I was listening to my favorite radio talk show the other day and the host was interviewing a firebrand atheist named David Silverman. He was touting his new book, Fighting God.
Now, look…I am not the strong Christian I once was. I believe there’s a god. I’m not an atheist or even agnostic, but I’m not entirely sure humans have the first clue as to God’s true intent. We’re just too friggin’ small and he’s too vast. I can only say that it feels very much as if God has abandoned us of late.
But this guy Silverman came on like a Sherman tank, seeking to shred every religious person under his merciless treads. The basis of his message is that religion is a lie. God is a lie. Atheism is the only real truth.
Yes, I’m wavering, but he did and said nothing to persuade me toward his cause. I couldn’t help but notice how angry the guy sounded. Think about it. Here’s a guy who puts up a billboard that says, “Make Christmas great again. Skip church.”
Atheists are the ultimate purveyors of nothing. They work harder than anyone I know to promote the fact that there is nothing waiting for us on the other side. No reward. No punishment. No retrospective of life. We are truly one and done.
No wonder this guy sounded so angry. How can you pay it forward when the road ultimately leads to nowhere? But more to the point, his tone echoed that of every other atheist I’ve ever encountered. I met a guy a few months ago at a social engagement. He never asked me about my beliefs or worldview, but he couldn’t wait to start explaining to me why America was better off if we followed the policy of a strictly secular government. His tone was no different than an evangelist preaching at my door. He was going to convince me at all cost and if I didn’t believe, I was bound for the hell of ignorance.
Look, I get it. Millennials are turning away from church in record numbers. Organized religion is a manmade construct, religion breeds violence, God is a metaphor for male dominance, bla bla bla!
Therefore, what? If not God, then what? Or who? Sorry, guys, but “It’s all a big nothing,” just doesn’t work for me either.
In one sense, I see how atheism can be comforting. If you belong to the church of no, you’re taking far less of a risk than saying yes to something. The church of no is indeed seductive. No God. No rules. No consequences. No hope.
No thanks.
