One consistent argument between Atheists and Religious People is whether atheists can be moral. To be sure, morality can stem directly from the human condition (a God made condition), a person can be a nonbeliever and still act, at least in this world, moral, humane and in accordance with most of the 10 commandments (perhaps not 1 “no other Gods” and 3 “keep holy the sabbath”), as well as the Golden Rule - treat others as you would have them treat you. I have known personally many Atheists who are fine human beings, law-abiding, respectful and moral people who just fail to comprehend and believe in God as I do. Are they good people?, like every group, some are and some are not.
I must admit, however, that I am bothered by the Home Page donation seeking article about Atheists and the desecration of the host. As offensive as that desicration is, the arguments made against it are sophomoric and unconvincing. There is nothing wrong with doing God’s work as a scientist, as a university professor or as a free-will thinker and teacher. We cannot fight for them by these ridiculous personal attacks, we must fight them by appealing to their hearts and minds - an idea sorely lacking in the world today.
The line of reasoning against the philosopher, the atheist, the professor and the scientist is not in trying to convince them of what they will never be convinced of, it is in appealing to what they can never prove, that which requires faith! We must accept that many of them will never be convinced because there can be no proof, but we must also accept that there is no proof, only faith…and faith alone is enough.
Atheists make my faith stronger, and thus Atheism must have at least one good purpose. Atheists can be, and some are, moral people, therefore some Atheists are more worthy than some (and we all know some of them) self-proclaimed Christians. God gave us brains and free-will, he made all things on the earth and they were good…couple that with the brilliance of America’s advocacy system (each side fights its heart out for their position and everyone is stronger and better in the end) and my faith is strengthened and purified by the existence of Atheists.
Let us not be unChristian just because the words come in the wrapping of Atheism, let us treat others as we wish to be treated, let us both render unto God and render unto Cesar - fear not we faithful, faith will prevail … it will just take longer if we try to force it with hate and derision, just as Atheism will take longer if they promote through hate and derision.
Peace be with you
God bless the Atheist
God Bless the Sinner
JRPV