Some Irreverent Questions Concerning God
I. Is God an Atheist?
Before the Christian dismisses atheism as irrational or condemns the
atheist as immoral, he should consider the disturbing possibility that
the God of Christianity is himself an atheist. And if this is true, it
means that the Christian worships, obeys, and has devoted his life to
an atheistic being who does not believe in any power superior to
himself, never prays, is utterly without faith, and who does not
acknowledge any authority, either cognitive or moral, external to
himself.
If theism is loosely defined as belief in a higher power, a mysterious
being whose essential nature cannot be understood (whether in whole or
in part) by the believer, then God is an atheist. He does not believe
in a power higher than himself, nor can there be anything which he
fails to understand, for nothing can be unknown or unknowable to an
omniscient being.
If theism is defined as the belief in a supernatural being, then God
is an atheist. His own powers, though supernatural from a human point
of view, are comprehensible to himself. Everything is "natural" from
God's perspective.
If theism involves a relationship of subordination and dependence
between a theist and her object of veneration, then God is an atheist.
He is a self-sufficient Being who disbelieves in any power greater
than himself. He worships nothing, never prays, never seeks
forgiveness, and never acknowledges his own errors.
If theism is the belief in a creator, or first cause, who is
ultimately responsible for one's own existence, then God is an
atheist. He believes himself to have existed eternally--though, as
Kant suggested, even God must occasionally wonder where he came from.
If theism involves the belief in an external moral authority, a being
whose moral law is obligatory for his creatures, then God is an
atheist. He does not believe in a higher law, nor does he think
himself capable of doing wrong. He does not regard himself bound to
respect the rights of any other being. God is morally autonomous, a
law unto himself.
God is therefore an atheist. Moreover, he is a positive atheist of the
most dogmatic variety, for he claims to know with absolute certainty
that there exists no being superior to himself. He is never troubled
by doubt, never re-examines any of his beliefs, and never feels
obliged to justify them.
This raises some further questions: Why, if God is himself an atheist,
should we suppose that that he disapproves of atheism among his
creatures? Is not a benevolent father pleased when his children grow
up to be like him? And how can the Christian condemn atheism per se
without also condemning their atheistic God? Is not the atheist who
strives to be like God more admirable than the Christian who merely
believes in him?
II. Is Satan a Christian?
Satan is not an atheist--that much is clear--for he believes in the
God of Christianity. We thus have the intriguing spectacle of a battle
between two titans, with God the Atheist on the side of good, and
Satan the Theist on the side of evil. And if the Bible is to be
believed, the Atheist will ultimately triumph over the Theist.
Is Satan the Theist also a Christian? Apparently so, because a
Christian is defined in terms of his beliefs, not his actions. Satan
clearly believes in the central tenets of Christianity. He believes,
for example, that Jesus, the Son of God, was sacrificed to redeem the
sins of mankind--for if Satan does not believe this, why did he tempt
Jesus in an effort to sabotage his divine mission? He also believes in
the resurrection of Jesus, in the power of God to work miracles, and
in the existence of a heaven and a hell he calls home.
Satan, a major player in many biblical events, does not have the least
doubt about the veracity of God's word. Indeed, it is impossible to
name one belief of the best Christian that Satan does not share. We
may therefore conclude that Satan is a Christian, despite his
rebellious spirit and competitive zeal. No one is perfect, after all.
(excerpt from a speech by George H. Smith)
