Posted on 06/14/2014 2:34:27 AM PDT by markomalley
Radical atheists love to ridicule believers. They mock our “talking snake” in Genesis but really show their own lack of sophistication in understanding the nature of allegory or symbol in human language. But since I do understand allegory I will let them off the hook when it comes to their own “God-particle” and the language and “blind evolution” (as if a process could have eyes and see or not see).” For, unlike some of them (not all), I attended high school grammar class and understand the nature of allegory, symbol, hyperbole, and metaphor when it comes to human parlance.
But I do have this question: Why is it more rationale to believe the universe created itself than to believe God created the universe?
To quote my own brother George, who is a smart fellow: I’ve always been puzzled why most atheists seem hostile to religion. I guess I would expect a more or an attitude of condescension or superiority because they’re “not so stupid as to believe in God.” And yet they usually feel threatened by religion which usually provides a civilizing aspect they should appreciate. Well said Bother George. Religion has its place in human culture, whether nonbelievers like to admit it or not. It is true, religion has not been without its sins (for human beings are involved). But so has atheist materialism had its sins and bloodbaths: (e.g. Mao, Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot and other “unpleasant” materialist escapades).
Can we agree that sin is the universal condition of fallen humanity and move beyond silly attributions for which we are all responsible?
Back to the question: Why is it more rationale to believe the universe created itself than to believe God created the universe? Am I not being asked to ascribe to dumb luck a world that shows forth multivariate, multilevel and intricate order? Am I not being asked to “believe” that a tornado or some other chance event happened tore through the “junk yard” of the world’s elements and produced a fully functioning (at every level all at once) universe with all its moving parts? Why is this “more rational” than to believe that an intelligence (we call “God”) intelligently ordered all this matter? Why is it more rationale to believe the universe created itself than to believe God created the universe?
I would ask concise answers from any atheist who chooses to answer. I realize that science cannot “prove God” using its physical tools. Fine. But why must materialists refute God, a position that cannot be verified using the scientific method? Again the question: Why is it more rationale to believe the universe created itself than to believe God created the universe?
Remember, the key word is “rational” a word to which Atheists do not have full ownership. Stephen Colbert humorously notes that atheists too can have rather irrational reactions to lit win this world. To our atheist interlocutors just this question: Why is this “more rational” than to believe that an intelligence (we call “God”) intelligently ordered all this matter?
I'm beginning to think that Msgr needs a proofreader. ;)
Msgr Pope ping
Before red shift proved theologian Georges Lemaître right about the universe even having an origin point and was expanding away from it, the atheists believed that the universe was eternal (i.e. always existed). After that, the atheists tried endlessly to rework Lemaître’s theory into one having secular/atheistic explanations.
It’s not necessarily more rational, it’s just more convenient. If the earth created itself, then there’s no God to whom we must answer.
"Strong is the sarc in this one, hmm?"
Knowing what one does not know is much more important than knowing what one actually knows.
To address George's puzzlement, most are NOT. Perhaps George is confusing loud public atheists with all atheists. Most of whom don't alienate religious folk with anti-God prosthelithizing. Most you may not even know are atheist.
Ping!
So why not a Very Young Earth theory: “God created everything about 20 minutes ago”?
Right off the bat, he doubts the Word of God. Allegory my donkey.
I understand your experiences may differ from your brother's but my experiences with atheist are the same as George's observation.
My puzzlement is not whether atheist are hostile to religion but rather why are they hostile to religion.
Mary B says:
June 14, 2014 at 12:29 am
Very, very well written article. Thank you.
I just can’t resist pointing out that I think you mean “rational” rather than rationale. “Why is it more rational,” rather than “Why is it more rationale.” I know that may seem picky, but … well, I have no “but” but I thought it merited pointing out.
Reply
Msgr. Charles Pope says:
June 14, 2014 at 4:39 am
Thanks, you’re correct the word is misspelled in several places. I get really frustrated with the word press “AutoCorrect” function
If you disagree with Msgr. Pope, perhaps you could discuss your objection to some point raised in his article.
Nothing is more insane than to believe that one day nothing decide to explode and became everything.
Bm
Si Dieu n'existait pas, il faudrait l'inventer.
"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him."
Francois Marie Arouet
I just finished reading “The Day Without Yesterday” about Father Lemaitre’s life. I highly recommend it if you have not yet read it.
As of this date, no one has offered evidence of a different circumstance.
The entire scientific world searches for contrary evidence of what the Christian world accepts on faith.
"Faith is believing something you know ain't true." Mark Twain
“It ain’t supposed to make sense; it’s faith. Faith is something that you believe that nobody in his right mind would believe.” Archie Bunker
"You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it." Samuel Butler
"Faith is different from proof; the latter is human, the former is a Gift from God." Blaise Pascal
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Why is it more rationale to believe the universe created itself than to believe God created the universe?——————————————————————
I think a lot of it is dependent on who is interpreting the creation story.
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