Why atheism is illogical
“He was an embittered atheist, the sort of atheist who does not so much disbelieve in God as personally dislike Him.” – George Orwell
The outright denial of God, is completely illogical. The atheist is in effect stating an absolute negative, which is self-defeating. The term atheism comes from two Greek words. The prefix “a”, the negative meaning “without” and Greek word “theos” meaning “deity” or “God”. Atheists continue to attack theism (primarily Christianity) because it is impossible to defend their own position (an absolute negative), which is a formal logical fallacy. To dogmatically affirm, there is no God, one would have to be omniscient and omnipotent. If atheists were intellectually honest, they would have to say, at best: “With my limited knowledge, it does not seem as if God exists.” Which leads us to the more reasonable, but equally embarrassing position of, agnosticism.
The word “agnosticism” in the Greek also comes from two words, the prefix “a”, and “gnosko” meaning “know”. The agnostic is in effect saying, “I am without knowledge”, or “I do not know”, concerning the question of God’s existence. Interestingly, in Latin, the word “agnostic” is the same word as “ignoramus”. Many agnostics therefore prefer to retain the title of atheist, but in effect cling to agnosticism.
One of the participants at the Harvard Veritas Forum [available at www.rzim.org] commented, “On the question of Nietzsche’s rejection of God, that was out of his own existential pain which he suffered.” I can almost guarantee you, that most people who cling to the aggressive form of atheism are deeply hurting inside. Unable to reconcile their pain with the concept of a loving God, they deny His existence. More often than not, atheists hate God rather than disbelieve in Him. The sooner they realize the feeling is not mutual, the better.
The outright denial of God, is completely illogical. The atheist is in effect stating an absolute negative, which is self-defeating. The term atheism comes from two Greek words. The prefix “a”, the negative meaning “without” and Greek word “theos” meaning “deity” or “God”. Atheists continue to attack theism (primarily Christianity) because it is impossible to defend their own position (an absolute negative), which is a formal logical fallacy. To dogmatically affirm, there is no God, one would have to be omniscient and omnipotent. If atheists were intellectually honest, they would have to say, at best: “With my limited knowledge, it does not seem as if God exists.” Which leads us to the more reasonable, but equally embarrassing position of, agnosticism.
The word “agnosticism” in the Greek also comes from two words, the prefix “a”, and “gnosko” meaning “know”. The agnostic is in effect saying, “I am without knowledge”, or “I do not know”, concerning the question of God’s existence. Interestingly, in Latin, the word “agnostic” is the same word as “ignoramus”. Many agnostics therefore prefer to retain the title of atheist, but in effect cling to agnosticism.
One of the participants at the Harvard Veritas Forum [available at www.rzim.org] commented, “On the question of Nietzsche’s rejection of God, that was out of his own existential pain which he suffered.” I can almost guarantee you, that most people who cling to the aggressive form of atheism are deeply hurting inside. Unable to reconcile their pain with the concept of a loving God, they deny His existence. More often than not, atheists hate God rather than disbelieve in Him. The sooner they realize the feeling is not mutual, the better.
