God did not create atheists. God created us and gave us the free will to choose what to belive in. If we say He is responsible for atheism then we are making Him stupid– but God is wise above all. He only allow atheists but He didnt create them. He respects our beleifs even if it hurts Him. That story taken from Chassidic literature is a lie.
MitchMarch 12, 2018
Why Did God Create Atheists?
There is a famous story told in Chassidic literature that addresses this very question. The Master teaches the student that God created everything in the world to be appreciated, since everything is here to teach us a lesson.
One clever student asks “What lesson can we learn from atheists? Why did God create them?”
The Master responds “God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all — the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his acts are based on an inner sense of morality. And look at the kindness he can bestow upon others simply because he feels it to be right.”
“This means,” the Master continued “that when someone reaches out to you for help, you should never say ‘I pray that God will help you.’ Instead for the moment, you should become an atheist, imagine that there is no God who can help, and say ‘I will help you.’”
—Martin Buber, Tales of Hasidim Vol. 2 (1991)
TimNovember 4, 2017
Mormons and atheists tend to be similar in seeking a world with simple causes and free of nuance. Perhaps there's a way to use that to our advantage. I don' t think presenting the "logic" in this article is an effective approach, though, because it's just as easy to point out holes and loose ends in the LDS view. A more spiritual approach is the best way to start.
Brian KohrmanAugust 23, 2017
Michael, you said,
"Atheists do not believe in God because they are arrogant people who do not like the idea of being accountable to a God who is more intelligent than they are and who will hold them accountable for what they do with their lives."
It's pretty unfair to say you know every person's inner motivation, and that motivation is evil. I don't think you can make this claim unless you can experience being in the mind and heart of every atheist. I, for one, don't believe that your statement is true.
David FinkAugust 9, 2017
I see Evolution as a series of anomalies. Perhaps millions. The question is whether the math, [formula, equation, Science] that allows the anomaly to survive comes before the anomaly? If the math already exists, then by definition, Evolution is intelligent design.
B. HarrisonAugust 8, 2017
Atheists as well as common folks use cell phones, computers, electric lights, electric cars, televisions and electric power generated by nuclear power stations. Who has seen the electricity move through a wire or a solid-state material? Who has seen the actual radio waves connecting cell phones or heating food in a microwave? Many people work and travel by airplanes, but do not see gravity and the opposite forces by which planes fly, as well as radar and GPS systems. A few people choose to not use these things but realize that unseen forces control and make it possible for these things to exist and operate.
Mike BringhurstAugust 7, 2017
Since atheists seem to be more willing to accept Science here is an interesting thought. It takes a great deal faith to be a scientist given the fact that most if not all scientists believe in the existence of the ATOM,which non of them has ever seen.
Stephanie I.August 2, 2017
It's more "convenient" to be an Atheists. This way you don't have to believe in a God or anything else you're uncomfortable with.
RalphAugust 2, 2017
Great excerpt from his book. I have one suggestion for the title of this article. Change it to read: RESPONDING TO ATHEISM WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. Many of us, which is the majority, who reside outside of Utah, do not accept the term, Mormonism. To us, it is just another "ism". We have been told by the Lord, prophets, and Apostles to refer to His Church as The Church of Jesus Christ. Not Mormon's Church. Mormonism needs to go and we need to start calling the Church what it is. The Church of Jesus Christ. So, I am ready for the Utah chastisement reserved for converts and non-pioneer stocks I so often see when the cherished Mormon culture is attacked.
Mark DonaldsonAugust 2, 2017
Nice work! I love it!
MichaelAugust 2, 2017
The best (or worst) example of atheists believing in anything (as Chesterton wisely said) is their belief that all life is simply the result of chance.
They ignore all of the archaeological evidence that contradicts the theory of evolution. In the movie, “Planet of the Apes” the apes discover a humanoid doll which speaks when a string is pulled. This discovery upsets them because of their false belief and religion which teaches that apes evolved from humans.
Suppose in the future, astronauts land on Mars and discover a cave with a humanoid doll which speaks when a string is pulled. Atheists will rightly conclude that the doll was made by a human, an intelligent being. They would not conclude that the doll was the result of billions of chance events, which is the basis of the theory of evolution. That conclusion by atheists would reveal their hypocrisy and willful ignorance of facts that disprove the theory of evolution.
Atheists do not believe in God because they are arrogant people who do not like the idea of being accountable to a God who is more intelligent than they are and who will hold them accountable for what they do with their lives.
