These advertisements, sponsored by Richard Dawkins and a Humanist and an Atheist organization, have begun to appear on buses in Canadian cities. They first showed up in Toronto a few months ago, and slowly they’ve been working their way down the food chain. They’re appearing in Calgary and Edmonton now, and there’s really no telling how low they will go. I find them very interesting, and I’m happy to see our Humanist and Atheist friends returning to the God discussion after several years of relative silence. “You’ve been missed, at least by some of us. And we’re glad to see you’ve brought Professor Dawkins along... Oh, he brought you? Well, however it happened, glad you’re back.”
The first of several things I’ve found interesting about all this is the nastiness these ads have stirred up among many who call themselves Christians. I would remind everyone of Jesus’ teaching that you judge a tree by its fruit. Seems to me real Christians would be a little slower to anger having seen, in the crucifixion, what pissed off religious types are capable of. If you’re going to be nasty, fine, but please don’t confuse the issue by pretending to be following Jesus.
When Jesus met someone like the woman at the well (John 4), who was of a different faith, he entered into conversation. When he came upon someone like Zacchaeus (Luke 19), who was confused in his faith, he invited himself over for lunch. And when approached by someone like the Roman centurion (Matthew 8 and Luke 7), who perhaps had no faith at all, he offered healing. The only ones who made him angry were the angry religious folks like the Pharisees who fought with anyone who disagreed with them.
The second thing I find interesting is that this is the first time I’ve ever seen an ad that’s literally for nothing. Where are the “PROBABLY NO SANTA CLAUS!” Christmas ads, or the “BIG FEET BUT PROBABLY NO BIGFOOT!” shoe store ads, or the “NO LITTLE GREEN MEN!” ads for Saint Patrick’s Day? People who don’t believe in things usually just let it go at that. What is this need to advertise?
The third thing I find interesting may well be the answer to the second thing; the apparent assumption that people who think there might be a God are worried about it. How would you respond to someone who said, “When I realized that my father was probably dead I could finally stop worrying and enjoy my life.”? I know what my response would be. “What the hell kind of father did you have!?” And I suspect, if they described their father to me, I would understand why his probable demise was such a relief.
I’ve known of fathers like that, but I never had one. And those whose experience of fatherhood is that bad, don’t need rejection from us who have been more fortunate. Not all fathers are like my father. I’m sure there are some you’re better off without. And I suppose that goes for Gods too. I’ve never had a God I wanted to be rid of, but I’ve heard about them. And I suspect that most of the people who long to be rid of God are talking about the sort of God I’d want to be rid of too.
The fourth thing I find interesting is this benign view of probability. “Just point at anything and pull the trigger. It’s probably not loaded.” “Just say anything that pops into your head. The mic’s probably not on.” “You’re probably not too drunk to drive. Enjoy the trip home.”
If I believed about God what Dr. Dawkins and these Atheists and Humanists seem believe, I don’t think I’d be able to really stop worrying till I was certain he was out of the way. The God I believe in, however, loves us, including Dr. Dawkins and the Atheists and Humanists, and wants life in abundance for everyone. When I get wondering if it’s possible that he doesn’t really exist, that’s when it feel like I’m worrying. A little prayer on these occasions, usually helps.
But, one last thing. There are people in the world, notorious people like Clifford Olson , Idi Amin , Bernardo and Homolka, who have every reason to worry that the kind of God I believe in really exists. Most people, of course, are not like this, but still there are more of these folks than we might like to believe, and they have more to worry about than they might like to imagine. The only word of comfort I have for them is that, by the grace of God, they can be changed. But, barring that, I would suggest they take no comfort in God’s non-existence until they know for sure.
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