Atheism

1. Atheism St Marks Discipleship Class

2. Agenda • Overview and History of Atheism • Types of Atheists • 3 Proofs why God must exist • Reliabilty of the Bible • Practical Atheist – ME • Conversation with a Professor • Conclusion

3. Overview and History • What is Atheism • A/theism = no god • The lack of a belief in God and/or the belief that there is no God • A 2004 BBC poll showed the number of people in the US who don't believe in a god to be about 10% • A 2009 study reported that two thirds of teenagers in the UK do not believe in God (5 Million)

4. The 6 Types of Atheists Two researchers at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga found that atheists and agnostics run the range from vocally anti-religious activists to nonbelievers who still observe some religious traditions. • Silver and Coleman derived their six types of nonbelievers from 59 interviews

5. The 6 Types of Atheists 1) Intellectual atheist/agnostic • This type of nonbeliever seeks information and intellectual stimulation about atheism. • They like debating and arguing, particularly on popular Internet sites. • They're also well-versed in books and articles about religion and atheism, and prone to citing those works frequently.

6. The 6 Types of Atheists 2) Activist • These kinds of atheists and agnostics are not content with just disbelieving in God; they want to tell others why they reject religion and why society would be better off if we all did likewise. • They tend to be vocal about political causes like gay rights, feminism, the environment and the care of animals.

7. The 6 Types of Atheists 3) Seeker-agnostic • This group is made up of people who are unsure about the existence of a God but keep an open mind and recognize the limits of human knowledge and experience. • Silver and Coleman describe this group as people who regularly question their own beliefs and “do not hold a firm ideological position.” • That doesn't mean this group is confused, the researchers say. They just embrace uncertainty.

8. The 6 Types of Atheists 4) Anti-theist • This group regularly speaks out against religion and religious beliefs • “Anti-theists view religion as ignorance and see any individual or institution associated with it as backward and socially detrimental. • The researchers wrote. “The Anti-Theist has a clear and – in their view, superior – understanding of the limitations and danger of religions.” • Anti-theists are outspoken, devoted and at times confrontational about their disbelief.

9. The 6 Types of Atheists 5) Non-theist • The smallest group among the six are the non-theists, people who do not involve themselves with either religion or anti-religion. • In many cases, this comes across as apathy or disinterest. • “A Non-Theist simply does not concern him or herself with religion,” Silver and Coleman wrote. “Religion plays no role or issue in one’s consciousness or worldview; nor does a Non- Theist have concern for the atheist or agnostic movement.” • They continue: “They simply do not believe, and in the same right, their absence of faith means the absence of anything religion in any form from their mental space.”

10. The 6 Types of Atheists 6) Ritual atheist • They don't believe in God, they don’t associate with religion, and they tend to believe there is no afterlife, still finds useful the teachings of some religious traditions. • Silver and Coleman wrote. “For example, these individuals may participate in specific rituals, ceremonies, musical opportunities, meditation, yoga classes, or holiday traditions.” • For many of these nonbelievers, their adherence to ritual may stem from family traditions.

11. Fundamental Atheist Beliefs • There is no God or devil • There is no such thing as a sin • Evolution is a scientific fact • God didn’t create people, people created God • Ethics and morals are relative • What do you guys think can there be Godless morals and ethics? • Atheists have a very limited scope of knowledge since they only accept things, which they can see with their eyes.

12. Why do I care? • You will encounter Atheists in your lifetime, how will you approach them? What would you do if they approached you? • Your main goal in this encounter is to prove to others the reality of the existence of God, but how? Can you use the Bible? • Every Orthodox Christian must be ready to answer anyone who asks you the hope of your faith…that includes you!!

13. Proof 1 of the Existence of God Cosmological Argument • This is an argument for the existence of a First cause..meaning – everything in the universe has a cause • For every existence there must be a cause and effect..so the Cosmos exists, there for where did it come from? Nothing? • Example – If I punch the wall, and I start bleeding..what caused the bleeding? • This means there had to be a FIRST cause, something can not come out of nothing

14. Proof 2 of the Existence of God Theological Argument (Argument from Design) • This describes the accuracy and precision of the creation • For example – if I tell you this building was built by chance, the walls, the chairs, the carpet, it just happened..what would you say? • There is a builder behind this building b/c of it’s detail and accuracy • Same things with the laws of physics..any adjustments of the following would severely destruct human life: • The Oxygen, perfect level • Force of Gravity, perfect measure • The distance of the sun, perfect distance • The size of the universe, perfect size..There had to be an intelligent designer • Earth is constructed in such an intelligent way for human life, that we are able to survive here

15. Proof 3 of the Existence of God Argument of Moral Law • If there is a Moral Law, there has to be a Moral Law Giver • Where did this universal sense of right and wrong come from? • There is a law inscribed in our conscious without a written law..our conscious tells us this.. • Murder is wrong, without anyone telling you that it’s against our religion..where did this feeling come from? Where did you get this idea from? There had to be an origin. • This is why we have a guilty feeling after we commit sins • You can’t prove morals in a lab

16. Proof 3 on the Existence of God • “As an atheist, my argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing the universe with when I called it unjust?”- C.S. Lewis

17. The Reliability of the Bible • M.A.P.S. • Manuscripts • Norman Geisler stated, “The New Testament has more manuscripts, earlier manuscripts, and more accurately copied manuscripts than any other book from the ancient world!” • Over 5700 manscripts thats 30-300 AD • Archeology • “Thousands of archaeological discoveries have confirmed aspects of the Bible either explicitly or implicitly without contradiction. • Over 30 people in the New Testament have been cited by non-Christian writers through historical documents and/or confirmed by archaeological research.

18. The Reliability of the Bible • M.A.P.S. • Prophecy • “It is unlikely that all these events would have converged in the life of one man. • Mathematicians have calculated the probability of sixteen predictions being fulfilled in one man at 1 in 1045. • That forty-eight predictions might meet in one person, the probability is 1 in 10157. That is one in ten with 157 zeroes attached. • Science • Isaiah 40:22 - “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” • Yet, in the Middle Ages, they still believed the earth was flat…

19. Practical Atheists • We sometimes, believe it or not, can be compared to an Atheist • Spiritually, I believe in God. But practically, I live as if He doesn’t exist. • How is this different from an Atheist? • Are we who we say we are? Christians? • “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 • They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:16 • You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! Jam 2:19 • Yes, this is hard..but ask yourself what is it you believe in? Which God will you worship?

20. Conversation with Professor • A Convo with Professor

21. Conclusion • Atheism is prevalent in the world and you will meet several atheists in your lifetime • The existence of God is very clear and can be proven with or without the Bible • The Bible is accurate in all its ways • Doubting is a healthy action that requires follow up • We too, can be practical atheists and we need to watch for this • “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’”-Psalm 14:1

22. Quotes about Atheism • “Atheists express their rage against God although in their view He does not exist.” CSL • “A creature revolting again a creator is revolting again the source of his own powers—including even his power to revolt…it is like the scent of a flower trying to destroy the flower.”CSL • “I believe in God as I believe that the Sun has risen not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” CSL