“The Top 10 Reasons I Don’t Believe in God” by Greta Christina. That title jumped out at me this morning. Up at 4:00, I sit on the back porch with coffee, scan the news, and then do my devotion. According to Ms. Christina, I’m overlooking some facts.
“1. The consistent replacement of supernatural explanations of the world with natural ones. 4. The increasing diminishment of God. As our understanding of the physical world has increased – and as our ability to test theories and claims has improved – the domain of God’s miracles and interventions, or other supposed supernatural phenomena, has consistently shrunk. 6. The physical causes of everything we think of as the soul. 7. The complete failure of any sort of supernatural phenomenon to stand up to rigorous testing. 10. The complete lack of solid evidence for God’s existence.”
These criteria are obviously based upon mankind’s ability to understand existence rationally. That’s OK. Theologians call it the “ministerial use of reason,” reason helping us understand how things are. Going to church doesn’t heal cancer, usually, or explain why Jupiter has a red spot. Ms. Christina, however, reaches her opinion by the “magisterial use of reason,” enthroning our collective knowledge as judge and jury of all things, at least until new discoveries come along. But Christian faith perceives existence differently than a rational observation of religion. Whatever natural processes God used, “You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).
I wouldn’t get into an argument with Ms. Christina, it wouldn’t be productive. If we were visiting over coffee, or later in the day chatting over “Lutheran lemonade,” I’d share three things that dominate my devotions and faith. First, God to me is not an object to be investigated but is a mystery. Second, that people seek to know God or disprove God tells me something personal is going on between little us and mysterious God. Third, acknowledging the incomprehensibility of the Creator, God claims my devotion in Jesus Christ. None of Ms. Christina’s 10 reasons deal with human injustice and suffering, which is the core of the Christian Good News. “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).
You can find the article at “Raw Story.” And, for whatever it’s worth, the name “Christina” means “follower of Christ.” Time will tell.