Atheism

Dear Victorious,

I heard someone on Christian talk radio this week say that atheists are selfish. He explained that they just rationalize God out of existence so that they can live however they want to. Do you think this could be true?

Helen C. - Dallas, TX

Dear Helen,

I have heard that theory as well. (Perhaps we listen to the same Christian talk radio shows!) However, I doubt very much that it's true. What's true is that we don't really know the heart of the atheist. We don't know the thought processes, the life experiences or whatever else went into their mind that enabled them to conclude that there is no God (not even false gods).

I think saying that they are selfish and that they just rationalize God away so they can live however they want is probably giving their thinking process just too much credit. I've known some atheists. They seemed to just be ignorant of the truth. They were principled people and weren't living hedonistic lifestyles.

Some atheists have searched for truth - but don't think they've found it. Some found it - but the way they experienced Christianity in the world made it hard to believe. Nothing that they saw or experienced lined up with what they were being told was true.

Atheists deserve our love. They deserve our grace. They deserve our patience. Let's not sell them short by demonizing them with nasty, sarcastic labels.