Hope, Faith and Atheism

Hope, Faith and Atheism

It's a cold winter morning. An atheist gets in the car to go to work. He places the key in the ignition. Stop!

Will the car turn on? Logic tells that cars are designed to perform a certain task. When the key is introduced in the ignition, the engine starts. Logic and confidence in the design and construction of a car should bring the peace of mind that the engine will start running as soon as the key is turned. It is faith in the ingenuity of engineers and car manufacturers. But logic will never give the 100% assurance that it will happen. There are many reasons why the engine would not start. So, when turning the key, the atheist hopes the engine will start. What happens if it doesn't start at first contact? Try again, and again, hoping that the next try will be successful.

An atheist is being prepared for an open heart surgery. Logic tells him that doctors know what they are doing and that everything should go as planned and the operation will be successful. Yet, just before being placed under anesthesia, logic is challenged: will the operation be successful? will I wake up after the surgery? Will there be any complication? Will the surgeon make a fatal mistake? Will the machines and operators of keeping the vital signs under control perform properly? Faith in the competence of the surgeon and his team starts to take over logic. Hope of a successful operation replaces the lack of confidence in so many things that may or may not go wrong.

An atheist receives a phone call that his kid had a terrible car accident and all details he is given is that the boy has been taken to a specific Hospital. The atheist rushes to the Hospital. On his ways, logic disappears in the faith that the accident was not too bad, that his kid is OK, that doctors will do their best to save and care for his child. But faith brings him no relief. The uncertainty is killing him. Hope takes over and prayer to a know or unknown God is the only thing that matters.

what is the difference between an atheist's reaction and a believer's reaction in these instances? NONE.

Hope and faith are natural attributes of human beings. An atheist can deny them, reject them, fight against them, suppress them, but they will not go away.

That is why I don't believe there is such a thing as an atheist.