What the Bible Says about Atheism

Best-selling author and speaker and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland, best-selling author and apologist Dylan burrow together bringing you the truth for a new generation. This is TMG radio is atheism logical is atheism a worldview that we should build our life upon will many young people today are embracing atheism and on today's vision of truth for a new generation who want talk about atheism and I'd like to set forth some reasons not to be an atheist. Hi Alex McFarland here with Dylan burrow Santa to talk about a topic that is up. Whether you really thought about it too much or not it definitely is a cultural phenomenon and so atheism is our subject today. Dylan could be with you my friend. Great to be with you. As always, Alex is a scholar and a writer and a person that don't like myself, you've done a lot of work with young people in college students has it some will let me ask what is been your reaction to kind of the popularity of atheism over the last decade, but has been interesting and has been so much the past decade is perhaps maybe the past five years or so, that you seen a rise in the popularity of atheism at this at this pop-culture fat if you will, where young people see it as the cool alternative if they want to be the rebel, you no longer unit is seeking a back to smoke a cigarette like back in the old days eared embracing atheism in and going anti-God in every way you can. So it's associated with certain bands a certain culture and according to a recent study by the Barna group on generation Z are current teenage population. It's likely to have a more than double percentage of atheism among teenagers and a past generation, so there is a numerical change. There is a cultural change. There is something we need to be aware of is Christians dealing with the young people in our society today. While the reasons friends that were going to set forth today not to be an atheist would include these things in each one of these could be a show into itself, but we are going to argue that atheism is ideological, unscientific, really unethical, or at least it provides no basis for ethics and morality, atheism, I would say is actually anti-intellectual and unsatisfying, and then for a moment, we do want to talk about why we believe biblical Christianity. The word theism the belief that there is a God, God has created. God has intervened in the universe and in the world and God can be known.

Were going to argue that theism typical theism really is satisfying and fulfilling.

But let's talk about this atheism being philosophically untenable or ideological. It is impossible to prove that God does not exist and and yet a lot of atheist Dylan at least one of spoken universities. They can there almost indignant like you know. Oh my goodness, you believe in God, come on, and part of their sway with young people is just the swagger and the braggadocio of atheism like it would just be unthinkable to accept that God exists and yet their rejection of God. Their negation of God is not something that they can prove or even really rationally defend is interesting that you mention that, because really you would have to be an eternal being who has seen everything from all times past have all access to all information approved definitively, the God does not exist. Most people today have doubts about God or they deny God exists there truly an agnostic. They have doubts about God.

They don't know for sure if there's a God, but they can't truly be atheist because like he said that's an ill logical basis for faith as interesting what the philosopher David Hume said long ago that a wise man proportions his belief to the evidence we have to make our claims based on the evidence it's available, not based on our assumptions are what we think is true based on our own wishes well and speaking of the evidence of and some of the classic arguments for God's existence would be the cosmological argument the moral argument, the teleological argument others. There's one called the ontological argument that is fascinating.

In fact: I would love for us to do a show on that at some point, but the cosmological argument says because there's a world, God must exist. The creation had to have a creator. The moral argument says that the law are written on our heart law comes from a lawgiver, and the reality of universal moral knowledge is long documented the teleological argument from the Greek word Helios design. Everything in the world around us exhibits design and purpose order structure specificity so the design must of had a designer and all of the things that we see all of the available knowledge points to the fact that the most logical conclusion is that there is a God behind it all the designer and so Dylan, one of the points that I would like to make is when atheists say that, well, because there's evil in the world are there suffering or there's injustice and and there there are those things they they almost have the posture that you don't have to prove atheism there's no burden of proof on their shoulders, but I would say if proof for atheism is unnecessary than it really is a belief based on blind faith. All true. And really, I pretty much all atheist do not actually make arguments against God's existence.

Like you mentioned.

They make arguments against what kind of God may exist whether it's the kind of guy do you see the pages of the Bible versus the kind of God that perhaps a person brings to the table turns their misconceptions. Also, you see this idea of the object of the more validity of what God is purported to have done in history. In other words, God has done things in history and we question whether he has or has not if you come to the table to be of atheism. So in reality many of these cases it's an agnosticism.

It's a doubts about God. Questions about God. If you can move a person from sheer atheism where they deny the existence of God have a conversation about the facts and bring them to the point of agnosticism to where they are discussing whether there is a God, or what kind of God. There is, and that's a great step in the conversation with the skeptic you taken a person from a point of no faith to maybe and when you get into that field and maybe then you can start having a real discussion about who God is, what kind of God may exist and questions about the God of the Bible. So notice this point.

