Sunday, November 19, 2006

Atheist and Agnostic Compassion

I know a few who call themselves agnostics and even fewer who deny God all together. The atheists of my acquaintance are usually pretty angry and whenever they come across a believer their blood pressure rises and they often react with attacks on the message and the messenger.

Because an old friend of mine from the school days long ago has declared himself to be an adamant atheist, I am often the butt of his attacks and diatribes. Despite the fact that he and I were friends and got along quite well it seems that I have become his enemy because of my faith.

He acts like a lot of fundamentalist religionists I read about. They are so sure of their position that anyone who fails to manifest their surety must be eliminated. This includes even those of similar faith commitments but whose fervor is less intense. Muslim violence, for example, is largely aimed at other less committed Muslims and thousands of men, women and children are killed as a result.

Fundamentalist Christians rarely kill anyone less committed than they but they do wound with words. That seems so contradictory to the Gospel and to the commands of Jesus to love even our enemies, let alone other Christians, that I am mystified by the verbal attacks. Liberal Fundamentalists attack Jerry Falwell in rage and Conservative Fundamentalists attack Jim Wallis with self justified bitterness. Amazing un grace!

It seems to me that Jesus was right in the way He said to judge a person's heart. By their fruit you shall know them. And Jesus noted that the fruit was love of God and neighbor. Later Paul wrote that the fruit was love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, etc. It is pretty hard to say we have love and peace for others when we want to kill them with words and or deeds.

I recently looked up "atheist compassion" on the web and found this entry.

From Austin Cline,Your Guide to Agnosticism / Atheism

What does compassion mean to you? It's basic definition is simply an awareness of the suffering of others and a wish to relieve that suffering - but that is a bit superficial. It seems that "real" compassion is an action - not a wish to relieve suffering but actual efforts to do so. You don't "show" compassion by saying "I'm compassionate." Instead, you go out and do something, even if it is just to donate money to worthy causes. How does President George W. Bush express compassion?

Mr. Cline's blog goes on to criticize Mr. Bush for showing photos of himself conversing with Black people but there are no photos of him actually building a house or serving food to anyone. The comparison is made to former President Jimmy Carter's work with Habitat for Humanity. Here we have a Democrat that is actually doing acts of compassion and a Republican who only talks.

That is a good point. Actions speak louder than words. However, Mr. Cline fails in his clumsy example. The issue here is not political but spiritual. Jimmy Carter was the very first President of the USA who publicly proclaimed himself to be a "Born Again Christian". Additionally, Habitat is a decidedly faith based organization begun by a Southern Baptist, I believe.

We can see that Cline has no record of atheist led compassionate activities to which he can point. He is left to discuss politics and attack conservatives but he must use a very conservative activist Christian to point out the faults of the politicians on the Right.

Where are the legions of atheist organizations that are dedicated to helping the poor, the needy, the homeless and the hungry? Where are the cavalcades of cars and trucks heading for the Gulf Coast filled with enthusiastic atheists ready to sacrifice time, energy and treasure to help our neighbors? They are too busy writing articles attacking the Pledge of Allegiance to go to Biloxi.

We Christians can do much, much more than we are to minister to others. However, the track record of believers compared to atheists is stunning with success. In the years ahead let us multiply the good works of compassion and love to the world waiting to receive us for the "Harvest fields are heavy with people wanting to believe.

No comments: