Saturday, August 15, 2009

"Happy Birthday to Me...Me...Me!"




Well, I did it! I officially turned 37. For some strange reason it seems much older than 36 did! I have been dreading it for months and the day finally arrived. I awoke to kids singing happy birthday with a candle in my whipped cream and waffle. I rushed off to a meeting a church. I followed that by organizing a delivery of rummage sale items from the Woodstock Boy Scouts and settled on the couch for a quick nap while Mike took the kids to Walmart for my birthday dinner with friends supplies.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, actually it felt very comfortable and calm. Just the way a suburbanite stay at home mommy should spend her birthday. Except for one problem.....I see things from a Biblical perspective! It permeates everything I do, affects my moods, my emotions, and why I breath in and out.
Mike asked me what I wanted to do today and I filled in the details. I wanted to be with my family, I wanted to serve my church, I wanted to help the community, and I wanted to watch "Expelled" with my friends. Why in the world would I want all that? Shouldn't MY birthday be all about ME? If I have learned anything about myself in the last 37 years it is that I am happiest when I think of others first. I am happiest when I serve others, and I learn most when I listen to others and try to understand what their motivations are and what is their hearts.
That is why I wanted to watch "Expelled". I am fascinated and perplexed at why a million people would buy "The God Delusion" and conclude that it is correct. I want to understand what is to gain from a person choosing to reject God and accept the religion of atheism. If I am wrong I have lived a good life, serving others, having purpose, and joy. If the anti-god movement is wrong there is alot more at stake, for future generations....and for all eternity. Not to mention that many of my atheist friends are depressed, living in darkness, addiction, and despair.

There were many things I took from the movie. The freedom of questioning and investigating science is shrinking. That is undeniable. It is one of the reasons we homeschool and one of the reasons we are attacked for it. I teach my children other beliefs on the origin of life, I feel it is very important for them to know why we believe the way we do and to help them answer life's important questions. I have found that when I am not afraid to look I will find more answers than questions.

I also was left with the realization that If a person can conclude logically that there is no God, then they are free to make their own rules or religion and have zero accountability. That would be great if there really was no God, but what happens when this delusion is over and the reality of our Creator is in front of them and they have to answer despite their prior belief?
We talked tonight about what would the motivation be for evolutionists to stick together to a flawed system of belief? Why are they so afraid to debate or answer honestly. Dawkins seemed absolutely annoyed at some basic questions even being asked and pretty much said, talk to the hand, in his body language. Some suggest that it is to protect their power, status, and position. I think in the case of successful writers like Dawkins it would be also their book deals and recognition that would be the hardest to compromise with the ever evolving theologies.

Ben Stein reveals that a crack in the wall of atheism/evolution is so threatening that leading scientists will not even openly admit any obvious flaws in their belief system and they protect it at all costs. He shows pictures of the Berlin wall. I remember when the wall came down. It started with a chip and quickly crumbled. I remember watching it on TV as Pres. Reagan commanded to "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
The threat of freedom is too great for the scientific arena to allow even a chip. My roommate in college had a piece of the wall and she treasured it as a souvenir of the strong will of humanity.
I would be willing to suggest it represents much more than that. It represents the free will God designed in us, intelligently.
My personal conclusion is that Atheism is a religion which men hide behind to avoid facing our Creator. Atheism is a form of false fulfillment, fulfillment meant to come from God. If you convince yourself their is no God, then you try to fulfill yourself....but you are also fooling yourself.

3 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday Shelli!
    You're a great friend. I enjoyed sharing your birthday with you.

    Expelled is an excellent documentary. It impacted me more this time.

    Awesome post. I feel like jumping from my seat and cheering!

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  2. My goodness! Where do you find the depressed, addicted atheists? :D Most of my friends are non-christian (agnostic, atheist, pagan, jewish, buddhist, and at least two muslims!), and we all seem to experience life's ups and downs in the same proportions as my christian friends.

    Also, "The God Delusion" is not Dawkins' best book. He's an excellent scientist, not so much a philosopher! "River Out of Eden" is the most comprehensive explanation of evolution I've ever read, and "Unweaving the Rainbow" rekindled my passion for scientific inquiry. Try those... :)

    And I still have that piece of the Berlin Wall...

    Glad you had a great birthday!

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  3. You are so right, we all experience life's ups and downs regardless of religion, so I will clarify. I have found a common thread with addiction and depression amoung non believers, but I also have many friends who are Christian battling drug addiction, two right now. So no one is immune, specifically believers. I know several Christians that are on anti depressants or have been, myself would be included in the past. Being a Christian does not mean you will be exempt from the downs of life and only experience the ups. Actually, life can come at you even harder when you are walking with the Lord because of it. And conversly being a non believer of Christ does not doom you to only experience the downs. I think what I have noticed is a major difference for believers and non believers is that those who live in Christ have a defined hope. They depend on Him when the going gets rough, and they allow God to work through their lives and the love of others. They have a contentment and purpose to their life even when a curve ball is thrown at them. I have listened to famous aethists and read some of Darwin's conclusions and I hear pain, despair, and bitterness toward a god that allows suffering in the world. In Darwin's case he set out to explain life without God after his daughter died a slow death. For the devoted Christian, no matter what we have to face: disease, death, loss, pain, heartache, war, or anything unexpected...we always have hope in the One we trust. "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

    I hope that explains my claims more clearly. Thank you for the question. <3

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