This article is called “Do you hope that you are right or wrong? I guess that may be puzzling to a lot of people, but it is a question that “NEEDS” to be asked in so many areas of life. All humans face doubt in their life. Doubt comes in a wide variety of life’s issues. As humans we do not always know in what direction we should go, because of the consequences that comes with their decision. THIS REALLY HOLDS TRUE WHEN LOOKING AT RIGHT AND WRONG DECISIONS, AND VIEWS.
Here are a few definitions and meanings of the word “HOPE.” “A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. to cherish a desire with anticipation : to want something to happen or be true hopes for a promotion hoping for the best I hope so. 2 archaic : trust. transitive verb. 1 : to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment I hope she remembers. hopes to be invited. What is a stronger word for hope? hopefulness, optimism, expectation, expectancy. confidence, faith, trust, belief, conviction, assurance.” I think people can understand that. Hope is a big part of every human’s life.
I am posting an article by Dennis Prager that I feel many people need to read and understand. And I want to give credit to him for his writings and work. I have followed Dennis for many years on his channel. I find the information he shares and teaches to be honest as he can be and I highly respect him. Dennis is Jewish and not a Christian, but he has great insight into what he has published so his part of my article is something that everyone should consider, especially when dealing with “ATHEIST. So here is Dennis’ Article.
Two questions for Atheists
I have had the privilege of debating five of the top seven “25 Most Influential Living Atheists” as listed at SuperScholar.org:
No. 2: Sam Harris (“The End of Faith”)
No. 3: The late Christopher Hitchens (“God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything”)
No. 4: Daniel Dennett (“Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon”)
No. 6: Steven Pinker (“How the Mind Works”)
No. 7: Michael Shermer, founding publisher of the Skeptic Magazine
Recently, however, I realized that I never asked any of them two questions that I would now ask before any other:
1. Do you hope you are right or wrong?
2. Do you ever doubt your atheism?
The answers to those questions would tell me what I would most like to know about the person: how intellectually honest he is, and what motivates him.
To be sure, the answers to those two questions neither validate nor invalidate any atheist arguments. Atheist and theist arguments rise and fall on their merits, not on the motivations or personal characteristics of the atheist or the believer. But on a purely human level, their answers would enable me to understand the atheist as a person and as a thinker.
Take the first question: Do you hope you are right or wrong?
I respect atheists who answer that they hope they are wrong. It tells me that they understand the terrible consequences of atheism: that all existence is random; that there is no ultimate meaning to life; that there is no objective morality — right and wrong are subjective personal or societal constructs; that when we die, there is nothing but eternal oblivion, meaning, among other things, that one is never reconnected with any loved ones; and there is no ultimate justice in the universe — murderers, torturers and their victims have identical fates: nothing.
Anyone who would want all those things has either not considered the consequences of atheism or has what seems like an emotionally detached outlook on life. A person who doesn’t want there to be ultimate meaning to existence, or good and evil to have an objective reality, or to be reunited with loved ones, or the bad punished and the good rewarded has a rather cold soul.
That’s why I suspect atheists who think that way have not fully thought through their atheism. This is especially so for those who allege that their atheism is primarily because of their conclusion that there is too much unjust human suffering for there to be a God. If that is what has led you to your atheism, how could you possibly not hope there is a God? Precisely because you are so disturbed by the amount of suffering in the world, wouldn’t you want a just God to exist?
Now to the second question: Do you ever doubt your atheism?
A few years ago, the largest atheist organization in the United States, American Atheists, to its credit, invited me to Minneapolis to debate the head of the organization at its annual meeting.
At one point, I looked at the audience and asked people to raise their hands if they ever doubted their atheism. Not one hand went up.
I found this interesting, if not disturbing, and said so. Nonreligious individuals often accuse religious believers of not challenging themselves. And, depending on the religion and on the individual, that is often the case. Yet it would seem that believers challenge themselves more than atheists do.
As I explained at the debate, I never met a believer who hadn’t at some point had doubts about God. When experiencing, seeing or reading about terrible human suffering, all of us who believe in God have on occasion doubted our faith. So, I asked the atheists, how is it that when you see a baby born or a spectacular sunset, or hear a Mozart symphony, or read about the infinite complexity of the human brain — none of these has ever prompted you to wonder whether there really might be a God?
I remember sensing that I had a struck a nerve.
So, then, while I still debate God’s existence with atheists, I do so in order that the audience will hear sound arguments for God’s existence.
But what really interests me — and I think should interest any believer or atheist — are the answers to these two questions.
Because only if the atheist responds, “I hope I am wrong” and “Yes, there have been occasions when I have wondered whether there really might be a God” — do I believe that I have encountered an individual who has really thought through his or her atheism. I also believe that I have probably met a truly decent person.
But a sad one. For to know how awful the consequences of atheism are and still be convinced that there is no God is an unhappy fate indeed.
Dennis Prager’s nationally syndicated radio talk show is heard in Los Angeles on KRLA (AM 870) 9 a.m. to noon. His latest project is the Internet-based Prager University (prageru.com). This concludes Dennis part of my article. I hope what Dennis has said might help us see a different way to deal with Atheist when we get the chance to talk and witness to them.
CONCLUSION
Dennis Prager also asked another very important question, so here it is. “DO YOU MAKE RELIGION LOOK BAD OR GOOD?” Now that is something to think about. This is like the old saying, “TASTE YOUR WORDS BEFORE YOU SPEAK, THEM ARE THEY BITTER OR SWEET.” I have known some atheist in my life. I do appreciate an honest person even if I disagree with them. Then I have also known the atheist who are combative and ready for a fight just to try and prove their point. Those kinds of atheist are looking for a fight and are not willing to have any civil discussion. I hope this article will give a little better insight and give you a few question that you can use to help an atheist think and re-evaluate their own thinking. You might find this one funny. There is the old story of a man who was at the funeral home visiting a friend who had died. As he was leaving, he saw another friend standing over the casket of someone. So, he walked in and tapped his friend on the shoulder. He noticed his friend was shaking his head and looking down in the casket at his friend. He asked him, “Are you alright?” The man said, “NO, look at him,” so I did. My friend said, “this is a real shame-HE IS ALL DRESSED UP AND HAS NO PLACE TO GO.”
I am including this video of Dennis Prager. It is not long and what he has to say in this video goes along perfectly with this article. I do hope you will take the time to watch it. Your thoughts, opinions and comments are welcome so leave them in the comment section below. RAY
people, but it is a question that “NEEDS” to be asked in so many areas of life. All humans face doubt in their life. Doubt comes in a wide variety of life’s issues. As humans we do not always know in what direction we should go, because of the consequences that comes with their decision. THIS REALLY HOLDS TRUE WHEN LOOKING AT RIGHT AND WRONG DECISIONS, AND VIEWS.
