WHAT WE BELIEVE DETERMINES WHO WE ARE

 

The way we believe will impact our entire lives. Today, it is not uncommon to regard humans as just another animal. If we believe this way, we will eventually treat our fellow humans just like another animal, to be eaten, thrown into a cage, or even exterminated.

 

A placard reading, “SAVE THE PLANET, KILL YOURSELF,” was being paraded by intelligent looking university students. If suicide is the right thing to do, then too is murder.

 

In “The Death of Humanity,” historian Richard Weikart relates an incident from 2006, which reflects humanity’s alienation from themselves:

 

·       A biologist and professor at a major research university…received a prestigious prize for being an outstanding scientist. While accepting the award, he gave a shocking speech in which he suggested it would be beneficial if 90 percent of the world’s human population was wiped out by ebola. Indeed, he told the audience he hoped this would occur. He also suggested that humans were no better than bacteria. When he completed his lecture, he received a standing ovation.

 

This speech was presented before the Texas Academy of Science. The standing ovation indicated that this educated audience agreed.

 

It is not surprising that these beliefs percolate into the minds of students and the public, even if expressed in less sophisticated ways:

 

·       …serial killer and cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer [was]arrested in 1991 for brutal sex crimes. He explained in a TV interview how his actions didn’t occur randomly, but were influenced by his worldview. He had always believed that “the theory of evolution is truth, that we all just came from the slime, and when we died . . . that was it, there was nothing—so the whole theory cheapens life.” With this vision, he saw no reason not to kill and eat other men. As he confessed, “If a person doesn’t think there is a God to be accountable to, then what’s the point in trying to modify your behavior to keep it in acceptable ranges?” (Weikart)

 

Eric Harris was the co-conspirator behind the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. Just prior to this, he had been wearing a tee-shirt reading “Natural Selection.” In his diary, he had written:

 

·       “I say, ‘KILL MANKIND’ no one should survive,” he also remarked, “theres no such thing as True Good or True Evil, its all relative to the observer. its just all nature, chemistry, and math. deal with it.” Earlier he had written, “just because your mommy and daddy told you blood and violence is bad, you think its a law of nature? wrong, only science and math are true, everything, and I mean everything else is man made.” (Weikart)

 

While we might not hear evolutionary biologists express themselves in this manner, their worldview leaves them defenseless against such sentiments. According to evolution, this is a meaningless and purposeless world. While the evolutionist might value his neighbors and friends, the only justification he can give for this is personal, no more scientific or substantial than Dahmer’s preference of ridding the world of a few humans, a greater liability upon the environment than maggots.

 

Pekka-Eric Auvinen had nicknamed himself “Natural Selector.” His behavior fell in line with his beliefs. He murdered eight students at a high school in Finland in 2007. He explained:

 

·       Humans are just a species among other animals and world does not exist only for humans. Death and killing is not a tragedy, it happens in nature all the time between all species. Not all human lives are important or worth saving. Only superior (intelligent, self-aware, strong-minded) individuals should survive while inferior (stupid, retarded, weak-minded masses) should perish.

 

Most evolutionists will not regard themselves as “Natural Selectors” and then act upon it. However, the National Socialists, believing that they were creating the master race, did act upon their beliefs, demonstrating the close relationship between what we believe and do.

 

Although humans come equipped with an endowment of compassion, this resource can be easily overruled by our beliefs and experiences. While few will become murderers, lacking an objective meaning and purpose for their lives, they will succumb to temptations and the pressures. They have no resources to resist, once compassion erodes. “Enlightened” pragmatism can just as easily result in cheating and lying as it can in virtue, as history has long testified. Why not cheat and lie for your department head if this will buy you tenure and security for your family. You might argue, “I have my principles. I wouldn’t lie” But without a principled universe, there is no basis for objective principles, just personal preferences. These might enable you to feel better about yourself, but tenure will make you feel even better!

 

Weikart cites the case of the software engineer and musician Gil Dodgen, who was raised by an atheistic professor of chemistry. Dodgen revealed that, from his youth, “[I] believed that I was just a complex piece of biochemistry that came about by chance.” As a result, he had contemplated suicide for the next 36 years. Weikart relates that:

 ·       All this changed for him in 1994 when at age forty-three he converted to Christ. From that time forward he was filled with joy, recognizing that he was created for a purpose and his life had meaning. Never since that time has he contemplated suicide.

 I am convinced that Christ is not only our personal Savior but also the Savior of our deteriorating society. Knowing the destruction that would soon overtake Jerusalem, Jesus looked down upon this blind city and prayed:

 ·       “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.” (Matthew 23:37–38)

 Without Him, we too face desolation.