Every so often the secular world will see some type of media that results from a Christian group pumping out a lot of money to send a message. Sometimes this message can be good, other times not so much.
So there’s this movie out right now called “God’s Not Dead”. I saw a preview for it, and not even 1 minute into the preview I knew how the entire movie would go (and it’s not because I’m a genius or have the gift of foresight). Kid goes to school, professor makes him claim that God is dead to pass the class[1], kid doesn't, kid has to debate professor, kid wins, professor storms out in defeat. You may have seen this exact scenario in Facebook posts and chain-emails going back to 1997.
[1] note: illegal
The professor, you see… is an ATHEIST (boooo, hisss). And what are atheists like? They’re those mean argumentative people who always scream at Christians that God is dead, and do things like make them publicly forsake their religion in order to pass a class, right? They’re rage filled debators who high five each other when they make Christians cry. Most importantly – atheists aren’t ACTUALLY atheists, they’re just mad at a God they know deep down exists, but just don’t want to admit it because of some personal problem they’ve had with God in the past. Also, all it takes to break them from these vices is a good ol’ Christian to remind them of this. This is the picture that “God’s Not Dead” (and several other films/books/stories) like to paint.
[1] note: illegal
The professor, you see… is an ATHEIST (boooo, hisss). And what are atheists like? They’re those mean argumentative people who always scream at Christians that God is dead, and do things like make them publicly forsake their religion in order to pass a class, right? They’re rage filled debators who high five each other when they make Christians cry. Most importantly – atheists aren’t ACTUALLY atheists, they’re just mad at a God they know deep down exists, but just don’t want to admit it because of some personal problem they’ve had with God in the past. Also, all it takes to break them from these vices is a good ol’ Christian to remind them of this. This is the picture that “God’s Not Dead” (and several other films/books/stories) like to paint.
Unfortunately, “God’s not dead” just re-affirms this misunderstanding and divide between theists and atheists. Real life atheists are, for the most part, NOT like these caricatures. When creating a movie about a group of people that you’re trying to base on real-life events, it’s a good idea to picture what the reaction of that group of people to the film would be. For instance, I’d say an audience of atheists watching “God’s Not Dead” would look something like this:
Kind of something like how I look when a film portrays Christians as science-hating, logic fearing bible-thumpers who use their faith as a crutch.
The fact of the matter is, many people, both theist and atheist, struggle their entire lives searching for truth. For many atheists, they have seriously struggled with atheism vs. theism, put a lot of thought into it, and came to the conclusion that theism just doesn't make sense. This is especially the case when theism is presented to them in a way that dismisses logic. When Christians use “faith” as an excuse to dismiss natural laws and/or common sense, it is the least appealing and helpful thing to a person who is trying to assess what it is all about.
The fact of the matter is, many people, both theist and atheist, struggle their entire lives searching for truth. For many atheists, they have seriously struggled with atheism vs. theism, put a lot of thought into it, and came to the conclusion that theism just doesn't make sense. This is especially the case when theism is presented to them in a way that dismisses logic. When Christians use “faith” as an excuse to dismiss natural laws and/or common sense, it is the least appealing and helpful thing to a person who is trying to assess what it is all about.
As Christians, we are called to evangelize. It is impossible to evangelize to a group of people if we totally misunderstand them. Atheism cannot be written off as a non-contemplative fleeing from Christianity. More so, as Christians, we must be diligent in presenting Christianity in a truthful way. If Christianity is presented as a religion that dismisses science, reason, logic, and understanding - instead replacing it with blind faith - people will rightly turn away from it.
In summary, let’s stop promoting the caricature that all atheists are closet theists, lazy, or unintelligent people. Let's instead realize that many atheists, like many theists, are striving for the same goal – truth. Let’s meet them there, and start our evangelization from that premise.
In summary, let’s stop promoting the caricature that all atheists are closet theists, lazy, or unintelligent people. Let's instead realize that many atheists, like many theists, are striving for the same goal – truth. Let’s meet them there, and start our evangelization from that premise.
