Three Atheists and their Questions for God

                                                               

The Three University teachers were simply relishing each other’s company at the Staff Club. It had not only been a busy day for all of them, but a hot one. So, what better than a few chilled bottles of their favorite beers and stouts to exorcise the memories of the day’s labors?

 Professor Aletor was a nationally renowned Philosopher, as was his younger colleague and buddy, Dr. Douglas, who was also a widely-read columnist in two of the country’s biggest newspapers. Professor Michaels, on his part, was one of the country’s foremost musicologists and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

Aside from their flourishing careers and first-rate intellects, one other thing the three had in common was their irreligiousness. They did not believe in God and held such beliefs to be baseless.

So, an hour and six bottles into their relaxation, their discourse veered off in a religious direction.

Prof. Michaels: Did you hear about the girl who was rescued from the rubble of that garment factory in Bangladesh after seventeen days?

Prof. Aletor: Many consider it an act of God

Dr. Douglas: So the one thousand one hundred and twenty seven people or thereabout who died was whose act?

Prof. Aletor: Christians will say the devil

Prof. Michaels: Moslems will say it was Allah’s will

Dr. Douglas: And I will say its all nonsense!

Prof. Michaels: But, Douglas, what if we one day discover we were wrong, and there indeed is a God?

Prof. Aletor: Which God would we have discovered? Is it the Christian God, the Moslem God, the Jewish God, the African gods, the Hindu g--

Dr. Douglas: (cutting in) Goddamit! (downs his glass and slams it on the table)  Anyway, Prof. Michaels, in the spirit of these bottles, I’ll indulge such hypothetical folly and imagine…if I ever see God and He accuses me of not believing in Him or in Jesus, or any such nonsense, I’ll first ask Him why He gave me a mind and a brain.

Prof. Michaels: I see, because nobody with a sound mind can honestly believe in a God who has refused to clearly reveal and introduce Himself but has instead permitted the conflicting plethora of gods and religions…

Prof. Aletor: As for me, I’ll first ask God how He was able to make this entire universe in seven days when I have been trying to make just one baby in seven years!             

                                                    (loud laughter).

Prof. Michaels: I’ll ask Him why He let my first wife, who by the way was very religious, die six years ago of cancer after over ten years of prayers and supplications, not to mention millions in hospital bills, leaving me with three motherless kids- I’ll ask Him!

Dr. Douglas: Of course I’ll also ask Him about all the anthropological findings and scientific discoveries that point to the fact that man was not created, but evolved…

Prof. Aletor: I’ll ask Him why it was okay for Abraham to marry wives and have concubines, and its not okay for me to enjoy the female perquisites of my job, when it is mutually desired?

                                                  (some more laughter)

Prof. Michaels: I’ll ask Him why most of His so-called apostles, pastors, and prophets are so greedy…

Dr. Douglas: So arrogant and abysmally mannerless…

Prof. Aletor: So liable to sycophancy…

Prof. Michaels: You know what, my dignified apostles of enlightenment?

Dr. Douglas & Prof. Aletor: What, Prof.?

Prof. Michaels: I wish God could really answer our accusations, and clear His name once for all

Dr. Douglas: But He won’t because He’s a coward. No, He’s not. He can’t even be a coward because He doesn’t exist!

Prof. Aletor: Well, gentlemen, we can’t question who we cannot see.  But if what they say is true, then one day we shall see God. That will be the day of reckoning—I mean, questioning. So let us save all our God questions for that day. As of today, right now, I think another round is in order, or what do you both think?

Dr. Douglas: I think I’m going to engage Prof. Leigh, the Catholic Priest, in a public debate on these issues very soon, that’s what I drink.

Prof. Aletor: That’s what you think.

Dr. Douglas: Yes, Prof, that’s what I said.

Prof. Michaels: I like the idea of a debate- but meanwhile, gentlemen here are the sweaty bottles. What do you say; we take off their thinking caps and open our drinking tanks, eh?

