Rational Minds
Epistemological Nihilism is a fancy term for the idea that knowledge is ultimately meaningless. One of the great problems with atheism is brought into the light when you think about the rational mind. Charles Darwin wrote a letter to a man called Mr. George saying;
“The horrid doubt always arises whether the convictions of man’s mind, which has developed from the mind of the lower animals, are of any value or at all trustworthy. Would anyone trust the conviction of a monkey’s mind, if there are any convictions in such a mind?”
If atheism were true – if God didn’t exist, our minds would be unguided accidents, a product of chaos and chance, a compilation of ultimately meaningless chemical reactions that fizz differently to other people’s minds – which also are cosmic, chemical accidents. Embracing this worldview removes all bases for not only truth, but any meaningful pursuit of science – which aims to discover it. Atheistic philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche have concluded accurately that this is the only viable place to arrive when taking atheism to its logical conclusions. Ultimately these beliefs have, and do lead to insanity if held consistently to the internal presuppositions they rely upon. More often than not, atheists don’t carry their belief to its logical conclusion – and stand upon biblical presuppositions inconsistently to support the way they live their lives.
Purpose & Value
Ultimately, an atheistic worldview means that human beings are no more valuable than a fish, a worm or a head of lettuce. We are essentially nothing more than highly evolved primordial soup or you could say – cosmic chemical accidents. The problem is – many atheists don’t live this out. They act as though human beings have intrinsic value. There are atheists who are consistent with this, and they consistently cheapen human life. Many atrocities have taken place rooted in this idea.
Purpose is the very reason for which something was created. ‘Reason’ requires a mind, and if there is no God, purpose is ultimately non-existent.
Morality
Another problem with atheism is that morality is ultimately subjective. Each individual defines their own moral code because this worldview leaves no room to accommodate an objective moral standard given by a moral lawgiver. The problem with this is that no atheist can live this out consistently. Usually, Atheists act as though there is an absolute standard of morality to which we are accountable. Whenever someone says; ‘you should have’, or ‘you should not have’ – they appeal to a standard external to themselves, and a standard external to the person that violated a certain moral code they hold. Whenever someone does this – they borrow from a theistic worldview, and appeal to an objective moral standard they know intuitively exists (because of their conscience).
The atheistic worldview makes strong claims, but the claims are inextricably connected to these presuppositions. These presuppositions are not lived out consistently – and so the worldview is self-defeating. If a worldview is not consistent within itself, it cannot be taken seriously.
“Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” Romans 1:20
Intuitively we know that there is a God. The things we presuppose to be true, like objective morality, a trustworthy rationale mind, or that truth is meaningful and that human beings have intrinsic value… these things presuppose God.
“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” Romans 11:34 “
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16