Folks that virtually all atheist. They're not making solid, defensible arguments or proofs against God's existence, but they're pushing back about what they think or what they misconstrue about God yesterday when I was speaking at the school teacher who struggling with some Christian student youth groupers that are flirting with agnosticism and atheism, and a lot of it is the Old Testament we know why did God tell Israel to kill the Philistines and things like that. Did God have a morally sufficient reason to tell Israel to do that. And of course he did. Because the purpose of Israel taking their land becoming a nation was to send forth the Messiah to be the Savior of the world were talking about atheism. On today's edition of tree furniture five reasons not been atheist and will continue this conversation with Dylan Burroughs when we return. You know Alex is writing for many years, and one of his classic books is still great. Today is a basic introduction to the Christian faith. It's called stamp courtrooms must know for unshakable faith. This book will help you help your teens get off the roller coaster of doubt onto solid ground.

You'll read about the six pillars of biblical Christianity. They are one inspiration of the Bible to the virgin birth. Three. The deity of Christ for atonement. Five. Christ's resurrection and six. Christ's return, you know Alex mixes it up with humor and stories gleaned from decades of working with youth and encourages things to build a foundation of faith that will stabilize their lives and help them take a stand for Christ. Simple and straightforward stamp courtrooms. You must go forward unshakable faith available wherever Christian books are so first Peter 315 tells us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope we have were instructed to be prepared to defend our faith.

This is Alex McFarlane for the life he answers teams students we train at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in South Carolina.

The life he answers teams are made up of students who will inspire and equip your congregation. These apologetics teams. We train speaking in churches to youth groups and train Christians of all ages to address key issues of our times. From a biblical perspective like is there a God is the Bible true. What about gender and moral issues. Call me at 864977 2008 and we will arrange for the life interesting to come to your church and give a presentation that will benefit your people for years to come. 864-977-2000 eight and always be ready this is Dylan Burroughs back with Alex McFarlane at tree furniture.

We're talking about five reasons atheism is not true or five reasons not to be an atheist. But before we get back to our discussion, I want to talk briefly with Alex McFarlane about some of the things God is doing a tree furniture including conferences tells a little bit about what's expected tree furniture and I Dylan numbing of the Lord is given us so many opportunities and 70 good things to to be about as you hear this program I'm on the road speaking in the Alabama Baptist evangelism conference and I've been in a number of churches and you know I was just in a couple of high schools.

Later this spring and I'll keep you aware of it all be in at least five more public schools to speak. This spring, but not two things I want to make you aware of March 21 we got a very special event in North Carolina, Greensboro, March 21 with Todd Starnes of Fox News.

Todd is a great friend and a an an amazing leader in our country and a champion for Christ.

He speaks in our conferences and if you want to see and hear Todd Starnes in Greensboro March 21.

You can go to truth for a new generation.com truth FO war truth for a new generation.com learn about that. Learn about our big events all around the country, but the other thing Dylan I'm so excited about is our camp. Now listen up folks apologetics camp for teenagers and it's going to be July 29 to August 2.

Working to be in eastern North Carolina Camp Kale CA Elliott's wonderful camp. I've been there half a dozen times. It's pretty amazing places can be a ropes course and kayaking and swimming in games and Frisbee golf and others fun things but 15 sessions and myself and Andy Lorentzen and we think were going to have some of the on-air personalities of American family radio will be there and a lot of great things but listen to this. Mom and dad.

I want to challenge you to invest five days that will count for a lifetime.

Dylan I was going over some of the feedback from last year's camp.

We had we had teenagers from nine states coming to learn how to defend their faith, and one student wrote me and said Alex, I'm heading back to school ready to stand strong for Christ. TMG camp was awesome. So mom and dad listen to this is $349 $349 has summer camps go, that is not a bad deal and it's a turnkey price, notebooks, meals, everything. And so were going to talk about not being ashamed. That's the theme unashamed.

Not ashamed of God. Not ashamed of Jesus, not ashamed of his word. Not ashamed of America. So this is the thing that youth need to be at and will you have a great time. We can have fun were also going equip your youth to stand strong and so go to the website truth for a new generation.com look at events and we hope to see your students, your kids, your youth group at our summer camp coming up not that far away. July 29 through August 2 one last thing I want to return to our conversation about atheism folks we do a weekly E newsletter and you can get that if you text us.

555888 the word revival. We will not share your information with anybody but if you text 555888 and just the word revival will begin to send you the articles and the free content that we generate every week to help get people excited about praying for our nation will Dylan. Let's return to our conversation about atheism because regrettably atheism is is growing among young people and one of the things that many college professors will say or the pop level atheist.

