The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference.
--Richard Dawkins, River Out of Eden
And boy the atheists are up in arms! They're mad as hell about my post "Where is Atheism When Bad Things Happen." Many responders informed me that tragedies are normally considered a problem for religion, not atheism. Where is God when bad things happen? Yes, people, I know this. My point was that if evil and suffering are a problem for religion--and they are--they are an even bigger problem for atheism.
The reason is suggested from the quotation given above. When there is a tragedy like the one at Virginia Tech, the ones who are suffering cannot help asking questions, "Why did this have to happen?" "Why is there so much evil in the world?" "How can I possibly go on after losing my child?" And so on.
In my post I noted that Richard Dawkins had not been invited to address the mourners at Virginia Tech. Several atheists--who haven't yet lost their fundamentalist habit of reading--took this sarcastic statement literally. "So what? The Pope hasn't been invited either!" My point was that atheism has nothing to offer in the face of tragedy except C'est la vie. Deal with it. Get over it. This is why the ceremonies were suffused with religious rhetoric. Only the language of religion seems appropriate to the magnitude of tragedy. Only God seems to have the power to heal hearts in such circumstances. If someone started to read from Dawkins on why there is no good and no evil in the universe, people would start vomiting or leaving.
One clever writer informs me that atheists don't deny meaning, they simply insist that meaning is not inherent in the universe, it is created by us. Okay, pal, here's the Virginia Tech situation. Go create some meaning and share it with the rest of us Give us that atheist sermon with you in the pulpit of the campus chapel. I'm not being facetious here. I really want to hear what the atheist would tell the grieving mothers.
Reader Comments ( Page 10 of 10)
136. It is crucial for Christians and those who seek to blame God for tragedy to understand that we live in a world shrouded with evil. The disobedience of the first humans thrust the world under the domain of Satan and his army. The earth has since continued to be corrupted and vile under their influence. But God enacted a counterstrike, Jesus, in order that all creation can be reconciled back to Him and its glory. The death/resurrection of Jesus for the sins of mankind struck a fatal blow to the Devil's army(sealing their fate), so that all who trust in Him shall not join Satan in his ultimate fate in Hell, but be given everlasting life in Heaven.
People, we live in a temporal period where humans and angelic beings alike have the freedom to choose God's way or to deny it. For a loving God cannot coerce His creation into a relationship with Him. God will honor this time period to allow as many as possible to come to His grace through repentance while also trying to counteract/battle/oppose as much as possible the principalities and evil powers that ensnare the world. As Christians, we are a critical part of that cause, because we have been chosen to spread the Gospel message and take a stand for righteousness in this world. But when the Day of Judgment arrives, those who have denied God (human and angelic) will be cast out into confinement; believers and non-believers separated eternally. Then, the utopia of life with Christ in Heaven that Christians have longed for will continue to be forevermore.
Do not be taken in by the classical Western thought of this age. For the New Testament disciples, the problem of evil was not a problem at all. They expected it to occur as a result of the fallen state of the world (God holds no blame when our human race disobeyed Him and enlisted ourselves under Satan in the process). Therefore, it should be no surprise that Satan, the adversary, would seek to inspire the wickedness and deceit which comes to fruition in the hearts of men.
Never forget this my friends: the war is still being waged, but soon Jesus is returning to the earth as the Victor and ultimate King of Kings. There is still time for non-Christians to turn to Christ's truth, but be warned that it will not be infinite and a point will come where you will give account to the Lord of your actions. Without Jesus, your heritage/finances/intellect will Not save you from condemnation.
-Let the truth be told.
lightRhour at 3:15AM on Jan 18th 2008