100%. Thank you for saying it for those of us who agree with you and don't want to have a thousand quotes from the bible spammed on our blogs as a result. I wish we could all live in a secular peace.
Shaboom at 10:15PM on Apr 18th 2007
14. You should thank God you were not there... you should thank God more were not gunned down... you should humble yourself, ask God to please help this country, once founded on the very principles and goodness of God. Now we are a proud nation. But let us all take a moment to realize the sickness and evil in this world and ask God have mercy on us and continue to protect this Nation.
Scott at 11:00PM on Apr 18th 2007
15. Nice post.. short, and to the point!
musikangel, it's not against the law for anyone to pray on their own in school (state-mandated prayer is).. Lying for jesus is still LYING
mike at 12:00AM on Apr 19th 2007