Challenge for the Non-Believer
Wallace (Shaun) Shaunfield Copyright 2010, 2013
Updated 2/4/2013
If you do not believe in God and are still reading this it tells me you have an intellectual curiosity. That is a great attribute, so let me continue. First let us look at our beliefs. Our belief is the sum of three items: 1) things we know to be true-they really may not be true but we strongly believe they are, 2) our faith, things we believe but cannot prove-we just have faith they are true and 3) our doubts – things we are not sure about. I should point out faith is present in both the believer and the non-believer. Many a scientist who also is a non-believer may have faith for many years that his pet theory is true before it is proved one way or another.
I should also point out that the existence of God cannot be proved or disproved. We may have strong indications that support one view or another but proof is not there. Therefore, our beliefs about God must be in the area of faith or doubt. I happen to believe that God caused this to be the case as a test of our faith.
I was a non-believer, a devout atheist for 50 years. I had developed five specific arguments to support my position. They are described in Chapter 2 My Beliefs Before in the book My God, Your God? This chapter is in the Excerpts from the Book section of this website. These five reasons evolved over a period of time and supported my view for 50 years. However, I came to realize that these reasons were arrived at casually as I never did a serious study of the subject of God. I also found out that former atheist and author, Lee Strobel, on a recent John Ankerberg TV show admitted that he also formed his atheist position without a serious study of the subject. Now this is very interesting. If God is real then having the correct answer to the question has serious implications.
In 2005 I made a decision that I would do an objective and in-depth study of the question of the existence of God. I expected to confirm my position of 50 years. Lee Strobel also took a similar path, much earlier. To my surprise I found there was much evidence supporting the existence of God and essentially none to the contrary. What evidence supports the non-existence of something? Is it impossible to prove that something does not exist. Finally, after reading Strobel’s book, The Case for Faith, I became a believer in God. I still had the five reasons for being an atheist but these would be addressed and changed later.
Now let us look at the attribute of being objective. I would think that most people think they are objective, but is that really true? When I looked at this question it seemed to me that the Christian was more objective than the atheist. That is completely different from what I would have guessed. Now all I have is anecdotal evidence for this conclusion, but let me give you several examples. The first is from a TV debate at a university between Christian – Frank Turek, and atheist – Christopher Hitchens. At the end of the debated there were questions from the audience. One student asked both to answer: what would it take for you to change your position about your belief in God? Turek answered that it would take some very strong arguments, but it was possible for him to change his position. Hitchens, the atheist, on the other hand said there was nothing that would cause him to change his mind. In other words he was totally non-objective on the subject.
Another example is from the video by Ben Stein, Expelled. Stein shows how many scientists generally will automatically reject any mention of intelligent design as an answer in a scientific study. They will in fact ridicule, deny tenure and even fire someone for believing there might be evidence of “design” in nature. Now at first it seems reasonable to keep science pure and without such thoughts. There is no proof that intelligent design does not exist – only opinions. Therefore, for a scientist to automatically exclude such a possible answer based on opinion is non-objective. What other areas have automatically been excluded? I believe a scientist who does this is a second class scientist. However, I think it is totally reasonable for a non-believing scientist when he runs into an unknown that might be answered with an intervention from God, to say I do not know, but I do not believe it is God’s involvement based on his faith. That would be an objective approach.
Consider this thought. If there really is a God and He is not completely passive then it is reasonable to believe that God has intervened in nature including subjects like the formation of our ideal earth, the creation of life on earth and various events in evolution. I believe He must intervene using both natural means as well as super natural means.
Now there are two key questions for you is: First, have you seriously considered the truth about God? Second, are you totally objective in your consideration?
One interesting thought I had just recently is the difference between the God of my childhood versus the God I now know. There is a very high probability that you also were involved with church as a youth. And then like 75% of youth you stopped believing when you left home. The fact is that I do not believe in the God of my youth. In my youth, I seemed to often have a feeling of guilt for one reason or other. When I became a non-believer the quilt went away. Now the God I know is loving and forgiving and there is no guilt what-so-ever, no matter what I do. I have a relationship with God that is hard to describe, but it is as real as anything I know. And there is a peace I never knew.
In my book I never suggest you should believe that same as me, however I do strongly suggest you seriously consider the question of God. I believe you would find as I did the quest to be interesting, fascinating and challenging. And you might just change your mind. But even if you don’t, at least you will have increased confidence in what you do believe. That is the challenge I present to you. If you do accept the challenge you might start with two books: 1) my story in the book, My God, Your God?and 2) the book by Lee Strobel, The Case for Faith, the book that influenced my thinking. Where might you find my book, My God, Your God? It is available from Amazon.com, but you might check with a Christian friend – they might just have a copy and would be happy to lend it to you. Next, consider the appropriate Recommended Books in the section at the right of the screen.
And if you are still not sure a consideration of God would be worth your time check out the review by ForeWord Clarion Review in the About book/Reviews section found at the top of the page.
Good luck on your decision!