What do theists think of this essay by an atheist professor at Virginia Tech?

Question

I highly recommend this essay to everyone here. It is the best answer I have seen to many questions asked here of atheists about the VA Tech tragedy:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/19/18451/0971

I'd love to hear what Christians and other theists think of the essay.

Answer 1

D'Souza was an embarrassment to the Christians. I am Christian. I like what the Atheist had to say, and I applaud him for saying it. Not all Christians are like this one.

Peace.

Answer 2

Okay, you can't say you believe that there is no God and then say that you're not "denying" his existence. If you deny that something exists, you are saying that it does not exist. If you do not believe in a god, then you are saying he does not exist. Ergo, you are denying God. Existence is pretty clear-cut. Something either exists or it doesn't. Especially for non-corporeal beings; you either believe it exists, so you accept it, or you do not believe it exists, and therefore deny its existence. Don't play this off as a matter of semantics. I do not believe in a higher power because I cannot imagine that there is some greater being out there controlling everything. It's too extreme for my personal tastes. I have been an atheist for years, but I recently took a philosophy class that asked a very important question: If God is an all seeing, all knowing, and an all forgiving being (through repentance, etc.) then how can he determine how you spend the rest of ETERNITY based on actions performed in a matter of 70 years? Seems immensely unjust. And if you really think about just how long eternity is, then doesn't it seem a little rash? And if God is all-knowing, doesn't he see the outcome beforehand? Just a few thoughts. I truly believe that every single person has every right to believe in what- or whomever they'd like. It's just not something I believe.

Answer 3

While I like the professor's points, more striking is the essay to which he was responding--that of professional gasbag Dinesh D'Souza.

D'Souza's main point, for those who don't want to click the link, is that atheists are somehow extra bothered by tragedy because of lack of inherent meaning in the universe, and therefore there must be meaning (which he defines as "God").

D'Souza is wrong on so many levels, but the simplest reply to him is that he is commiting a classic fallacy of deciding questions of truth by choosing to believe what he wants to believe rather than what is actually true. He says here that God exists because he doesn't like howh the world looks if God doesn't exist, which is of course ridiculous reasoning.

And then, when confronted with the fact that atheists do not claim that there is no meaning in life, but merely that meaning is created by Man and not by some fluffy god creature, he rants about how atheists must merely hate God.

All the while, all the time he attempts to turn around the classic philsophical stumper of the problem of evil ("How can God be omnipotent and omnibenevolent, yet bad things still happen?"), he never addresses just why this sort of thing is a bigger problem for those who think their own personal sky wizard is looking out for them (except when she isn't).


Make believe can be a good way to escape from tragedy, yes. When I feel depressed, I reach for escapist fantasy or surreal literature or beautiful music or whatever. I don't have to believe it to benefit from its soothing effect.

And that's the problem with religion here. D'Souza assumes it's the only way to escape from problems, and he implies that its lack of actually being true (which he won't admit anyway) makes up for the fact that it lends some warm fuzzies during tough times.

Answer 4

What can I say?
I am impressed by Mr D'Souza's spin.
I didn't think even a devotee of the Church of Hate could turn that hate so quickly, and make it look like "the other's" fault.
He really is very good at what he does.
Unfortunately, for those of us on the 'outer' of the debate (Neither Christian, atheist or directly affected by the tragedy), he paints a very sad picture of his Faith.
What an unpleasant and angry little man he must be.
I am glad I am not his mother, I would hide my face in shame, if I were.

Answer 5

I am a Theist, but I think D'Souza is missing the point here. Even if religion does have the most comforting answers, this does not mean it is true. It may be the most comforting thing if I say that in one week, all those who died at VT will come back to life, unscarred. That would offer great comfort for one week. But it's false. I don't care how comforting it is. Comfort is not proof for truth.

Answer 6

I think this is a brilliantly well said piece of work. Btw, I'm not a Christian, I'm Wiccan but believe the gods are nothing more than concepts (hence Atheistic in my belief in the gods).

D'Souza is a slime ball. With him as a Christian spokesperson, is it any wonder that we fight Christian domination so hard?

Edit: Martin, I think you are the one missing the point here.

Answer 7

Dinesh D’Souza used this tragedy (of all things) to bash atheists, plain and simple. It’s sad really.'

It is a complete myth that atheists don't feel the deep loss that everyone would feel after something like this happened.

Answer 8

it simply illustrates that many people automatically turn to God when a massive tragedy strikes. it's like there can be no earthly comfort or understanding when this type of thing happens. most people believe that God is moving and they look for signs, for reasons, etc. i think deepak chopra says it best, when he states that we are "hardwired" to know God. it is this intuitive knowledge that almost forces us to acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives.

i think the atheist professor is a nice man whose feelings were hurt. i'm sure he is a very loving person, who, in spite of not understanding God, was raised to be compassionate and caring. i am sure that if he needed to comfort someone who did believe in God, that he wouldn't force his atheism pov while the person is crying out to God. his lack of belief should not be an issue in the va tech tragedy.

unfortunately, the majority of people here in the u.s., despite how they live their daily lives, cry out to God when a major calamity hits them. we do live in a christian nation for the most part, and anyone who says different is blind to the numbers.

the only part i found lame, was the end reference to mr. cho being somehow related to christ. it was a snide remark and unworthy of the entire essay. i'm sure it was meant to get some back for the writer's hurt feelings, but definitely detracted from the spirit of the essay as a whole.

Answer 9

I think this essay and all of the responses to it and each other merely point out the fact that in todays world there is little difference in atheists and the majority of modern christians. Few have a true understanding that god is not some "man in the sky" that watches over us. That is just another method by which men seeks to absolve themselves of any responsibilty for thier own actions.
God and the understanding of God both exist in the same place, inside of ourselves. We need not look to the sky, priests, popes or theologians to explain God to us. We need only search in our own hearts and minds.
Lack of proof for Gods existence does not prove the atheists belief any more than the survival of a man whose parachute failed to open proves Gods existence.
For those that believe no proof is needed. For those that dont no proof will suffice. The atheist and the evolutionists tout science and reason as the standard by which all can be proven true or false. Yet they refuse to acknowledge any evidence that goes contrary to their predetermined thesis. It is written off as an anomaly or unverifiable and meaningless.
Yet, for al the strict teachings of the church and adherence to ritual and dogma science has been allowed to grow and advance our civilization. So tell me which side of this debate is guilty of the greater hypocrisy?

Answer 10

What do I think of the essay? I think that the author is falling into the trap that most all atheists fall into. He is talking about how his faith is in "people" and not God.

Never mind that it was a person who commited the crime, the author thinks that "the world is cold, and that only people can make it warmer. We believe we can live in this imperfection, like a child can live without fulfilling her desperate wish for wings"

He believes this despite the evidence that mankind cannot on his own make the world any "warmer". Thousands of years have demonstrated over and over again that the problem isn't a "cold world" it is the sin that is in the hearts of human beings. While some people have a more virulent form of this plague, we all share in it. Even the nicest person you will ever meet has at one time in their life felt anger that if not restrained would have resulted in a Cain and Abel or Virginia Tech scenario.

The only hope this world has of escaping the endless cycle of pain and suffering and death is the coming of Jesus Christ and the restoration of our relationship with God that sin has broken.

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." 6 And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."