They seem to indicate that because we don't know everything about God. Maybe this proves that God doesn't exist, but I would say there'll plenty of things that they do exist that are valid things that we only know about partially or maybe even not at all and so are our lack of complete understanding doesn't mean there is no God.

I mean, he's got not where humans he's infinite where finite, of course, were not going to know everything about God, right, and as we continue talking up five reasons not to be an atheist. The second reason that atheism is unscientific is a very powerful and the position is not based on observation or evidence, but on faith.

It's interesting. Even Charles Darwin, the great voice behind evolutionary theory that we talk about so much today whether you dispute or whether accepted. Depending on your worldview had this idea that there must be some kind of creator out there tells a little bit about this. Alex will you know Darwin over and over would say things like the complexity of the I seem to be impossible to have evolved by chance, and one of the quotes that Darwin said was that the impossibility of conceiving this immense and wonderful universe, including man with his intellectual capacities.

It's almost inconceivable, said Darwin that this was quote the result of blind chance. Now listen to this, Darwin said, when thus reflecting, I feel compelled to look to a first cause, having an intelligent mind in some degree analogous to that of man. I deserve to be called a theist, not an atheist but a theist now was Darwin a born-again believer know he was. Not but over and over.

He pointed to the fact that if it could be shown that the interdependent systems could not have evolved in the absence of the others, then his theory as he said, quote would completely break down and I believe that it does, in fact, many of the scientists that are in a renown throughout history that were at least theistic. In other words they believed in God, and many were actually followers of Jesus Christ.

The prominent scientists who were theistic would include Isaac Newton and Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, Francis Bacon Pascal Descartes on and on we could go Kelvin Faraday Marconi who invented radio Louis Pasteur Dylan on and on we could go they were scientist who looked at the evidence and they said creation had to have a creator design had to have a designer we've never seen order and structure and information come out of nothing and arrange itself in a vacuum scientist including Nobel laureates recognize there had to be an ultimate cause behind this incredible universe.

And that's important because science ultimately does not invent information.

It discovers information in the everything science discovers reveals incredible levels of structure and purpose in our world that only come back rented talk about this idea that atheism is not just unscientific but it's also ultimately unethical and you'll hear what we mean doubt that we come back this idea that in an atheistic worldview.

There's no absolute moral standard to which we must adhere in the consequences of that for those who hold the view atheism sick with us will be right back entry for new generation Christians don't necessarily agree with one another when it comes to questions of religious pluralism, homosexuality, the role of government proportioned in war. Too often, we manage these disagreements by ignoring them, yet were called to engage the world for the sake of Christ. How can we be effective if we avoid society's most pressing questions in 10 issues that divide Christians Alex McFarlane challenges us to drill down to the biblical core of 10 current issues such as social justice evil and suffering, not Murphy and environmentalism as he echoes the biblical invitation come let us reason together only by engaging the Scriptures deeply thinking clearly and speaking truthfully can we, in God's family address our differences and discover the peace that comes with unity of purpose.

10 issues that divide Christians buying this book and many others@alexmcfarlane.com. If you're a Christian parent. You of course want to instill a biblical view of life in the hearts of your children, your pastor, you want to offer ministry that draws young families to your church. This is Alex McFarlane encouraging you to check out my new book and video curriculum. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity. I interviewed hundreds of children ages 5 to 12 and we address actual questions from actual children.

The spiritual issues that are on the minds of your kids the book and video lessons are great for groups of any size and was produced with the goal of equipping kids to stand strong for Christ in any situation.

The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask the book study guide and video series. You'll find it@afastore.net that AFA store.net, GE said for adenine AED we add CHF so the stand and say this is the number is back without Parliament about five reasons not as you may know atheism is growing among young people today, and there are reasons we need to talk about why not to be an atheist document to them already. The last one is that atheism is unscientific, but we also introduce the idea that atheism is unethical. In other words, if you are an atheist you have no moral standard of right and wrong and we want to talk about what is the concern with this view. So Alex tells little bit why do we say atheism is unethical not Dylan is as you will note, if you debate an atheist.

Many of the objections will center around the perceived injustices of the world and their granted it's a fallen world with the world of sin, and Christians will we agree murder is wrong it's it's wrong that people are being exploited and trafficked and people are starving but we can only legitimately say something is wrong. If it has fallen short of an ultimate standard of truth and morality that we measure against. In fact, when we say, for instance, Mother Teresa lived a good life Billy Graham with the good life at all.

