The Christian story is indeed better than the Atheist story in that it begins with the mind instead of mere matter. The reason for this is that a mastermind implies purpose. If everything has happened by chance, then there is no objective reason to exist. The Christian story also fulfills the longing in each person for some form of transcendence--something beyond ourselves. We have hope.
Another reason the Christian story is better is that the atheist/naturalistic view is downright contradictory. This quote from C.S. Lewis points this out: “If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creature with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.” In other words, our search for meaning proves that there is indeed meaning beyond ourselves. Even atheists search for meaning, except their meaning is without hope. If there is no meaning, why live—or even survive? Alex Roseburg’s The Atheist’s Guide to Reality seeks to persuade people toward atheism. However, if we are just a product of chemical processes in the world and our brain, then it stands to reason that persuasion would be impossible since we would have no free will. His writing is a hopeless endeavor based on a hopeless worldview. If there is an eternal, omnipresent, immaterial, and all-powerful source of creation, how should that affect our lives? We should be living in fear. We should not fear death, as all people without hope do; rather, we should recognize our accountability to this being. If we were wise, we would consider different “theories” of human origins and significance. How does the Christian view that God is good stand up to the fact that our world is filled with evil? This boils down to human choice. Humans were created a living soul in God’s image and likeness, with a mind, a body and a sharing in God’s spirit (God breathed his Spirit into Adam). Adam and Eve were clothed in the glory of God, reflecting His very being and character. They were given a mind with which they were to choose to honor their Creator, enjoying His presence and provision. They had eternal life, and a perfect knowledge of good and evil, as they had access to the mind of God Himself—through relationship with Him. However, they were tempted with the desire to have life apart from God. The temptation for humans is the same today. When people refuse to receive life from God, evil results. Jesus Christ is our way back to perfect communion with God, and He will bring it to completion one day in a new, perfect heavens and earth (See Romans 1:18-32…https://www.rivervalleychurch.us/blog/judge-yourself-and-share-your-hope-in-christ (Links to an external site.)).
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This is the blog of Tyler Shepard, the Associate Pastor for Centre Union Church in Yeagertown, PA.
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