                                             (laughter)

                                    TO BE CONTINUED

CAN HOMOSEXUALITY REALLY BE COMPATIBLE WITH CHRISTIANITY?

On my birthday, April 10^th, I remember seeing the news of Uruguay’s extension of marriage rights to same-sex unions, and I recollect taking note of the joyous rapture of the sizeable spectators, who had turned out to witness history in the making. They were obviously proud of their lawmakers.

Seven days later, on the 17^th, in New Zealand, a bill for the legalization of same-sex marriages was passed by the House of Representatives there. The rapture in Uruguay was eclipsed by the New Zealanders who greeted this move ecstatically as teeming spectators in the gallery of the House of Representatives burst into spontaneous singing. Some lawmakers could not but join in their historic rendition of the traditional love song, Pokarekare Ana.  

Fast forward…six days later, it was the turn of France. After a tense debate, the legislature there voted to legalize same-sex marriages, with every right that heterosexual marriages enjoy, including the right to adopt children. Unlike Uruguay and New Zealand, the turf was visibly divided here. There were sizeable rhapsodic ‘jubilants’ as well as evidently displeased protesters.

As of now, there are fourteen nations that have taken this step, but their ranks are sure to swell as similar bills are currently in various stages of the journey to becoming law (or not) in Andorra, Colombia, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Nepal, Ireland, Taiwan and the UK. When you add to this the fact that there are several states and provinces where gay marriages are legal within countries that are not part of the fourteen.(i.e parts of the U.S, Brazil and Mexico), you will  agree that politically speaking, celebrations are in order for gays and gay rights proponents.

That’s how it stands politically, but how does it stand spiritually? Of course I always speak primarily from a Christian standpoint. But given the divided opinions amongst Christian clerics and denominations, many wonder what really is the Christian standpoint? Now, folks, as far as I know, there is only one Christian standpoint. However, I realize that the whole confusion has risen because there are two kinds of people who go by the label ‘Christian’.

Two Kinds of Christians

There obviously are two kinds of Christians. The first kind are those whose passports and other documents refer to them as Christians, they may or may not attend church. For these ones the Bible is just an ancient book with little or no answers for today’s complexities. And Jesus Christ is simply a fabulous super hero they grew up hearing about. No different from Clark Kent and Batman. When they get spiritual, it is often by getting involved with New Age and other all-inclusive pseudo-Christian groups and societies that have nothing to do with Christ essentially.

Then there is the other kind of Christian who believes and understands that the foundation of the Christian movement is the person of Jesus Christ. Above anything, this kind of Christian yearns for and nurtures a living relationship with Christ. This kind of Christian believes that all of the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and submits his or her life to its tenets and dictates. They attend church regularly. And lest I forget, this kind of Christian believes this is the only true kind of Christianity.

So what is the Christian Standpoint on Homosexuality?

Christians in the first group described above (who happen to be in the majority) are often of the opinion that homosexual relationships are spiritually harmless. Clerics and those who know the Bible among them have their theological arguments against the portions of the Bible that condemn homosexuality. So such Christians have told many and will readily tell you that homosexuality is not wrong in the sight of the Christian God.

On the other hand, the second group of Christians who believe in the supremacy of Scripture will refer you to portions like 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Romans 1:26-27 and Leviticus 18:22 where God’s displeasure with homosexuality is expressly stated.

This second group of Christians will tell you that true Christianity and homosexuality can’t mix. They will tell you that this is the only Christian standpoint.

This is where I belong. I personally believe that Christ, Christianity and homosexuality do not mix.

Does that make us homophobes?

If homophobia is a strong dislike and fear of homosexual people as the Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary defines it, then I don’t see why any Christian would be homophobic. Even Jesus himself was not homophobic. Imitating Christ, we learn to separate the act from the one who acts. So we can love people without having to love all they do.

 I certainly do not detest or avoid anyone just because they are gay or lesbian, but that should not also deter me from saying the truth as I know it, about homosexuality. As a matter of fact, having attended an all-boys secondary school, I have reason to believe that I could have ended up gay myself…but I’m not. And I’m not a gay hater.

