Just this past week, I had the opportunity to talk with a self-proclaimed atheist. I found it to be a rather interesting conversation. He discussed several things which he found to be adequate evidence, none of which stood to any measure of inspection. Yet, he vehemently stood firm on the grounds of scientific discovery. He related to me that he found believing in God to be an impossibility, due to a lack of evidence. I heard him out and then decided to share with him some observations important to his situation. I began with the statement, “It takes more faith to be an Atheist than it does to be a Christian.” If nothing else, this statement certainly piqued his interest. He then declared to me that Atheism requires no faith, for it is based upon solid scientific evidence. I went on to share the following number of points concerning the faith of an atheist. To be an atheist, one must believe …

That God Does Not Exist

As we look about us, we see that man is a religious creature by nature. Regardless of where you go, you will find people who have a need to worship some greater being than themselves. The Romans and the Greeks had their mythological gods. Many submit themselves to the worship of Buddha. Allah is considered by a great number of people to be one worthy of worship and praise. But most of all, the God of heaven, the one true God is the focus of many. If you were to stand on a street corner, asking whether people believe in God or not, I say with confidence, that if each individual answered truthfully, you would be hard-pressed to find any who will say no. This brings us to one of two conclusions. First, it is practical and sensible to believe there to be an eternal being who is superior to us, to whom worship is due. Second, the larger part of society is completely irrational.

That Matter is Either Eternal or It Created Itself

To hold to the ideas of atheism, which is in full support of the theory of evolution, one must believe that matter is either eternal or it created itself. Seeing that they have removed the possibility of a Creator, they are left with only these two options. I asked the individual about the nature of the universe: Is it eternal or did it have a beginning? An extremely simple question, but over and over he declined to give a straight answer. Yet, if we look at the evidence, we understand that the universe had a beginning. Scientists themselves attempt to assign an age to our planet, and the universe as a whole.

But what is eternal has no age. The reason they attempt to assign an age to the world in which we live, is because it bears the characteristics of age. But again, what is eternal is not governed by time. We are told in scripture that with the Lord “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). Yet, the universe is subject to time.

The universe is running down. It is wearing out. All that is on the earth is corrupt, and worsening year after year. It is approaching an inevitable end. It cannot be eternal. The only other option for those who deny the presence of a Supreme God, is that the universe created itself. That is possibly the most absurd thing which has ever been considered. Matter does not have the ability to create itself. A desk cannot bring itself into existence. What man has ever created himself? If the matter were able to create itself, we would be witness to trees popping up all over, yet such things do not happen.

That Life is Spontaneously Generated

In denying the existence of God, the atheist must believe that life is able to spontaneously generate. In other words, life can come from something that has none. We understand God to be the Creator of everything, and that He is the source of life. Yet, if we remove God from the picture, we remove the source of life. Thus, somewhere along the line, according to the atheist’s belief system, life spontaneously came into being. It never had existed before. It has absolutely no source. It just started itself at some point in time.

That Order and Design Are Results of Non-Intelligent Accidents

As we look about us at the wonders of creation, we understand that God is the Master Designer. He purposefully created the worlds with order. Trees need carbon dioxide, mammals need oxygen. The two exchange these gases. Our planet is exactly the correct distance from the sun. Any closer, we would burn up. Any further away, we would freeze. Approximately two-thirds of the earth is covered with water. This keeps the core temperature at an acceptable level. The gravitational forces on earth are such that we can walk freely about, without fear of being driven into the ground, nor lifted into space. The human body is a wondrous design. It is designed to repair itself in many instances. It has several functions that automatically are cared for without the need of us even thinking about them. As was written, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” (Psalm 139:14).

The atheist thought must affirm that all these wonders and many, many more are merely the result of an accidental happening. They claim that no intelligence was involved in the forming of our world. It was simply the process of a “big bang.” If such is possible, that something as wonderful as the universe can result from an unintelligent “bang,” would you not think something so much simpler, say even a watch could be manufactured by accident? Disassemble a watch and place it into a small box. Shake the box as much and as hard as you can, you will never result in a watch.

That Non-Consciousness Evolves to Consciousness

The theory of evolution affirms that we are the descendants of a one-celled organism. This one-celled organism has no consciousness. It does not know that it exists. We, who are conscious of ourselves, and of the developments around us, according to the assertions of the atheist have evolved from this creature. How is it we became conscious beings? Can consciousness come from unconsciousness? If it can, does that mean that someday my desk will be aware of itself? I should hope not. It may decide then to walk away, since then it would be its own being.

That Non-Morality Evolves to Morality

Atheists have a hard time explaining morality. If we evolved from creatures who operate on instinct, not conscience, how is it that we have developed the ability to use conscience? Where did morality find its beginning? Did one ape finally decide that killing other apes was wrong? Did one decide that it was wrong to steal another ape’s supper? No! Morality finds its origin in the existence of God. He has given a law, and that establishes morality. No atheist can give a reason for which we should do good. There is none, if we will not be judged. Why should we yield our desires in order to serve another?

The answer, we will be judged! Truly, atheism is faith; and without doubt, upon careful examination, it would seem that it might take more faith to be an Atheist than to be a Christian. Paul wrote in Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse …” The world which we live in declares on a daily basis that God exists. If one is sincere in their search, they cannot but come to the conclusion that there is an eternal God, who is Creator of all: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

Adapted from William J. Stewart