How Can You Be Sure
There's No God?
Charles Duncan
From: "Charles Duncan"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: WebMaster:_Positive_Atheism_Index
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 8:18 PM
Many people down through the ages have posed some powerful arguments against the existence of God. I'm sure you have knowledge of some of the most compelling arguments for atheism and theism. From these we all must draw our own analytical and rational conclusion. I have to admit, there certainly are difficult issues in the bible, the existence of evil, and the inappropriate behavior of Christians that leave us all a little befuddled. Yes, even to the most strong Christian there are times when we feel unsure. How can we know for sure? God has made belief and acceptance of him through the heart. We accept what we believe by faith. It is a faith that one cannot rationally explain, but God has made it a matter of faith. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to you if he exist and everything the Bible says is true? You're right, God would have a lot of explaining to do. What if he had a perfectly rational, logical explanation for it all? However, we can't know for sure if he could logically explain it. But if he could it would than we would have logically miscalculated. You know men of supreme intelligence and intellectual abilities have done this from time to time. They have miscalculated and the price has sometimes been high. Christianity is that illogical belief that God exist and he has a logical consistent explanation for his existence and yours to. I don't know if you have ever tried putting faith in such an irrational concept. Maybe you have? Maybe you have been disappointed. You should surely try again. After all, you will never ever know if God exist in this world if you refuse to come to him on his terms. No matter what we understand, accepting God will never be an educated, rational, decision that is made based on empirical evidence.
From: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "Charles Duncan"
Subject: Re: WebMaster:_Positive_Atheism_Index
Date: Friday, April 21, 2000 2:00 AM
How can we know for sure?
We don't have to know for sure in order to act according to what we think is most likely.
Theism is a claim; atheism is not going along with that claim (or, in some cases, having yet to even encounter that claim). Atheism itself is not a claim. Since it is theism which makes the claim, not atheism, then it is the responsibility of theism to make the case for its claim. Atheism need simply sit back and watch -- until such time as theism makes a compelling case for its claim.
In writing thus far, you have merely assumed the existence of a god (that you call "God"). For now, I don't even know what you're talking about, as that word (as yet) has no meaning for me, either experientially or abstractly. First you must give me the meaning of the term "God" as you use it, and then you must make the case for your claim (rather, assumption) that a "God" exists.
Until you do both of these things, I have no business going along with you. Until you do both of these things, you remain, in my mind, just another hack who has spent precious moments of the only life you will ever get to live blithering to someone who is not equipped to understand what you are talking about.
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
Material by Cliff Walker (including unsigned editorial commentary) is copyright ©1995-2006 by Cliff Walker. Each submission is copyrighted by its writer, who retains control of the work except that by submitting it to Positive Atheism, permission has been granted to use the material or an edited version: (1) on the Positive Atheism web site; (2) in Positive Atheism Magazine; (3) in subsequent works controlled by Cliff Walker or Positive Atheism Magazine (including published or posted compilations). Excerpts not exceeding 500 words are allowed provided the proper copyright notice is affixed. Other use requires permission; Positive Atheism will work to protect the rights of all who submit their writings to us.