"If God exists,why is there so much evil?"
"Why are there so many hypocrites in the church?"
"If God exists, wouldn't He provide more evidence than we have?"
Usually, it is Christians and sometimes other religious believers who must justify their beliefs, but most don't realize that atheists, agnostics, and skeptics also must answer tough questions and have their beliefs placed under the microscope!
While the lead questions above have great answers, don't let the skeptic off the hook! Christian answers to ultimate questions shouldn't be the only focus:
1) Why is there something rather than nothing?
The "big bang" has a wealth of scientific evidence confirming it. Belief in the "big bang" requires one to believe that the universe began a finite time ago. Not only is there scientific evidence confirming the big bang, but there are also a number of philosophical reasons for the beginning of the universe (as opposed to a universe that's always existed). But this runs smack dab into atheism--out of nothing, nothing comes. Things don't just pop into existence uncaused. Here we have a limited number of possibilities: either something outside the material universe caused it, or it all came from nothing. Which is more reasonable?
2) What is it for something to be "good"?
This goes much deeper than the common atheist rallying cry: "you can be good without God." If the material world is all that exists, then the atheist and believer alike might *think* they are acting good, but "good" is without robust meaning. All that exists are preferences, pragmatics, and the herd morality. Upon what basis do you say racism or homophobia is wrong? Not wrong "for you," but wrong, period. What would you say to someone who comes from another culture who holds those things to be good? Is *anything* wrong universally (rape? murder? judging?), and if so, what are you prepared to do to enforce that morality? Why should someone be concerned, on atheism, about obeying the herd morality and following our evolutionary past, especially when he can get away with it and benefit from it personally?
3) Matter stays inanimate no matter how complicated you arrange it. In the absence of an immaterial mind, how can consciousness arise from a chunk of complicatedly arranged material (i.e, the brain)?
Identifying a brain state and causally connecting it to a mental state is not enough. Mental states have properties that physical states don't possess, so the former cannot be reduced to the latter. For example, physical states are third person whereas mental states are private.
4) If the physical world is all there is, is there free will?
5) The last one comes from another blogger: if Christ appeared to you and said that He really rose from the dead and is God, how would you respond? Witnesses and tests confirm you weren't dreaming--it was really God! What's next?
The skeptic's answer to this one will shine a light on his heart and motivation. Some will not follow God no matter what the evidence, and that renders their complaint about lack of evidence as a smoke screen. Their attitude, not the evidence, is the problem.
If you are a Christian, don't feel bashful about asking tough questions to skeptics! Skeptics, don't feel bashful about thinking about these questions--the answers might surprise you.
"Why are there so many hypocrites in the church?"
"If God exists, wouldn't He provide more evidence than we have?"
Usually, it is Christians and sometimes other religious believers who must justify their beliefs, but most don't realize that atheists, agnostics, and skeptics also must answer tough questions and have their beliefs placed under the microscope!
While the lead questions above have great answers, don't let the skeptic off the hook! Christian answers to ultimate questions shouldn't be the only focus:
1) Why is there something rather than nothing?
The "big bang" has a wealth of scientific evidence confirming it. Belief in the "big bang" requires one to believe that the universe began a finite time ago. Not only is there scientific evidence confirming the big bang, but there are also a number of philosophical reasons for the beginning of the universe (as opposed to a universe that's always existed). But this runs smack dab into atheism--out of nothing, nothing comes. Things don't just pop into existence uncaused. Here we have a limited number of possibilities: either something outside the material universe caused it, or it all came from nothing. Which is more reasonable?
2) What is it for something to be "good"?
This goes much deeper than the common atheist rallying cry: "you can be good without God." If the material world is all that exists, then the atheist and believer alike might *think* they are acting good, but "good" is without robust meaning. All that exists are preferences, pragmatics, and the herd morality. Upon what basis do you say racism or homophobia is wrong? Not wrong "for you," but wrong, period. What would you say to someone who comes from another culture who holds those things to be good? Is *anything* wrong universally (rape? murder? judging?), and if so, what are you prepared to do to enforce that morality? Why should someone be concerned, on atheism, about obeying the herd morality and following our evolutionary past, especially when he can get away with it and benefit from it personally?
3) Matter stays inanimate no matter how complicated you arrange it. In the absence of an immaterial mind, how can consciousness arise from a chunk of complicatedly arranged material (i.e, the brain)?
Identifying a brain state and causally connecting it to a mental state is not enough. Mental states have properties that physical states don't possess, so the former cannot be reduced to the latter. For example, physical states are third person whereas mental states are private.
4) If the physical world is all there is, is there free will?
5) The last one comes from another blogger: if Christ appeared to you and said that He really rose from the dead and is God, how would you respond? Witnesses and tests confirm you weren't dreaming--it was really God! What's next?
The skeptic's answer to this one will shine a light on his heart and motivation. Some will not follow God no matter what the evidence, and that renders their complaint about lack of evidence as a smoke screen. Their attitude, not the evidence, is the problem.
If you are a Christian, don't feel bashful about asking tough questions to skeptics! Skeptics, don't feel bashful about thinking about these questions--the answers might surprise you.
About the Author:
Rich Bordner is a teacher in California who earned his B.A in English an Philosophy from Ohio State University in 2002. He blogs about philosophy, religion, spirituality, and politics at The Pugnacious Irishman and is currently obtaining an M.A in Philosophy from Biola University. If this article sparked interest in you, or if you want to talk about politics, sprituality, or philosophy, stop on by!
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