I Don't Believe in Atheism

Just Thought I’d Mention

C G Herndon

I don’t believe in atheism.

This isn’t a religious rant.  I’m not trying to convert anyone.  And I’m not concerned about your eternal soul.  Your decisions are your decisions.  That said, I may throw out a few personal opinions here; you’re invited to agree with, disregard or ignore them.  You won’t hurt my feelings.

If you’re a church goer, good for you.  If you’re not, good enough.  Do I go to church?  Upon occasion.  The last time I attended I was received like the Prodigal Son, so maybe not all that often.  I enjoy sleeping in, watching CBS Sunday morning and sipping coffee on the second day of the weekend.  I don’t feel guilty about it and still live a blessed life.

Before I go into why I don’t believe in atheism (the belief there is no higher being, conciseness or spirit), I do respect agnosticism (no belief at all, the basic “I don’t know” approach).  I’m not agnostic, but the belief has merit.

Ironically, my reasoning for the disavowing of atheism is based on my faith in science.  An overriding theme in science is, you can prove many things but you can’t disprove anything.  Scientific options for the existence of a higher being are ‘yes’ and ‘maybe’; ‘no’ isn’t available.

Does Bigfoot exist? I haven’t seen any direct evidence but there’s always that chance.  Does Chupacabra exist?  Not sure, but if he does I think he might be hanging out with Bigfoot.

A giant 6 feet long turtle (Cu Rua) in two meter deep, thirty acre, Vietnamese, Hoan Kiem Lake, had been a creature of myth since he supposedly stole the emperor’s sword in the fifteenth century.  In 1998 the turtle was filmed and a couple of years ago, physically captured. 

Nordic legend told of a Colossal Squid, but until 2003 there was no physical evidence, now we have actual specimens to examine.   We see the occasional physical myth proven true.  And certainly, proving the existence of a physical being is easier than a spiritual being.

I don’t wish to insult, or even convert atheists (if there is a heaven and they don’t go…more room for me) but it’s presumptuous to discredit the spiritual experiences of millions because a person hasn’t had one themselves.  I have only hearsay evidence of the female orgasm, but I’m not willing to say it doesn’t exist.  I can’t say unequivocally that Al Gore used environmental issues to remain socially relevant, but his home uses more energy in a month than mine does in a year.  I also can’t say Rush Limbaugh is more interested in ratings than honest, comprehensive reporting…well…

My point is this, if you haven’t walked a mile in someone’s Birkenstocks, have your opinions but be humble enough to realize you could be wrong.  Those who ‘believe’ may have a lifetime of experience backing that faith.  Those that don’t ‘believe’ may as well, but lack of evidence doesn’t scientifically exclude in the same way that evidence includes.  Regardless, because I am a scientist at heart (and in training), I don’t believe in atheism.