1999 James A. Fowler
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I. Defining "atheism"
A. Bible begins with assertion of God. Gen.
1:1 - "In the beginning God..." Does not attempt to
prove God's existence.
B. Atheism derived from two Greek words: a
= no; theos = God.
C. Atheism is usually defined as the dogmatic
denial of God, the epistemo- logical assertion that
no God." Antitheism. Francis Bacon (1625) - "Atheism
is rather in the lip than in the
heart of man."
D. The atheism must have a concept of God which
he rejects. Is it valid?
E. Ps. 14:1; 53:1 - "The fool has said
in his heart, 'there is no god.'."
F. Atheism is to be distinguished from the
various forms of theism.
- many gods
- all is god
- god in each category or community
- one God.
G. The early Christians were charged with "atheism."
Why? Because they did not believe in or
worship the Roman
and Greek gods.
II. Atheism is usually a form of idolatry.
A. Man is a spiritual creature. Seeks something
on which to focus in order to have meaning,
purpose and identity.
Samuel Butler (1912) - "the fight between the theist and
the atheist is as
to whether God
shall be called God or shall have some other name."
B. If man denies God, he inevitably constructs
physical or mental "gods."
1. Jere. 2:28
- "gods which you made for yourself"
2. Gal. 4:8 -
"those which by nature are not gods"
C. The false gods of atheism.
1. Humanism -
Man is the measure of things, the highest being; his own god.
Gen. 3:5 - "you
be like God." Man is god.
2. Secularism - from Latin
saeculum = world. This world is all there is. Self-limiting.
3. Naturalism - The natural
order is the only order. Nature is god.
4. Scientism - Physical science
will discover and give us all the answers we need. Science is
5. Positivism - "seeing
is believing;" empiricism. Sensory perception is god.
6. Materialism - acquisition
of material goods is the ultimate goal. William James: "Truth
value of an idea." Money or things is god.
7. Intellectualism - By logic
and rational thought, man can figure everything out. Epistemological
Reason is god.
8. Existentialism - Everything
is tested by human feelings. All is subjective. Emotions are
9. Relativism - There is
no absolute. Everything is relative to your perspective. Personal
10. Pragmatism - Have to
go with what "works." Must be practical. Expedience
11. Socialism - The good
of the whole is the highest good. Society is god.
12. Statism - Government
will solve all the problems, and take care of man. Government
13. Pluralism - It doesn't
matter what you believe or do. Tolerate everything. Diversity
14. Hedonism - Sensual pleasure
is the highest good. If it feels good, it is good. "Eat,
merry." Pleasure is god.
D. Arguments used by atheists against belief
1. Talking about
God is meaningless because it is unverifiable.
2. God cannot
be known by empirical sensory observation.
can't be sure about anything?" Are you sure?
4. God is a result
of man's superstition or wishful thinking?
5. God's alleged
attributes are contradictory.
6. God would
not allow evil.
III. Atheism and agnosticism.
A. Atheists do not usually claim to be atheists.
They might be called upon to prove their point.
B. Agnostic is derived from two Greek words:
a = no; gnosis = knowledge.
C. The agnostic cops out and throws the monkey
on the back of those who assert there is a God,
"You prove it."
D. Variations of agnosticism.
1. "I do
not know if there is a God."
cannot know if there is a God."
3. "I do
not want to know if there is a God."
E. Agnosticism is equivalent to ignorance.
Acts 17:23 - "unknown god" - agnoeto theo. (cf.
IV. Differentiating between theism, deism and Christianity.
A. Theist - "I believe there is a god"
(maybe even singular, personal, infinite)
B. Deist - "God is out there, removed
from man." Wholly other.
C. Christian - "I have received Jesus
Christ as my Savior and Lord (God)."
V. Practical atheism.
A. Many assent to theism ("I believe
in God.") or even Christian truth ("I believe in Jesus
They believe it, assent to it, affirm it, confess it. It is a
tenet of their belief-system.
B. These same people live as if God does not
exist. They ignore God. God is irrelevant to their
They do not communicate with God, seek the direction of God,
allow Jesus Christ to be
their lives, recognize Jesus as their life, or seek to allow
the expression of His
in all situations (i.e. love, joy, peace, patience...). They
are "practical atheists."
C. If God could and would die tonight, they
would go right on in their theistic belief (or so-called
belief), unaware of His demise.
D. It has been said, "You only really
believe, what you act upon."
E. Edward and Jules de Goncourt (1868) - "If
there is a God, atheism must strike Him as less of
F. Charles Colton (1825) - "The three
great apostles of practical atheism are health, wealth and