Atheism On The Rise

Today's New York Times  has an article entitled "More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops" about the growing number of people in the U. S. who are willing to admit that they are atheists.  Based on a recent poll, the ranks of atheists are growing. The American Religious Identification Survey, a major study released last month, found that those who claimed “no religion” were the only demographic group that grew in all 50 states in the last 18 years.

Before we go any farther, let me state, for the record I Am Not An Atheist.  I'm not even an agnostic.  Not, as Seinfeld would say, that there's anything wrong with that.   I just have no question that there's a higher power out there.   I can't look at a mountain range or ocean, or consider photosynthesis without uttering a silent "thank you" to God for making this great wonderful world. 

But back to that article.  Rather than the rising numbers of agnostics and atheists coming out of the closet, what caught my attention  were comments from some young non-believers:

Andrew Morency, who attended a Christian high school, said that when he got to college and studied evolutionary biology he decided that “creationists lie.”

Josh Streetman, said he knew the Bible too well to be sure that Scripture is true. Like Mr. Streetman, many of the other students at the meeting were highly literate in the Bible and religious history.

Like these folks, the longer I've studied the Bible, the more discrepancies I've found that I can't reconcile.  The more I've learned about the way the Bible came to be and the more I've learned about the ancient documents that are the basis of the Bible, the more I doubt everything that I know. 

Since we've just recently celebrated Easter, let's consider that the Bible contains three different accounts of the Resurrection of Christ (if you'd like to check it out,  Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-7, Luke 24:1-9 and John 20:1-18).    Bart Ehrman, Biblical scholar and former Evangelical turned agnostic, outlines the discrepancies in his latest book,  Jesus, Interrupted:

Who actually went to the tomb? Was it Mary alone (John 20:1)? Mary and another Mary (Matthew 28:1)? Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (Mark 16:1)? Or women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem—possibly Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and “other women” (Luke 24:1; see 23:55)?

Had the stone already been rolled away from the tomb (as in Mark 16:4) or was it rolled away by an angel while the women were there (Matthew 28:2)?

Whom or what did they see there? An angel (Matthew 28:5)? A young man (Mark 16:5)? Two men (Luke 24:4)? Or nothing and no one (John)?

And what were they told? To tell the disciples to “go to Galilee,” where Jesus will meet them (Mark 16:7)? Or to remember what Jesus had told them “while he was in Galilee,” that he had to die and rise again (Luke 24:7)?

Then, do the women tell the disciples what they saw and heard (Matthew 28:8), or do they not tell anyone (Mark 16:8)? If they tell someone, whom do they tell? The eleven disciples (Matthew 28:8)? The eleven disciples and other people (Luke 24:8)? Simon Peter and another unnamed disciple (John 20:2)?

What do the disciples do in response? Do they have no response because Jesus himself immediately appears to them (Matthew 20:9)? Do they not believe the women because it seems to be “an idle tale” (Luke 24:11)? Or do they go to the tomb to see for themselves (John 20:3)?

He continues, but I think that you get the point.    The Four Gospels have irreconcilable differences about this event, the event central to the entire Christian faith, but we're to believe without question that it actually happened.  It's little wonder that so many (me) who were raised to believe in an Inspired Word of God find it hard to maintain the faith after rigorous Bible study. 

I just wish my grandfather were around so I can ask him how he did it.  I suspect his answer would involve the Holy Spirit and truly being born again..... but that's material for another post at another time.

Comments

[Josh Streetman]

Hey,
It encourages me to read your response to the article as a former evangelical Christian. It takes a lot of courage to critically analyze something so pivotal in your life. As for me, my process of deconversion was by far the most painful experience of my life, as well as being the most intellectually frustrating. One thing I still wish to maintain is a dialogue between people of faith and the non-believing community. We recently had four debates between Columbia International University students (my former evangelical bible college, where I was studying bib. languages and bible) and members of the pastafarians mentioned in the article) Two of which will be posted on youtube pretty soon. It would be nice to have some correspondence about the biblical text. I am planning on starting a web page or blog soon about my views on the bible and biblical studies in general, particularly the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament (this is what I want to get a Ph.D in eventually).

joshstr@hotmail.com

[Lisa K]

Have you ever read Bart Ehrtman? He's a former fundamentalist who has made a career out of studying the Bible from an historical/critical perspective, and he no loner believes in Bible inerrancy either (or God, for that matter).

[Melissa]

Hey Lisa-
I have read all of his books, and the quote in the post is from his latest book.

[Lisa K.]

Oh, d'oh. I just skimmed right past where you said that! I've read all his stuff, too, except Jesus Interrupted, which I have on the summer list.

[Melissa]

Definitely start with Jesus, Interrupted followed by Misquoting Jesus. Then move on to the rest.

[Jairo Mejia]

It has been common among religious believers to look with misgiving at atheists and agnostics, and to think that they are mistaken; however, in many instances the opposite is the truth; some religious beliefs are not just baseless, but obsolete and irrelevant. It is unbelievable how myths and a religious fantasy have influenced human minds with more strength than reality!

Most people don’t dare to confront their religious doubts; they are afraid of abandoning the “certainty” of their convictions, and opt for the status quo. The “God” of main line traditions simply does not exist. I accepted the challenge of finding the One who may be recognized even by agnostics and atheists, and came to the conclusion that God isn’t other than the Existence itself; and the Existence is, “I am,” the total existence, “All-That-Is.”

There is a book most probably not written for you, but perhaps useful for some of your religious friends who still think that you are wrong and they are right: “Christianity Reformed From ist Roots.” It might help them to be relieved of the illusion, as I did myself. Distinguished philosophers and thinkers might give you an idea of this book—perhaps a generation ahead of time for most believers—(links below); or you might look at excerpts at Amazon.com.

Jairo Mejia, M. Psych., Santa Clara University
Episcopal Priest, Retired
Carmel Valley, California

http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Grudzen.htm
http://www.mbay.net/~jmejia/Churcher.htm

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