Belief/faith
is present in the lives of both the atheist and the theist. Although an atheist
chooses not to believe in God, ‘belief’ is not nonexistent in his life.
Interestingly, the Covid pandemic reveals a contradictory feature in the
‘belief’ of an atheist with respect to the evidence.
The Covid
pandemic has motivated us (both the theist and the atheist) to believe in so many facets of life insofar
we take enormous risks predicated on those beliefs. Let us consider five important aspects:
1.
Mask: We simply believe that which has been claimed about
the mask and we wear it. When we
wear masks (N95 or others) we believe it will prevent the coronavirus from entering
through the mask. We believe the manufacturer adhered to and has provided 100%
quality. At times, when the mask strap loosens or gets cut, we even,
desperately, wear a mask bought from the roadside vendor, believing it will do
its job. At no point, have we researched or posed a million questions about the
quality of the mask.
2.
Sanitizer: Similarly, we believe that which
has been claimed about the sanitizer. If the manufacturer claims there is 70%
alcohol, we blindly believe and use it. We neither have the time, nor the
expertise and tools to find out for ourselves if the sanitizer does have 70%
alcohol content.
3.
Healthcare: When we or our loved one is sick,
we believe in the healthcare system to enable our recovery. During the
pandemic, we did not have the luxury to choose the hospital. We were forced to
go to the hospital that had the space for admission and when we did, we believed
they will provide the best treatment.
4.
Medicine: Same holds true with medicines.
When we take the meds, we believe they will cure us. We do not question
the efficacy of the medicines. Often, while being treated in the hospital, we
do not have all the information as to whether the medicine can effectively
combat the coronavirus. Yet we believe in the medicines.
5.
Vaccine: We believe the syringe contains the
vaccine and not saline. We do not question the nurse as to whether there is
saline or vaccine in the syringe. Although we do not know much about vaccines,
we obey our government and take the vaccines believing that they would prevent
us from Coronavirus infection. Simple belief!
We can go
on, but we will stop here.
So in an
effort to save his own mortal life, the atheist (and even the theist) believes
in that which is proximal and available. He barely spends time researching and
hardly questions the solutions offered to cure him.
But when it
comes to God, wherein his eternal life is involved, the belligerent atheist
refuses to accept even the most reasonable evidence offered to him.
This then is
the hypocrisy in the belief system of an atheist.
During the
Covid pandemic, he believes just about everything that’s been offered as a
solution to him. But when he or she is challenged to believe in God, they blatantly
reject even the most plausible and reasonable evidence.
Therefore,
the atheist primarily believes in the goodness of an imperfect man who is prone to
multivarious and a broad spectrum of nefarious practices. It is the imperfect man
who manufactures the vaccine, mask, and medicines. Yet, without asking any
question, the atheist primarily believes in the product or the treatment
offered.
In contrast,
the Christian theist primarily believes in God. God, according to the
Christian, holds the key to life and death. When we wear the mask or use the
sanitizer or get admitted to the hospital or when we take the vaccine, we
primarily believe in God for health and cure.
There are
many atheists who are sincerely seeking God. These atheists are not referred to
in this article. The atheist featured in this article is the belligerent one.
It is our
prayer that all atheists would humbly and sincerely seek and believe the one and the only living God. Amen.
