Re: [asa] Feedback wanted (resurrection)

Quoting David Opderbeck <dopderbeck@gmail.com>:

> Bernie said: But as an atheist, can you only do that as long as you
> put the idea out of
> > your head that everything is futile? I think so.
>
> I respond: to play devil's advocate here, I think a fair response
> from an atheist is,"no, I don't think it's 'futile' -- I think
> enjoyment is a good end in itself, period. If you think otherwise,
> that's fine, I'll just shrug my shoulders and enjoy the evening."
>
> Bernie said: I guess that depends on your theology. Personally, my
> theology says "I know the way, but I don't know what happens to all
> the others."
>
> I respond: again, to play devil's advocate here, I think a fair
> response from an atheist is, "it's nice that you can pick and choose
> like that, but that isn't really Christianity anymore, is it? What
> you have is a private belief about yourself that you find comforting;
> good for you, but why should I care about your private belief?"
>

Well, one reason the atheist might want to care is if one of the Christian's
private beliefs actually does reflect an objective reality --particularly if
that reality involves judgment. If there really is a rope hanging down to a
pit, and those left in the pit are going to experience eternal regrets if they
refuse rescue, then I (if I was an atheist) would want to know that. I don't
think it a bad analogy. Sort of like one I've used for myself. If I'm in a
burning house and a man is beckoning me towards a door that he says leads me to
safety, I probably won't be hesitating and arguing with him about how arrogant
he must be to think his way out is the only way, and that surely I can find my
own way out some other way. And what about other people in other rooms of the
house? None of this argument would take place, although I may want to yell the
good news to any others I could reach that there is a way out offered.

Not a perfect analogy, I know, but I think it illustrate the urgency with which
we could/should be pursuing Christ.

--Merv

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Received on Tue May 6 18:37:18 2008