By smcintos

Do you believe? … Something?

If you are religious, have you met a critical Atheist? I think the experience of criticism, and even being mocked, is good for every believer. It is good to take a careful look at ourselves. Self criticism can be good for us. People who push us into self examination, might be doing us a favor.

Here is an example of a famous Atheist speaking against a Christian, who seems to have very strong beliefs:

I am writing as a Christian, and I would hate to be in that Christian man’s position. Confronting a world famous, and critical Atheist, in front of television cameras, would make me squirm. 

How would you feel? Whatever you believe? 

Some people respond to criticism by changing what they believe. Don’t we all hate being unpopular?

When I was a young university student, I talked to one of my professors, in his office. From the way he talked in class, I thought he was religious in his private life. In the conversation, I mentioned the name of the church that my family went to. I expected some approval, but the conversation stopped, and he did not seem happy with me. I remember his cold words “Oh, so you’re a literalist!”

I didn’t really understand what he meant by that, but I knew it was time to end the conversation. I never visited him in his office again, and I avoided all contact. At the end of the term, I passed the course, but I never took another course from him. I knew enough to stay away from a professor who threw disapproving words at me, even if I didn’t understand.

Now, many years later, I know what a ‘religious literalist’ was, in my prof’s thinking, and I think I did the right thing when I ended the conversation, and stayed away.

In the video clip, a man who seems to be a sincere believer is confronted by a world famous professor, from one of the greatest universities in the world, Oxford. My experience was tiny, compared to his.

So, can your beliefs stand up to the critics? Can you tolerate being unpopular. The criticism is really a variation of the word “stupid.”

Are you ready? In the Bible, Christians are told “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5: 19 to 12)

That is clear, except that sometimes we can be wrong. Correction is not always persecution.

That is true in my life. 

Assuming that some sneering criticism fits the name “persecution”, are we ready? Modern culture is filled with ‘correct’ politics and morals, and someone who is a believer, in something, will have other ideas. The Bible also tells us “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted ” (2 Timothy 3: 12)

“Will be”, this is guaranteed. I think telling someone that they are delusional, is more like persecution than communication. There is no attempt to understand and learn something from a friend. 

So, what should we do with the nasty critics? What should a Christian do with a famous Atheist?

Be nice.

People who know the truth, and make it a part of their lives, can show the power of the truth, in their lives. If I can’t show God to an unbeliever, I can show the power of God, in my life. Cold logic is not the only possibility. You may have heard that Richard Dawkins, the famous Atheist, now describes himself as a “cultural Christian.” He doesn’t believe, but there is something about those people that is attractive to him.

One other Bible quotation is: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (John 13: 35)

Play the game by your rules.

I hope we can all learn this lesson. It’s a winning argument.