Comments | Return to Story
AnnJanuary 12, 2019
God did not create atheists. God created us and gave us the free will to choose what to belive in. If we say He is responsible for atheism then we are making Him stupid– but God is wise above all. He only allow atheists but He didnt create them. He respects our beleifs even if it hurts Him. That story taken from Chassidic literature is a lie.
MitchMarch 12, 2018
Why Did God Create Atheists? There is a famous story told in Chassidic literature that addresses this very question. The Master teaches the student that God created everything in the world to be appreciated, since everything is here to teach us a lesson. One clever student asks “What lesson can we learn from atheists? Why did God create them?” The Master responds “God created atheists to teach us the most important lesson of them all — the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his acts are based on an inner sense of morality. And look at the kindness he can bestow upon others simply because he feels it to be right.” “This means,” the Master continued “that when someone reaches out to you for help, you should never say ‘I pray that God will help you.’ Instead for the moment, you should become an atheist, imagine that there is no God who can help, and say ‘I will help you.’” —Martin Buber, Tales of Hasidim Vol. 2 (1991)
TimNovember 4, 2017
Mormons and atheists tend to be similar in seeking a world with simple causes and free of nuance. Perhaps there's a way to use that to our advantage. I don' t think presenting the "logic" in this article is an effective approach, though, because it's just as easy to point out holes and loose ends in the LDS view. A more spiritual approach is the best way to start.
Brian KohrmanAugust 23, 2017
Michael, you said, "Atheists do not believe in God because they are arrogant people who do not like the idea of being accountable to a God who is more intelligent than they are and who will hold them accountable for what they do with their lives." It's pretty unfair to say you know every person's inner motivation, and that motivation is evil. I don't think you can make this claim unless you can experience being in the mind and heart of every atheist. I, for one, don't believe that your statement is true.
David FinkAugust 9, 2017
I see Evolution as a series of anomalies. Perhaps millions. The question is whether the math, [formula, equation, Science] that allows the anomaly to survive comes before the anomaly? If the math already exists, then by definition, Evolution is intelligent design.
B. HarrisonAugust 8, 2017
Atheists as well as common folks use cell phones, computers, electric lights, electric cars, televisions and electric power generated by nuclear power stations. Who has seen the electricity move through a wire or a solid-state material? Who has seen the actual radio waves connecting cell phones or heating food in a microwave? Many people work and travel by airplanes, but do not see gravity and the opposite forces by which planes fly, as well as radar and GPS systems. A few people choose to not use these things but realize that unseen forces control and make it possible for these things to exist and operate.
Mike BringhurstAugust 7, 2017
Since atheists seem to be more willing to accept Science here is an interesting thought. It takes a great deal faith to be a scientist given the fact that most if not all scientists believe in the existence of the ATOM,which non of them has ever seen.
Stephanie I.August 2, 2017
It's more "convenient" to be an Atheists. This way you don't have to believe in a God or anything else you're uncomfortable with.
RalphAugust 2, 2017
Great excerpt from his book. I have one suggestion for the title of this article. Change it to read: RESPONDING TO ATHEISM WITH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. Many of us, which is the majority, who reside outside of Utah, do not accept the term, Mormonism. To us, it is just another "ism". We have been told by the Lord, prophets, and Apostles to refer to His Church as The Church of Jesus Christ. Not Mormon's Church. Mormonism needs to go and we need to start calling the Church what it is. The Church of Jesus Christ. So, I am ready for the Utah chastisement reserved for converts and non-pioneer stocks I so often see when the cherished Mormon culture is attacked.
Mark DonaldsonAugust 2, 2017
Nice work! I love it!
MichaelAugust 2, 2017
The best (or worst) example of atheists believing in anything (as Chesterton wisely said) is their belief that all life is simply the result of chance. They ignore all of the archaeological evidence that contradicts the theory of evolution. In the movie, “Planet of the Apes” the apes discover a humanoid doll which speaks when a string is pulled. This discovery upsets them because of their false belief and religion which teaches that apes evolved from humans. Suppose in the future, astronauts land on Mars and discover a cave with a humanoid doll which speaks when a string is pulled. Atheists will rightly conclude that the doll was made by a human, an intelligent being. They would not conclude that the doll was the result of billions of chance events, which is the basis of the theory of evolution. That conclusion by atheists would reveal their hypocrisy and willful ignorance of facts that disprove the theory of evolution. Atheists do not believe in God because they are arrogant people who do not like the idea of being accountable to a God who is more intelligent than they are and who will hold them accountable for what they do with their lives.
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