Teachings beget logical outcomes

Regarding the Feb. 9 letter, “Stalin killed for power, period”: Atheism is a belief that is defined not by affirmation, but by what it denies (atheism means belief that there is no god). So one should not expect Stalin to have trumpeted whom he denied as a contributing cause of his murderous rule. It has been left to deeper thinkers to make that connection. In Dostoyevsky’s novel, “The Brothers Karamazov,” Alyosha retorted to Dmitri’s materialistic assertion, “without God and eternal life? All things are lawful then, they can do what they like?” ((Signet Classic, 1999), p. 557). Dmitri’s same boast also connected materialism to the conviction that humans consist of absolutely nothing more than the products of chemistry. A flurry of logical absurdities follow from that assessment, including the dissolution of the concept of innate human value. Hence, the murder of multiplied millions of Russia’s people.

I do not deny that atheists can be moral citizens in this world, for the very same reason as everyone else. That reason is that all live under human governments whose purpose includes restraining law-breakers. Neither do I deny that religious people too, including Christians, are deeply (sinfully) flawed. That is exactly what the Bible claims and illustrates. But atheism denies the very existence of an ultimate law-giver before whom everyone will give account. Atheism also undercuts the notion of morality that has always been foundational to civil society. I disagree with the writer’s apparent resistance to connecting beliefs with action. As with atheism (just illustrated), so with other religions; every central teaching anticipates its intended fruit. Since Jesus gave his life for the world, and did so as a model for his followers (John 13:15), so-called “Christians” who murder in his name obviously contradict his message. Instead of fleeing honest evaluation, let us humbly connect the dots between every “ism” and their logical outcome.

Pastor Gary Jensen

Lake Stevens