Athiest Groups Continue to Act Un-Christian

A couple of days ago I blogged about an atheist, or perhaps more appropriately, anti-deist group, the American Humanist Association, who are running billboards on Washington DC buses this "Holiday" promoting the theory that decency and god-worship needn't be joined at the hip. I still agree. Some white supremacists think hating minorities is their God-given right. The Nazis claimed to be Christian, for the most part. And I've known plenty of non-believers who were as decent as anyone I've ever known.

But in light of another anti-deist ad campaign---Colorado's Metro State Atheists---as an all-but-in-name atheist, I continue to question their methods and their stated explanations, if not their actual motivations.

The AHA asked, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake." Well, if that's what you think, then why are you saying anything that could, even potentially, make Christians feel bad about their treasured holiday? By contrast, MSA is erecting billboards that depict billowy white clouds in a blue sky---the pop-culture vision of heaven---and this script: "Don't believe in God? You are not alone."

This leaves Christmas out of it, which is a step up. But as always these groups have a spokesperson, and when asked, they'll speak. MSA's Joel Guttormson said (italics mine), "And we're putting them up in November and December because of the holidays, when church and state issues tend to come up a lot. To let non-believers, free-thinkers and atheists know that they are not alone, especially in a country like ours that is predominantly Christian."

I guess a lot of people don't think before they speak, but a spokesperson ought to. Guttormson doesn't deny that they chose the Christmas season for their billboards, in fact he admits it, but then tries to invent a rationale that to my mind doesn't exist. What "church and state issues" constantly crop up at Christmas? TV networks fall under the FCC, and you can see both A Charlie Brown Christmas with its entirely Christian message, and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town's secular angle. What "church and state issues" are they talking about?

But also to let non-believers known that they are not alone. I'm sorry, but they know that. Every atheist has met another atheist or non-believer. They know they're not alone. And who's ostracizing them anyway?

Of the billboards, Christan radio host Bob Enyart said, "The Bible says that faith is the evidence of things not seen. Evidence. If we ignore the evidence for gravity or the Creator, that's really dangerous. Income tax doesn't not exist because somebody doesn't believe in it. And the same is true with our Creator." This probably had the atheist group chortling with laughter. Faith---the quality through which you believe in the existence of that being whose existance can't be proved---is the evidence that he exists? But it's Enyart's belief, as much as it is the atheist's belief that he is dead wrong.

In the end, I want to know this: what do the Metro State Atheists, American Humanist Association, and their fellow atheist organizations want? Just to let non-believers know they're there, as a resource? Try a website. Lots of atheists are online, since they believe in science, not faith. Do they want to start some sort of anti-faith that leaves God out of it, but sets down some guidelines for living a good, moral life? Let's see it! Instead, they make billboards. They court controversy. They want to engage in a debate with Christians about the existence of God.

You can't win this debate. People believe in God. Maybe they won't always, but they do now, and they have believed in God, or gods, for millenia. Lack of proof doesn't deter. These atheists "know" there's no God, just as much as Christians "know" there is. But the MSA and AHA know they won't win. They want to pick a fight. They want attention, they want to say, "Over here, look at me...do I have your attention? I don't believe in God, and furthermore...there is no God!" It's scandalous. It's shocking. It's publicity.

If I was going to start at atheist group, you know, a good, moral one that is not Christian, I'd want it to be...well, not like Christianity, right? One of the beefs these atheist groups have with Christianity, I guarantee, is its hypocrisy: preach love, wage wars; preach love, discriminate against gays; preach poverty, rake in the bucks (the list could go on and on).

So, just to be subversive and funny, I'd teach my atheist flock to do something Christians frequently don't: follow the teachings of Jesus the Nazarene. In Matthew chapter 6, verse 5-6, he said: "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret..."

If the AHA and MSA know deep down that they're right, and that Christians are wrong (crazy, superstitious, blind, stupid?)...why all the public display? Why, exactly, do they feel the need?