Final Words    

There are many gay and lesbian people who had to quit trying to be Christians because they sincerely understood that Christianity and homosexuality do not mix. Whilst I am not excited at their exit, I consider their action honest and noble. It’s a lot better than trying to re-interpret scripture in a bid to justify ones sexual orientation, or wouldn’t you agree?

Recapping, let me say that according to the Christian Bible, God is averse to homosexuality, and for this reason homosexuality and Christianity are not compatible, and this is the Christian standpoint. of now, there are fourteen nations that have taken this step, but their ranks are sure to swell as similar bills are currently in various stages of the journey to becoming law (or not) in Andorra, Colombia, Germany, Finland, Luxembourg, Nepal, Ireland, Taiwan and the UK. When you add to this the fact that there are several states and provinces where gay marriages are legal within countries that are not part of the fourteen.(i.e parts of the U.S, Brazil and Mexico), you will  agree that politically speaking, celebrations are in order for gays and gay rights proponents.

That’s how it stands politically, but how does it stand spiritually? Of course I always speak primarily from a Christian standpoint. But given the divided opinions amongst Christian clerics and denominations, many wonder what really is the Christian standpoint? Now, folks, as far as I know, there is only one Christian standpoint. However, I realize that the whole confusion has risen because there are two kinds of people who go by the label ‘Christian’.

Two Kinds of Christians

There obviously are two kinds of Christians. The first kind are those whose passports and other documents refer to them as Christians, they may or may not attend church. For these ones the Bible is just an ancient book with little or no answers for today’s complexities. And Jesus Christ is simply a fabulous super hero they grew up hearing about. No different from Clark Kent and Batman. When they get spiritual, it is often by getting involved with New Age and other all-inclusive pseudo-Christian groups and societies that have nothing to do with Christ essentially.

Then there is the other kind of Christian who believes and understands that the foundation of the Christian movement is the person of Jesus Christ. Above anything, this kind of Christian yearns for and nurtures a living relationship with Christ. This kind of Christian believes that all of the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and submits his or her life to its tenets and dictates. They attend church regularly. And lest I forget, this kind of Christian believes this is the only true kind of Christianity.

So what is the Christian Standpoint on Homosexuality?

Christians in the first group described above (who happen to be in the majority) are often of the opinion that homosexual relationships are spiritually harmless. Clerics and those who know the Bible among them have their theological arguments against the portions of the Bible that condemn homosexuality. So such Christians have told many and will readily tell you that homosexuality is not wrong in the sight of the Christian God.

On the other hand, the second group of Christians who believe in the supremacy of Scripture will refer you to portions like 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Romans 1:26-27 and Leviticus 18:22 where God’s displeasure with homosexuality is expressly stated.

This second group of Christians will tell you that true Christianity and homosexuality can’t mix. They will tell you that this is the only Christian standpoint.

This is where I belong. I personally believe that Christ, Christianity and homosexuality do not mix.

Does that make us homophobes?

If homophobia is a strong dislike and fear of homosexual people as the Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary defines it, then I don’t see why any Christian would be homophobic. Even Jesus himself was not homophobic. Imitating Christ, we learn to separate the act from the one who acts. So we can love people without having to love all they do.

I certainly do not detest or avoid anyone just because they are gay or lesbian, but that should not also deter me from saying the truth as I know it, about homosexuality. As a matter of fact, having attended an all-boys secondary school, I have reason to believe that I could have ended up gay myself…but I’m not. And I’m not a gay hater.

Final Words    

There are many gay and lesbian people who had to quit trying to be Christians because they sincerely understood that Christianity and homosexuality do not mix. Whilst I am not excited at their exit, I consider their action honest and noble. It’s a lot better than trying to re-interpret scripture in a bid to justify ones sexual orientation, or wouldn’t you agree?

Recapping, let me say that according to the Christian Bible, God is averse to homosexuality, and for this reason homosexuality and Christianity are not compatible, and this is the Christian standpoint.