Atheism

Fast Facts About Atheism

Atheism Origins

Greek philosopher Diagoras of Melos, who lived five centuries before Christ, is often considered the first atheist, having criticized religion. Around the same time, philosophers such as Leucippus and Democritus tried to explain the world in terms of materialism. Similarly, Plato’s uncle Critias denounced religion as a human invention to frighten people into submission.

Atheist Beliefs

Atheists do not believe in the existence of a God and are often hostile to the very concept. They view religion as harmful and instead value science, reason, freedom of thought, and the human experience.

Atheist Holy Books

Not applicable.

Who Jesus Is to Them

In the minds of atheists, Jesus is a vehicle of conformity and control for the universal Christian church.

How Many Followers?

About 136 million and steadily declining.

Teachings on Salvation

Because they do not believe in God, they do not believe in eternity. People cease to be upon death.

The Atheist Path to Accept Jesus Christ as Savior

You Believe

Whether you want to admit it or not, you have a belief system. You are a person of faith. And your faith teaches you that the infinite complexity of the universe is the product of random mutations. The odds of evolution occurring, according to British mathematician Richard Penrose, is 1010123. .That would make you a freakishly wonderful accident. Believing in those odds takes faith.

Even secular scientists like renowned atheist Richard Dawkins acknowledge the problem with that view. See, evolution and increased complexity are in direct violation of Newton’s Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Said Dawkins, “We have seen that living things are too improbable and too beautifully ‘designed’ to have come into existence by chance.”

Are you ready to take your chances?

We Believe

Christ-followers don’t place their faith in numbers; they place their faith in a sovereign, eternal God, and He has made Himself known through Jesus Christ.

He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:15-16)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. . . . The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory or the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1-4;14).

Do we understand how an eternal God could exist? No. But if we served a god whom we could comprehend, he would be a small god indeed. And God, in His infinite grace, knew we were too small, too weak and too imperfect to save ourselves, so He came to earth as a man who took the punishment for our failings on Himself.

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)

I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6).

What If?

You probably believe that there’s nothing beyond this life. But if you’re willing to bank on the impossible odds of evolution, is it so far-fetched to consider another long shot – that you could be wrong?

But let’s start by supposing you’re right and we’re wrong. If that’s the case, we as Christians have lived our lives with purpose and grace, and the planet is a better place for us. In other words, we may all have the same non-destination, but at least we’ve made the most of our journey. We still win.

But let’s suppose that we’re right and you’re wrong. If we are right, all of us will face judgment. (And, in case you’re still into odds, you may be interested in knowing that it would be exponentially easier if we covered Texas with 2 feet of quarters and asked a blindfolded person to pick out a marked one on the first try than it would be for Jesus to fulfill 324 Old Testament prophecies. Actually, the playing field would be level if Jesus fulfilled just eight prophecies. Just saying.)

. . . just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

Some of us – those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord – will be saved. The rest will face eternal condemnation.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Are you ready to take a chance on eternity? Are you ready to trust Jesus?

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Cheri Henderson is a Christ-follower and freelance writer with a passion for helping other believers embrace the full and abundant, victorious, joy-filled life God intends them to have. The product of a broken and dysfunctional home life, Cheri lost her mother and sister to suicide six months to the day of each other nearly 30 years ago. Using the Bible and the Holy Spirit as her guides, she emerged from her experiences as a wife and mother committed to breaking the chains of sin and addiction in her family tree.A passionate evangelist, discipler and teacher, Cheri has done short-term missions in the United States as well as internationally. Through her blog, http://www.halffullandoverflowing.com, she shares her passion for living sold-out, surrendered lives in Christ. One of Cheri’s favorite verses is Hebrews 7:25, which reads, “Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” In her free time, Cheri remains in perpetual motion as a musician, crafter, grandmother, exercise enthusiast and serious home cook.

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