A common ploy of the atheist is to insist that the burden of
proof is on the Christian to prove that God exists. This conveniently removes
any burden from the atheist to prove his claims. However, you can respond:
·
We should both should be obliged to demonstrate
that our theory is better than the theory of the opponent.
However, the atheist usually insists that he doesn’t have a
worldview, and therefore, he has nothing to defend. Instead, he will insist
that atheism is simply a claim that there is no evidence for God and demands that
you prove otherwise. Relieved of any obligation to defend his beliefs, the
atheist can comfortably recline and shoot his arrows at the Christian. His job
then becomes quite easy. Whatever evidence or reasons you provide, he can simply
respond, “Prove it, prove it, prove it.” If instead you claim that this is my
personal experience, the militant atheist you respond, “Prove that you haven’t
deluded yourself.”
Soon, it should become obvious that there are no proofs that
are absolute and certainly none which will satisfy the militant atheist, who is
not looking for truth but for victory over his opponent.
To illustrate this point, I sometimes respond:
·
I would be glad to give you any one of several
weighty theistic proofs, but first you need to prove to me that you exist,
since it is a waste of my time to prove God exists to a non-entity.
He will now realize that this conversation will not turn out
as comfortably as he once supposed. This is because he cannot even convincingly
prove that he exists! Whatever evidence he offers, you can simply respond, “Perhaps
I’m just imagining you,” or “You might simply be part of a great delusion.”
This exchange should convey the point that if the atheist cannot
absolutely prove that he exists, he has not right to demand that you prove that
God exists to his satisfaction.
Of course, I wouldn’t use this tactic against someone who is
genuinely interested in an honest exchange. However, if the atheist claims that
he doesn’t have a worldview, we can be sure that he is either not honest or
aware. We all have our beliefs and values, whether true or not. Generally, the
atheist believes:
·
The material world came about through natural
forces.
·
Evolution accounts for the origin of species.
·
Our lives will end abruptly.
·
Life is about enjoying and fulfilling ourselves.
·
The only meaning is the meaning we give life.
·
The only morality is what we create or agree on.
If they deny that they have any worldview or that we have no
right to speak for them, it is probably better for us to wipe the dust off our
feet, move on, and to cast our pearls before those who might value them.
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