"So is Your Knowledge Conclusive?"

If you are an atheist maybe you could consider, a question.

“Are you a seeker of truth?”

In terms of the answer, the possibilities are that one may ignore the question, claim ignorance of the question, or one may answer either in the affirmative or the negative.  Well then there are those who would call into question the very question.

If you choose a “yes” answer then I have a follow-up question for you.

“If you are a seeker of truth would you believe yourself to be ‘open-minded’ or ‘close-minded’?”

Open minded people are those who are willing to follow their quest for truth no matter where the evidence or argument may lead.  Such people often have an insatiable hunger for truth.  On the other hand those who are closed minded and thus limit their quest for truth no matter the evidence or argument that is presented.  Such people are biased in belief.

So, if you are one who is a seeker of truth and yet an atheist may I ask that you draw a circle and into that circle place all knowledge.  That is all science, all mathematics, all philosophy, all history, all of the arts, etc.  To be sure it is a large and ever expanding circle as man discovers more and more of the universe and how it operates.

Then, do this.  Within the larger circle draw a circle that represents the sphere of your knowledge.  That which you can confidently assert that you know. In other words in the larger circle of reality, draw a smaller circle of your reality.

With that in mind then, there is another question that comes to the fore.

“In comparison to the total body of knowledge, how much do you know?”  A tenth? A hundredth? A thousandth? A millionth?  A billionth? How much?  Be honest!

The reality is that even the Einsteins, Hawkings, Sagans, Dawkins, etc. know but a smidgen of the ever expanding discovery of truth.

So then if you are tracking with me so far, there is question that we must ask!  It is this.

“Is it possible, just possible, that God could exist outside of the sphere of your knowledge/reality?”

While most atheists will respond with something like, “I don’t think so!” such is only an opinion for the statement of such being fact only serves to describe the mindset of the atheist not the reality of the question.

The reality is that one cannot know with any degree of certainly that God does or does not exist inside or outside of one’s sphere of knowledge.  However, introduce faith into the discussion.

The atheist will say, “God does not exist.”  The theist will say, “God does exist.”  However, notice that since neither can conclusively prove their point not conclusively disprove the position of the opposite, to the satisfaction of the other, both operate out of a faith perspective.

Another way to view this is that if I argue for something outside of what I confidently know, then I am simply stating an opinion.  Placing confidence in an unproven opinion can and often does lead to disastrous outcomes not the least of which is an overemphasis upon the importance of the individual's opinion in establishing legitimate truth/reality paradigms.

Therefore we arrive at this question.  “Just what are the implications of your faith statement?”  What is the implication of your statement that there is no God?  What is the implication of your statement that there is a God? What is the outcome of your belief?  Where does your belief take you in the long run?

(Previous adapted from http://gnli.christianpost.com/video/how-to-evangelize-to-an-atheist-9663)