Why Do Atheists and Christians
Disagree?
Stephen Terry
“Do two walk together unless they
have agreed to do so?” Amos 3:3, NIV
Have you
ever been in argument over religion or even religion versus no religion? They can
be quite intense and can escalate quickly from inflamed rhetoric to physical
confrontation. While this does not seem to be in harmony with the idea of
“turning the other cheek” as stated by Jesus, nonetheless, Christians are often
as guilty as any of pouring oil on fires already smoldering.
Why does
this happen? Perhaps dialectic is difficult because the atheist and the
Christian are arguing from premises that are polar opposites. The Christian
sees the world as an evil place, “tainted with sin.” While he or she may work
to ameliorate that evil, they believe that ultimately no amount of social
justice will solve the problem of a self-centered focus that is inherent in all
mankind. They believe that the only answer to that overly active self-interest
is paradigm change taking place through recognizing one’s selfishness, deciding
to abandon it (repentance), and walking a new path as exemplified in the
teachings of Jesus.
Pragmatically,
they understand that this will not be a universal experience due to the vagaries
of the human heart, so they look to an outside intervention (the apocalypse)
that cannot be contravened that will impose a universal standard of
righteousness. God plays the role of a benevolent, enlightened monarch, ruling
over this future realm where self-interest gives way to seeking what is best
for all.
Atheists, on
the other hand, seem to see the world in a more positive light. While admitting
there are problems they tend to believe that the solutions to those problems
are within our grasp and that if we focused more on those problems instead of
on some world to come, we might overcome them. In fact, some go farther and
would place the blame for those problems on Christians, claiming that they are
indifferent to the needs now because of their future “pie in the sky” reward.
In this, they perhaps echo Marx’s statement about the opiate-like effect of
such a belief.
Maybe it can
be seen that the two sides, while recognizing the problems in the world, are
working from two different premises. While the Christian is basically a
pessimist, seeing the world as a glass half empty with the potential to become
even emptier, the atheist sees the same glass as half full, simply waiting for
mankind to fill it. Sadly, the war they wage on one another is tantamount to
pessimists believing they can wipe out all the optimists so the pessimistic
world view can prevail. The optimists, on the other hand, claiming that
eliminating all of the pessimists will finally allow their work of filling the
glass to continue unhindered. Neither side may be willing to acknowledge that
the glass may always be half full no matter who has pre-eminence.
Unfortunately,
the wounds inflicted through this constant warfare are many and deep. This may
be true because of the persistent efforts by both perspectives to indoctrinate
the next generation in their particular point of view. Christians don’t want
atheists raising more atheists, and atheists don’t want Christians raising more
Christians. Both seem ready to fight tooth and claw to prevent the other. In
spite of these ferocious battles, some atheists will become Christians and some
Christians will become atheists. While these often become poster children for
the perspective they join, there might be a lesson in this for all of us.
Like the
Montagues and the Capulets in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” we have
sacrificed our ability to find love in one another’s hearts because of our
partisan fighting and wounding of each other. Admittedly Shakespeare’s play is
a fantasy, but does the allegory found therein have practical lessons for us
and our incessant struggle between atheism and Christianity? At what point
could we sheath our swords and allow love to bloom on both sides? Or are we
doomed to eternally cycle repeatedly through the verses of Peter, Paul, and
Mary’s “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”
Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone for husbands everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the husbands gone, long time passing?
Where have all the husbands gone, long time ago?
Where have all the husbands gone?
Gone for soldiers everyone
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?