IN THEORY: How do you handle atheists?

The Los Angeles Times recently ran a story about an atheist campaign in Britain in which a group has placed banners on public buses reading, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” The campaign, apparently, has proven popular in mostly secular Britain. In your line of spiritual work, do you often deal with atheists and nonbelievers, and how do you go about reconciling their beliefs with your own?

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I deal with atheists and people of different faiths on a surprisingly regular basis. Certainly this column is one way, although the communication is mostly one-way. But I also perform one or two funerals per month, and many of the attendees are not Christian. Even some of the decedents have been atheists, Jews or Muslims. A number of parents of our children’s friends aren’t of our faith, but we get along fine at baseball games and back-to-school nights. Each situation has been overwhelmingly positive because we don’t compromise about our faith in Christ, but we do pursue peace with all; we speak what’s good for building others up at the right time, and we do it all in love.

By definition “reconciliation” means “harmony” or “congruity.” So there can be no true reconciliation of atheism with theism. They are mutually exclusive concepts. Likewise, you cannot experience true fulfillment in life while you live independently from God who is the Author of life. You can pursue your own interests and passions, you can be entertained and distracted, but you cannot “stop worrying and enjoy your life” while you ignore Him. That’s just one of the many reasons the Bible affirms that only the fool says in his heart “There is no God.”

PASTOR JON BARTA

Valley Baptist Church

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We may never know if the old adage “There are no atheists in foxholes” is true, but I do know that when my first son was born and I watched that miracle with watery eyes, without a doubt, “There are no atheists in birthing rooms.” That moment allows us to ponder some of the deepest thoughts of life, purpose and things eternal.

Everyone believes in something. When an atheist tells me he/she doesn’t believe in God, they’re only stating a disbelief in a particular concept. And, usually, after a brief encounter, we find out that I reject the same.

For the most part, their disbelief is in a Superman-type of god: one who swoops down from the heavens, fixes things, rewards the do-gooders and punishes the bad guys. It is a disbelief in a power that designates rules that profit some and bring pain and suffering to another segment of the populations. It is disbelief in a conscience that allows genocide, famine and abuse of children. Like I said, I don’t even believe in that concept of God.

An Armenian orthodox understanding of God begins with the simple equation that God is love. As such, when we see manifestations of love in our lives, we find the presence of God. It is timeless, dating back to the earliest moments of history and never dying — that is, it lasts forever. It’s hard to deny love because it is present in the smile of a child, in the visitor to the cancer ward, in the rescuer at the hurricane site, and in the hand that reaches out to hug you in your times of loneliness.

Accordingly, my “argument” to the atheist is not with words, but by living the life that exemplifies that love. That is, by reaching out to others, helping the needy, visiting the sick and loving all without prejudice, I make a small, but important, case for God.

FR. VAZKEN MOVSESIAN

In His Shoes Mission

Armenian Church Youth Ministries

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Personally, the British ads on buses make me laugh. I’m also reminded of a joke: What do you call an atheist at a funeral? Somebody who’s all dressed up with no place to go! Most of the atheists I have encountered have been quite respectful of my beliefs, and I of theirs. I personally think it’s kind of nice that a group called Atheists United helps to keep the Glendale (2) Freeway free of litter. Nobody can know with scientific certainty that God exists or not. I believe God exists because I believe I have seen God’s activity in my life; I believe I have felt God’s presence. But with all the suffering in the world, with all the harm that has been done to people in the name of religion, I can understand how some people don’t believe. The problem of evil and the suffering of children are hard to build into a theological scheme. And yet the claim of Judeo-Christian religion is that God loves mankind and wants a relationship with us. It’s a fantastic claim, and yet I believe it. I also must thank God for the gift of faith, and even wonder why I was chosen to have faith while others have none. As far as the bus ads are concerned, good! They inspire thought and debate — so what’s wrong with that?

THE REV. C. L. “SKIP” LINDEMAN

La Cañada Congregational Church

United Church of Christ

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I often meet Jewish atheists or nonbelievers, and my main point when conversing with them is to stress that Judaism places a strong emphasis on doing good deeds and helping others.

Regardless of what a person feels or believes about God, his or her actions must ultimately be positive in human terms. In my view, an atheist who helps others is essentially a better person than a believer who does not.

With that said, what bothers me about this particular ad campaign in Britain is the implication that those who believe in God somehow worry a lot and never enjoy life. This is an extremely arrogant statement, and it inevitably offends the sensitivities of the many Britons who do believe in God. Plus, the fact is that many studies have shown that a religious lifestyle can actually alleviate worry, and that spirituality generally ensures that people lead happier lives.

I find it hard to comprehend why supporters of this campaign chose to aggressively intrude on other people’s comfort zones and attempted to belittle the intelligence of three quarters of the world’s population. Does their version of God-less morality allow the gratuitous hurting of others? The money expended on this silly campaign would have been better spent on a promotion that urges all Britons — and indeed all humans — to do something positive and reach out to a fellow person.

If these ads had encouraged the public — regardless of religious belief — to act with kindness, smile at a neighbor, feed a hungry child or assist an elderly individual, they would have a far more constructive impact.

RABBI SIMCHA BACKMAN

Chabad Jewish Center