IF God exists, does he love Atheists?

Question

It is an insult to God to believe in God. For on the one hand it is to suppose that he has perpetrated acts of incalculable cruelty. On the other hand, it is to suppose that he has perversely given his human creatures an instrument--their intellect--which must inevitably lead them, if they are dispassionate and honest, to deny his existence. It is tempting to conclude that if he exists, it is the atheists and agnostics that he loves best, among those with any pretensions to education. For they are the ones who have taken him most seriously ~ Galen Strawson
who agrees and disagrees? and why?

well most of the christians who read this completely missed the point!
should have expected it though.... : (

i understood that last line to mean, taking the idea of god seriously and thinking about it logically would be the reason for people to become atheist

Answer 1

It's hard to tell, we have no idea what God is like. God is an imaginary supreme being that exists only in people's mind. God can be as active and as dramatic as our brains can imagine.

Yes, He probably loves Atheists more than those who believe in Him because we don't kiss a-s-s.

Answer 2

Yes, God loves atheists. They are His children just like everyone else.

I think Mr. Strawson is a little weird. His argument states that God gave His human creatures an intellect, which suggests that the humans were aware of God's existence. If they were aware of His existence, then their denying God's existence isn't an act of intellectual inevitably, but simply denying a truth that they are already aware of. They are simply choosing to lie to themselves and pretend that God isn't there when they already know that He is.

Additionly, God doesn't love them any more or any less than He loves everyone else. We are all the same in His eyes.

Atheism and agnosticism, from your question, isn't dispassionate or honest at all, but simply stupid. (I'm not implying this about all atheists or agnostics, only within the context of the above question.) The last line, "For they are the ones who have taken him the most seriously," suggest that Mr. Strawson is saying that the atheist actually DO believe in God, but they are just being the most open and honest about their views about Him. Which is it? They either believe in Him, or they don't.

Mr. Strawson contradicts himself.

Answer 3

Very interesting deduction.

I have to disagree with the thought that God loves anyone more than the other. All will reach what is presently thought to be "Heaven". It is a matter of evolution.

Now in this evolution, the Atheists are non-believers because they cannot find the logic or reasoning in religion today. They still retain the idea of God, but cannot put the two together, because modern religion has not evolved. Institutional religion still proclaims a misconceived concept of God. Their God still shows "wrath" and "favortism". These misguided ideas of God that are still so widely acknowledge drive "thinking" people away from God, because they are learning that Blind Faith is an unreasonable request, and the "thinkers" want to "understand" God. The unbelievers of today, will find a religion in the future that explains God through reason, logic and science. It is already in the world today, but in it's infancy still in America. Plus the unbeliever's will need to get over their "mis-trust" of religion also.

In the end, God loves us all. The Atheists, depending on their acceptance of this new logical religion, based in reason and science, may evolve faster than the "Blind Faither's" because they might accept it easier. But in the end God allows all Humans to evolve towards perfection. No matter their beliefs or how long it takes each individual. We presently have a very limited, misconstrued concept of God, but infinite mercy and forgiveness tells us, that God cannot condemn anyone to an eternal punishment. God is infinite Love, a concept I would say almost all humans cannot grasp the true meaning of.

Answer 4

Yes, God himself is an atheist. Going by what Galen Strawson says, God doesn't only love atheists, it's likely that he loves them, as well as agnostics more than anyone else. I do sort of agree with it, it's definitely something to think about.

An answer below states:

"However, you can be sure that honest intellectuals believe in God. Albert Einstein believed in God."

That is completely untrue, Einstein did NOT believe in a personal god. Even if he had, it wouldn't be a valid argument for whether or not such a being exists.

Answer 5

I agree with the conclusion of that quote.

I've thought about this a lot, and it seems to me that God definately loves those most who have the greatest strife in finding him.

After all, look at Job. God put him through a horrible life to test his love.

And look at the Chosen People, the Isrealites, the Jews. Isreal means "Struggles with God." The Jews aren't Christians!

The angels naturally know and are bound to God. But mankind was created because God wanted to be loved as he loved the world. He doesn't want us to be forced to love him. He wants us to choose to love him. And he loves most the ones who have had the most obstacles in the way, yet still come out on top.

Unfortunately, all the love in the world cannot save a man who refuses to accept it. So an atheist who dies an atheist, despite being loved, will never find God unless he accepts that love. Or, as it is written, until he accepts Jesus as savior.

On another note, I don't think it's an insult to believe in God. It's what He wants. I miss the significance of that statement.
And we can't really "calculate" anything he does, nor should we judge, so calling his actions cruel or perverse is immaterial.

Answer 6

This question is a bit too deep for the types of junky answers you'll get on this webpage. If you actually are interested, there are some great theology books and Christian apologetics books that will give you clear and definitive answers that make solid, logical sense about these things. However, you can be sure that honest intellectuals believe in God. Albert Einstein believed in God. It is the fool that does not believe in God, and though those who are "intellectual" may struggle with faith, the Bible addresses this issue many times.

Answer 7

The quote follows bad logic... I understand what Strawson is saying... but it's not a good argument...

I disagree because he seems to be saying that only those who are athiest and agnostic use their intellect... the fact is that all use thier intellect...

but it's not just about intellect it's also about nurture, life experience, education, tradition, attitude, etc... which all effect one's views of God... all of life must be considered not just intellect...

It's also double talk because Strawson is saying that God perversely gave humans intellect but they use it to deny God... how can one believe that God gave them something whey they don't believe there is a God?

Answer 8

LOL at Donmorano's answer:
"In the bible it states that the Atheists are fools. God does not hate them but he just wants them to believe in him."

I think it's funny to think I somehow have the power to frustrate an all-powerful being's wishes... That doesn't even make sense.

If God, an all-powerful being, wanted the world any other way than it is right now, what could possibly stop it from becoming that way?!

It is utterly retarded to speak of an all-powerful being "wanting" something. If he wants something, it happens. That's what all-powerful is, right?

If you assume omnipotence, you must also assume that the world exists EXACTLY as god wants it to be -- including fires, earthquakes, aids, death, terrorists, atheists, tornadoes, volcanoes, tsunamis, etc... etc... because if god wanted anything else, then nothing could prevent it from happening.

Theists are silly sometimes... :)

Answer 9

John 3:16 For God so loved the world...

Answer 10

God loves everyone...I think you are putting toooo much thought into that, hun. Just because you don't believ in him doesnt mean he won't love you, he won't give you the gift of eternal life either. Also what perpetrated acts of incaluable cruelty has he commited...he is God, our one and only loving God he couldn't EVER do such things no matter the circumstance.