A Conversation with an Atheist

There are a few taboo subjects that one supposedly should not discuss in social meetings: politics, religion, and sex. At my age, this senior person and author breaks all those alleged rules. After all, what topics are more interesting? The weather? The stock market? Climate Change? Nature? As a follower of Christ’s actual teachings, as given to the apostles, I have met very few self-proclaimed atheists in my eight decades of life.

While having tests performed on my head and feet by a neuropathy technician, this patient had to be mostly still and quiet (which is not easy for me), while she performed the tests. However, before we got into the “quiet” part of the test, we somehow got into a conversation about ultimate aims and objectives in life, where she declared, “I am a fervent Atheist!”

“As a woman who studies the sciences, how did she not see the works of an Intelligent Creator in this wonderful universe and life?” I asked. ?

“You mean a ‘god’ and ‘religions’,” she asked.

“Well let’s talk about the ‘Creator,’ of all that is good, not about religions, at the beginning of our discussion,” was my reply. “Don’t you see the wonder of the universe and life?”

“Yes of course I do,” she said. “I’m a good person, you know, without any need for belief in god or religion,” she answered.

“Well, let us assume we are both ‘good persons’ but there is lots of good and evil in this world as well, do you agree?”

“Yes of course, but I don’t have to accept any god or follow some religion because there is ‘good and bad’ in the world. Don’t you accept Darwin’s evolution theory?”

“Darwin’s ‘micro-evolution’ theory is proven true, such a microbes and viruses mutating, but not ‘macro-evolution,’ where apes evolved into humans or dauphins became dogs.” I answered. “You told me that you have two children. Did you know that a single fertilized woman’s egg contains 100% of the human genome?”

“Yes, that is now a proven biological fact (reported about five years ago). But what does that have to do with a god or religions?” she asked.

“Well, how did it all start? Did you know that scientists have tried many times to produce life in a test tube by mixing different chemicals, and have failed to produce live bacteria or even a single worm? Do you believe in the ‘Big Bang’ theory?”

“Yes, I believe in Big Bang theory and heard about attempts at creating life in a test tube. Again, what does this have to do with god and religions?”

“How did it all start? Where there is a glorious creation, a Glorious Creator must exist who began the creation process followed by countless evolutionary changes. What say you?”

“Then why didn’t this ‘glorious and brilliant god’ create humans who would always love and worship him and do what is good in the world?”

“Because God created us in His image of intelligence, creativity, and free will. He did not create ‘robots’ who would always love and obey Him. Although our intelligence is limited and evolving, He gave us ‘free will’ to make our ‘choices in life,’ and to accept His love and will, or not to trust in the Creator. That is a powerful quality of humanity. No animals have this special attribute and the ability to choose good or evil. Animals are born with superior senses and powerful instincts, but they do not possess reasoning power and free will of human beings,” I answered.

“Then why did ‘your God’ create so much evil?” she inquired.

My reply: “God did not create evil! All that He created, in the beginning of time in the universe was ‘very good.’ Man and woman created evil by their free will. They freely decided to follow the Ten Commandments, or go against Him, and not accept His Mercy and Love for them. Also, God did not will faiths and religions such as Islam, Hinduism,’ Buddhism, or Atheism. In His infinite mercy and love for humanity, God the Father sent His Only Beloved Son, Jesus Christ (Who Is both divine and human), the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, to save ALL humanity, and show His endless mercy and love for us.

“Then why do we have so many faiths and religions?” She asked.

“Christ established only one faith and religion: Christianity, which is based on Christ’s gospels, and appointed apostles as leaders of His One, Holy, Universal and Apostelic Church. Man, by his fallacious “superior thinking,” created these groundless and false pagan, theistic and monotheistic religions.”

Then I asked her a few key questions: “How can you believe in ‘nothingness’? Do you have any purpose for yourself and your children in this temporary life on planet earth? Do you think that it all is just ‘matter and energy’ and ultimately ends in chaos and disorder?”

Her final answers, tragically, were: “Life has no ultimate purpose at all. God does not exist! All religions are worthless fantasies!”

Some prominent Christian leaders (you know who they are), have lately preached that we should not evangelize anyone, and they falsely claim that God willed multiple faiths and religions. Such anti-gospel and non-biblical teaching is clearly manifest heresy. All Christians should help their brothers, sisters and neighbors find the truth!

When I see the Neurologist next month, who will finally determine if my brain is still functioning, I will give the atheist technician a copy of my updated book, which if she reads it, with the new title: “Truth & Consequences,” perhaps it might answer questions that are even more vital and interesting. Publication is Nov. 25 2022 on Amazon.

See www.fertigbooks.com, and my new YouTube link: https://youtu.be/KQpqzFQpMSs