Posted by Siamang on: 08.27.2007 /
Brent Rasmussen asks an interesting question at UTI that reminds me of our discussion about Mother Teresa.
It’s a question for atheists: have you ever had a crisis of non-faith?
He quotes an unsigned op-ed in the Ontario Daily Bulletin:
It seems there is a lot being said these days about the struggle of faith. Is it because we are being more honest today than in the past? Or, is it because it’s harder to believe today than it was a hundred years ago? Probably both. Obviously science has impacted the world of faith and caused far more skepticism than there used to be. Which leads me to wonder about the skeptics of the world, the “unconvinced” as we sometimes refer to them in the church. Do they ever have a crisis of faith, or should I say nonfaith? Do they ever have a struggle of unbelief? Do they ever want to deny God with all their heart, but find that darn believing side creeping in?
I have yet to see a book by an atheist entitled “My Struggle Not to Believe.” (Bold is mine -Brent) A book where the author shares his stories about his near conversion and tries to encourage his fellow atheists to keep up the unbelief. I know Bertrand Russell told us why he wasn’t a Christian, but he never talked about his struggle to remain a non-Christian.
Bent asks:
Do any of you ever struggle with your unbelief? Is it difficult for you to continue being an unbeliever? Because for me, it’s like the default position on a spring-loaded switch.
Comment by: Laura M.
1Great question !
For myself the answer is unequivocably no, not at all. I have no fear at all about my potential for slipping into faith. That’s because I know that it’s not up to me to decide whether or not God exists.
I could only have ‘faith’ in God if reasonable evidence to do so becomes available. I wouldn’t know how to fear being reasonable, so how could I fear having faith in God if it became reasonable to do so?
As for my not having faith in God, there have been only benefits. I no longer suffer from depression, my anxiety level is down to that of a normal person, I don’t have nightly nightmares anymore…I could gush on and on but I don’t want to sound like some cheesy info-mercial.
Suffice it to say that my life has been one slow and gradual (but huge) upswing for the past twenty years ever since I figured out that objective ‘truth’ is truth whether I or anyone else believes it or doubts it. My job is to worry about how I behave. ‘Truth’ can take care of itself.
Comment by: Mike O
2This is the kind of thing Christians need to hear. Not because we should question our own faith, but merely because it’s beyond many Christians’ comprehension that people who aren’t Christians are actually … happy.
I mean, if we approach you as someone who feels like something is missing from their life, and you don’t feel that way, what good is it for us to try to “fill a void” you don’t think you have? How irritating would that be??
Could it be that that’s the part of the issue with the Great Commission we talked about in my last post? Perhaps if Christians perceived non-Christians differently/accurately, we’d get along better.
that’s not to say that there aren’t people who feel a void, because there are many who do. But what I, and Christians in general, need to remember is that it’s not always the case.
Comment by: Karen
3I am in a continuous process of doubting and re-evaluating, I think!
Comment by: Laura M.
4Thanks Mike. It’s nice that you actually hear what atheists are saying, instead of immediately jumping in to tell them they are wrong.
How can someone know better than I do how I think, feel and believe? Especially when they haven’t even heard what I have to say about it?
I think so, absolutely.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
5Mike O wrote:
Mike, I’m so happy you understand this!
Yes, telling someone they need Jesus when they aren’t aware of any such need or void is likely to be about as effective as trying to sell shampoo to a bald person.
Comment by: Steve S
6It is true that Christians often find themselves pronouncing a cure people have yet to see a need for…
Of course, some people seem to be just as frustrated with the diagnosis Christianity gives for the problems the world faces…
I know that this problem exists primarily in the Western world. It seems that here the Church has not been very gracious in offering it’s view of reality to the larger community.
Comment by: Ardegas
7Yes. I converted to deism, once. And I still feel there could be something out there. Not sure what it is, though. But there’s no trouble in that, because I’m open to any consecuence.
Flew, converted to deism, too. I think he’s still a deist.
Comment by: olvlzl, no ism, no ist
8It wasn’t a crisis but after several years of studying Theravada Buddhism and I found I didn’t care if there was a God or an afterlife and I thought I’d never worry about it again, I suddenly found that I was free to believe in them. Believing didn’t hurt one bit.
Told you I’d get here eventually, S.
Comment by: Siamang
9HA!