The new aggressive atheism - Video asks why God won't heal amputees


While atheists are still pretty rare in the US, there is now what Keith Matthews in my D.Min. class on Postmodernism called "the new agressive atheism." This is the atheism of people like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hawkins, and others.

This Youtube video seeks to tell Christians that if they want to be intelligent people, they must stop believing imaginary things. In fact, their belief in God is dangerous, and religion is a danger in the world.

So how would you deal with the "questions" found in this video?

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Comment by James Nored on December 9, 2008 at 12:49am
Thanks, Wes, for your insights. Atheists have been rare in the US, and postmodernism tends to be spiritual, if not religious. I would like to see some research on whether atheism is making a come back in younger adults. I have found few atheists among young people, and this is your experience as well. As you are one on the "ground floor" of this group, I'm glad to hear this.

Thanks for sharing your interviews with us. Interviews are a great way to communicate today.

As you say, most young people know very little about the real Jesus. When we actually share him, it is powerful!
Comment by WesWoodell on December 9, 2008 at 12:42am
James posted this question on my page: "From your perspective, do you see college students struggling with basic belief in God?"

No - not so much. Most students I've interacted with assume God exists, though there are some that struggle with that basic belief (from my perspective they're in the minority).

Time Magazine published an issue last November called "America By the Numbers" chocked full of statistical data. Their studies indicate that 94% of Americans believe in God, but less than 10% can name a single gospel in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John).

I believe Time's research is right on - it certainly lines up with what I've encountered in my own. While most college students assume there is a God, many don't know the first thing about Jesus.

These interviews I conducted on the west coast are very telling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkSuQ0RNHys
Comment by James Nored on December 9, 2008 at 12:04am
Lisa, you make some good points. The Bible does indeed include a lot of stories of bad things happening to good people. There are entire psalms dedicated to this question. It is indeed a difficult question, but not one that the Bible ignores. It requires a profound act of faith to believe in the biblical answer to this question. But God himself experiences this seeming injustice, as Jesus, who truly was good, had not just bad, but horrible things happen to him. And God made something beautiful out of this--salvation and resurrection.
Comment by Lisa White on December 8, 2008 at 11:48pm
I think the most interesting question put forth by atheists is, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" They seem to think they have a good point here, but what they fail to realize is that their argument is against karma- not God. The bible is filled with examples of bad things happening to good people and even tells Christians that we should be prepared to suffer. I think the main question of the video is good, though. It can only be answered by more questions: what is the purpose of prayer, and what should we pray for? I've struggled with this for a long time, and I'm at the point where I believe that we should pray that God's will be done, yet I don't fully believe that God will intervene in a situation soley because I ask him to. Another thing I wish atheists would realize is that "no" is an answer, whether we like it or not.

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