Atheism's Big Time Revival

Remember Madalyn Murray O’Hair?  She was an evangelist for atheism back in the 60’s and founded an organization that still calls itself American Atheists. She claimed to be “The most hated woman in America.”  For some strange reason atheist groups have come on strong the last few years. Men like Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and the late Christopher Hitchens have presented strong cases for atheism. The problem with most of their writings is that I would protest the same kind of religion they decry. They don’t seem to know that there is healthy faith and unhealthy faith. This is a free country and so if atheists want to believe God is only a delusion—that is their right. But I am really disturbed by their billboards that seem to be cropping up everywhere. These are some of their messages:     

   Are you Good without God? Millions Are.

   Atheism, simply reasonable.

  (Or the billboards around the Democratic Convention—

   Christianity is sheer silliness and has no place in politics.

   Or the image of Jesus on burnt toast labeled:

   Sadistic God: Useless Savior...Promotes Hate, Calls it ‘Love’.

 

The New York Times Magazine recently carried a six page feature article telling the story of a former Pastor who has begun an organization called: “Recovering from Religion.” He claims to have over 100 chapters scattered across the country.  

Seems like these organizations are determined to try to stamp out all religion. Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics says the billboard campaign crosses a line. “Unable to make a compelling case for atheism, atheists launch hateful billboards mocking faith.” He goes on to say: “Imagine the outrage in the media had a group said bigoted and hateful things about gays, or women or Hispanics or African-Americans.” There would be outrage were these targeted groups names were smeared across billboards—but have we forgotten Rush Limbaugh and all the other talk-show fanatics? And then we all know that just barely beneath the surface today there are a great many people who hate gays, despise women, Hispanics and African-Americans. Look at the abuse our President has taken since his election. But we know there are precious few voices raised defending these American citizens.

After the article came out in The New York Times Magazine there was a letter that I want to share with you. I wish I had written it: 

“If these people are really atheists, then why do they feel the need to proclaim their (non) faith? If God doesn’t exist, why is it so important to deny his existence and to do so publicly? Do they feel the need to publicly deny the existence of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny (to say nothing of the Great Pumpkin)? This seems to be a case of ‘You can take the man out of evangelicalism, but you can’t take evangelicalism out of the man.”(Sic)

   A.N.S., Alexandria, Va. 

Remove all the great efforts that faith has done in this country and we would be poorer indeed. Orphanages, hospitals, schools and colleges and programs for the poor and the homeless. Millions of dollars are dispensed by local congregation to those who knock on church and synagogue doors crying: Help me.  I would have had a hard time getting a college education without my little church and the school that helped me along the way.

We have had a few missionaries around the world who have done more damage than good but I think of all those who serve unnamed all their lives to help people in troubled places. They are in the majority and they have made an incredible difference.. I think of all the relief work that was done after Katrina and many more places. I have a hard time thinking that Habitat for Humanity has hurt more than helped thousands of families.

 

I remind the atheists and all of us—there is a healthy faith and an unhealthy faith. God give us the wisdom to know the difference.