Hitler, Osama bin Laden lived a bad evil life, what were really saying is the actions of the Billy Graham or Mother Teresa conform more closely to an ultimate standard of good then did the life of a murderer or C4 criminal. So when the atheist removes the standard we measure against God. They really don't have any moral North Star to which they look other than their own bias in their opinion. I'm not saying atheist can't do things that are moral but I am saying they really don't have any absolute basis for talking about morality and it's a good way to put it because even a person he claims to be an atheist does have a sense of right and wrong of course aware does that come from, you know, what are the.

The objectives what is the basis for that reality of right and wrong.

There is no firm basis.

If you hold to atheism, but we want to move on.

The reason for here five reasons not to be an atheist reason for his atheism is anti-intellectual atheistic worldview provides no objective answer to life the most fundamental questions that to give an example. This idea of why is there something rather than nothing.

This the concept of origin, where does life come from what is my purpose in life. These questions have no clear answers. If he holds the view of atheism and this is concerning.

For those of us here seeking meaning and purpose in life is that Alex will.

It is a means to many the atheists that that we've debated her dialogue with Phil.

They'll say things like, well, if you ask me or in my opinion or I've always just assumed this or that, let me say in this life we want objective answers and truth, but frankly preparing for the next life. I mean, there is this world, but then there's eternity and and let me just with all of the urgency that I can muster. Look, you don't want to trust your soul, your eternity, your destiny to the ramblings of an angry blogger who's denying God and railing against the church, or even Richard Dawkins who tries to dress up his anger against God in scientific jargon and lofty language.

Listen, if atheism is what you embrace really.

Not only do you not have solid answers for the questions of this life, meaning, purpose origin, but you've got no hope, no hope for your destiny, your future, and once you leave this world it's too late to make a second choice and so God provides the best explanation of why there is a universe the complex order in the universe. Objective moral values God provides the best explanation for the historical facts about the life and death, resurrection of Jesus and Dylan, let me say this about the fulfillment and the satisfying nature of the relationship with Christ. God can be personally and immediately known and experienced. We call this an existential reason for Christianity and so rather than just procrastinate and push this out of our mind or try to placate our friends and act like where you know what were too self-sufficient to need God would have to humble ourselves. Let me ask you this, Dylan. Do you think that part of the reason it. Some people not all but some people are so averse to the idea of God in Christ. Is it because we do have to humble ourselves when we come to God but certainly part of it and that that brings us to our final for the reason that theism is logical and you you mention the God provides the best explanation of why the universe exists. While many people don't want to accept that and the reasons variable.

One reason is as you mention the idea that if I want to live a certain way. I have to justify that way of life and that sometimes how it is done. It's interesting to me that a theist is someone who believes in the personal God created the universe, but is not part of the universe and at that goes even deeper for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as God's son. I want people understandably talk about theism I we're talking about a specific form of theism. A Muslim believes there is one God, but they do not believe in Jesus Christ as God's son arose from the dead. So we talk about a particular form of theism.

The biblical God, the triune God of father son and Spirit as it's often mentioned as we wrap up Alex can use gives the final word for those perhaps you are struggling with doubts regarding the existence of God or where they stand with God today will front, why don't you pray the seekers prayer and God is merciful and God is willing to hear you if you're honestly seeking truth you Jeremiah 29, 11 to 13 promises that if you're honestly seeking, and you seek with all your heart, you will find so say God if your real I'm willing to know that. And so God please help me to keep my heart open. And God help me to honestly seek you and Lord.

If your real help me to find you and I would challenge you to pray to be honest and open tried to be honest with yourself. Maybe you didn't want there to be a God. Maybe their behaviors and things in your life that you know aren't right with God, and so on. Look at your heart and try to acknowledge if you embraced unbelief because that's how you wanted things to be within Dylan. I would encourage people to read the Gospel of John 21 chapters you can read it in three weeks. If you read 567 minutes today, although I suspect like so many you'll probably want to read it in one sitting, but read the Gospel of John and pray God, if your real please show yourself to me. Amen. Great words. Alex, thanks for being with the search for new generation really, with the next time truth for a new in association with Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries exists to equip Christians with the biblical worldview through conferences and camps for information about upcoming events visit for a new generation.com or give us a call at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God in the number one TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries PO Box 10231 rural NC 27404.

That's PO Box 10231 rural NC 27404. Give online@alexmcfarland.com or truth for a new generation.com. Thanks for listening and join us again next day as we bring you more true for a new generation on TMG radio