This is my fourth post in a series called “Letters For Christian Armour”.

Dear Children,

Something I want you to be prepared for in life is the frequent implication or assertion by atheists that Christianity is less intelligent than atheism.

To understand why this notion is so common, consider the respective starting positions for a Christian and an atheist. (Note that this is not to debate who is right, but rather to explain why one position is not more intelligent than another.)

Here are some of the difficulties a Christian must grapple with:

A God who is invisible and “silent”.

A Bible that is filled with ancient references we often don’t understand, supernatural claims that we don’t continue to experience today, apparent contradictions, incomplete answers to some of life’s biggest questions, concepts that seem outrageous to “modern” minds (e.g., hell), and descriptions of God that seem inconsistent on the surface (e.g., loving versus wrathful).

No obvious, immediate correlation between prayers and outcomes of prayers.

A world filled with evil and pain that feels impossible to reconcile with the existence of a supremely good Being.

Here is what an atheist must grapple with:

How was the universe and everything in it created?

The end.

It’s a lot easier to be an atheist, isn’t it? When you believe that there is nothing beyond this existence, you can simply look at all we don’t understand and credit it to fortunate or unfortunate randomness. Sure, you wouldn’t have answers to the big questions of how or why the world started in the first place, whether there is any purpose to our existence, or whether we’re ultimately accountable for our actions, but there’s no need to consider any of these issues if we’re simply the random product of time and chance, as atheists believe.

Given these respective positions, the atheist’s logic often goes something like this:

1. Anyone who thinks through the gaps, inconsistencies and difficulties of Christianity would conclude that it’s logically improbable or impossible as truth and would stop believing.

2. Given number 1, if you are a Christian, you just haven’t thought through and fully considered your beliefs as much as those who have rejected them.

3. Given number 2, that means you are taking a less intelligent position than an atheist.

Let’s address each of these points.

1. Anyone who thinks through the gaps, inconsistencies and difficulties with Christianity would conclude that it’s logically improbable or impossible as truth and would stop believing.

The premise of this conclusion is that knowledge gaps, (apparent) inconsistencies, and general difficulties in comprehension automatically render something false.

Does the nature of truth mean it should or must be the easiest concept amongst its alternatives to understand? Or is truth independent of how easy it is to understand?

Does the nature of truth require that we have all the desired pieces of information to evaluate it? Or is truth independent of the pieces of information we want?

Does the nature of truth mean that the pieces of information we do have must make sense to our human minds? Or is truth independent of what makes the most “sense” to us?

Outside the discussion of theological matters, one would be hard pressed to argue that truth is dependent on these requirements. Yet, these assumptions underlie the atheist’s position when it comes to the claim that Christianity is unintelligent. This is a logical inconsistency.

2. Given number 1, if you are a Christian, you just haven’t thought through and fully considered your beliefs as much as those who have rejected them.

To be sure, there are many Christians who simply believe because it’s what they were taught when they grew up. They haven’t studied the Bible significantly or considered some of the most difficult theological questions.

That said, there are likewise many atheists who haven’t fully thought through their lack of beliefs. Just as many Christians grew up in Christian homes and never questioned, many atheists grew up in atheist homes and never questioned. Many atheists know nothing about the Bible, or have totally incorrect ideas of what the Bible is and says. They just dismiss the notion of God and don’t care to investigate the Bible and its claims. This is just as uninformed as the Christian who hasn’t thought through his or her beliefs.

I read the Bible and study faith matters extensively. I am well versed in the history, cultural context and archaeology of the Bible, the many “contradictions” that atheists point to (which often times are not actual contradictions, just a lack of understanding context on their part), different theological stances based on interpretations of key matters, what major disagreements there are amongst Biblical scholars and why they exist, and rationales for difficulties in the Christian faith, such as the problem of evil, issues with the book of Genesis and the existence of hell.

I am still a Christian.

It’s highly presumptuous for anyone to suggest that a disagreement on matters of faith means that someone hasn’t thought through their belief system.

3. Given number 2, that means you are taking a less intelligent position than an atheist.

For Christians who have extensively “thought through” their belief system and still believe, the argument ended with number 2. But take for one moment the example of a person who grew up in the Christian faith, believes strongly in their heart, and does not pursue all the more “intellectual” questions extensively.

Does that really mean this person is taking a less intelligent position than an atheist – any atheist, including those who may have considered their beliefs just as little?

Of course not. It is fair to say that there are people of all belief systems who have thought through the implications of their beliefs less than others; however, the extent to which a person feels compelled to pursue an intellectual understanding of religious matters is not an indication of their intelligence or the intellectual credibility of the belief system itself. It is only an indication of that person’s desire for a more comprehensive understanding of their beliefs.

Both Christians and atheists are taking a position on matters that no one knows for certain. There is absolutely no rationale for stating that one position is simply less “intelligent” than the other.

So, my dear children, I leave you with this. Please don’t ever believe the faulty premise that believing in Jesus is less intelligent than believing that we are the product strictly of time and chance. Stand strong in your faith, but never just because that’s how I raised you. Truth can always stand up to questions. When you have questions, look for answers. Pursue truth relentlessly. Truth may not always be obvious, but it’s certainly not hidden. God has provided us with everything He knew we needed to know.

Love,

Mommy