Life has hardships, whether they are on small scale or grand one, everyone experiences trials or tribulations of some sort or another. From observation and experience, I think it is safe to say that humanity is flawed. This world has gone wrong. From this, when determining theism or atheism (by atheism I mean this definition: Atheism, from the Greek word (atheos), literally means "without gods," referring to those who rejected the existence of the Greek pantheon. In modern context, atheism can represent several different viewpoints, but is most commonly conceived of as a lack of belief in gods), a very tough question is asked, and this is a question that I myself have asked in doubting the existence of the Lord: If a good God made the world, then why has it fallen? Isn't it much simpler to conclude that the world was not made by an intelligent power? If this is the answer and argument, though, another predicament arises. One cannot argue against God by saying that He cannot exist if this universe is so cruel and unjust. For if there is no God, no ultimate intentional source that can and does intervene, then where did this idea of just and unjust come from? Lewis states, 'A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line'. If one says that the idea of right and wrong comes from within, from one's self, then the same argument mentioned against God falters as well, because the premise has been omitted. The argument would have to say that the world does not satisfy one's own preferences, but since the argument is saying that the world has absolute wrong and does not satisfying the right standard-a standard that we humans insist exists-, then the argument against God's existence does not stand. Now, arguments on the existence of God can be rather lengthy, so I will dedicate more posts to this topic over time.
I've often wondered if there is a purpose to this life. It's the question of the century: what is the meaning of life? This questioned has been answered in varying ways: to create a purpose, to be happy, simply to live, 42. I have wondered before, and many scientists hold to this idea, if we are all just products of chance. Is our evolved species unique or just lucky to be alive? In other words, are we chosen for a purpose or are we no different than any other animal? There is another idea about reality being senseless, or without purpose, that many non-believers hold to and basically says that all of existence, especially that of humanity, is all by chance. There is no special purpose, no calling, and no divine standard to fulfill. We are meant to simply be. However, if there is an idea of justice, then there is an idea of sense. Merely existing cannot be the only reason for living, for simply existing is not satisfactory. I do not mean satisfying as in preferences as simple as food, or what movie one likes, but rather an emptiness that this world does not satisfy due to it's fallen state. When a person is left with no hope in this world but still knows that goodness exists, than that person is acknowledging the existence of God, the existence of goodness even in a fallen world, for God is the source of goodness, and we can say this because we know that true goodness is not of this world. The fact that hopelessness exists is an argument for God, because it is arguing that goodness exists. There must be a greater meaning for humanity and role for people to fill. Our identity is never fully satisfied in this world. A famous quote by Lewis is, 'If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should have never found out that it has no meaning; just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be a word without meaning'. By stating the humanity has found out about the meaning of life is not the same as saying that humanity has invented the meaning, because the meaning has been found by the natural happenings of life. We find the meaning of life by acknowledging the world's fallen state and seeing the light that is God in the darkness that is the world. Therefore, Lewis concludes, and I very much agree with him, that atheism is too simple. There must be, and is, an ultimate calling for all of humanity. We are called to be children of light. Children of God.
