We Believe in God

 

…and we are not alone.   The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority decided to restore an advertisement sponsored by the Iowa Atheist and Freethinkers on its buses.  The ads, which have certainly drawn attention, are bold and invitational.  With a blue sky as a backdrop the bus ads read, “Don’t believe in God?   You are not alone.”  

 

The advertisement includes the web address for the Iowa Atheist and Freethinkers (IAF). Their website describes their organization as a non-profit social and educational group dedicated to supporting local atheists, freethinkers, secular humanists, agnostics, and other non-religious people.

 

A non-religious view of the world is foundational for this group that strives to be more educated on religious issues and even values regular Bible study.  Their Bible study gatherings analyze the biblical scriptures from a historical, social and philosophical context.  I guess they believe in a form of evangelism or promotion, because they have a regular booth at the Downtown Farmers’ Market which draws large crowds each Saturday.

 

Freethinkers base their opinion about religion and other matters of belief on the basis of reason independent of tradition.  Freethinkers include atheists, agnostics, and rationalists.

 

My inspiration for this article is not to disparage Atheists or so called Freethinkers.  I firmly believe they have a right to advertise their non- belief and that they are not alone. One supporter of their advertising wrote a letter to the editor stating that most scientists are atheist and suggested that faith and revelation “prevent you from any free thought.”  These points of view smack of arrogance and triumphalism, the kind of intolerance that is supposedly inherent to those who they would argue blindly embrace religious faith.

 

Atheists and freethinkers leave no room for the convictional language of theology and the poetic nature of Holy Scripture. Our way of Christian belief and practice allows for questions and doubts without being dismissed or kicked out.  Our faith and theology is nurtured by Scripture, Tradition, Reason and Experience. I know that my redeemer lives because of the Bible I read and the testimonies shared out of Christian tradition and real life experience. I feel and think, even as I study and sing.  I pray and ponder, question and cry.

 

I have never felt the need to dismiss God because of linguistic limitations preventing me from adequately describing how awesome our God is.  There are many scientists who see no contradiction between faith in God and respect for science.  Atheists should not insult those who do believe in God, dismissing us as somehow mentally inferior and imprisoned in our doctrine.

 

No one should be made to feel alone.  Religion should not be force fed to those who have chosen to be “non-religious”.  However, at the end of the day, our beliefs should impact how we live in community.  My biggest concern is for the thousands who go to bed each night feeling that they are alone.  Too many people feel alone in a world overrun with judgment, violence and self-centeredness…a world in desperate need of visible reminders of God’s amazing grace which is God’s free and available love.

 

There is a scene in the movie, “The Count of Monte Cristo” in which Desmond Dantes, played by Jim Caviezel (he played Jesus In the Passion of Christ), is imprisoned and questions the reality of God, given his cruel imprisonment and seemingly hopeless future. He says to his imprisoned friend and mentor, the priest, as the priest is dying, “I don’t believe in God”.  “It doesn’t matter,” the priest responds. “God believes in you.”

 

“O Taste and see that the Lord is good.”   Psalm 34:8

By: Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble On 9/7/2009