Wednesday, September 30, 2009 was Blasphemy Day. I was unaware at the time that it occurred so my thoughts are coming a little late. I apologize. I stumbled across it today in my stack of stuff to read that I never have time to read.

Here’s the recap: a bunch of atheists who have philosophically examined the truth claims of religion [read Christianity] have come to the logical conclusion that God does not exist. As a result of this clearly logical and perfectly reasoned conclusion- they’ve decided that they should organize themselves and conduct a national atheistic holiday of blaspheming God. There’s a contest to see who can come up with the wittiest blasphemy, and the winner gets a T-Shirt. No, I’m not making this up! Check it out for yourself here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/09/30/first.blasphemy.day/

The event has all kinds of different things, including blasphemous art and paintings, that may “inadvertently,” make evangelicals uncomfortable. I wonder if these philosopher atheists are on the verge of arguing against their own existence? If they are half as smart and logical as the philosopher atheists who have preceded them in the 15^th, 16^th, and 17^thcenturies –it is only a matter of time until they start to argue against their own existence. The atheistic philosophers have already done this once before and when left to their own devices –they ended up arguing against their own existence. This must surely seem absurd, but believe it or not- there are actually people who havebeen so self-absorbed with their own cleverness that they came to question the legitimacy of our existence. Just browse through the writings of the major philosophers of the 15-17 centuries. If you’re reading this… they might argue that you do not exist, and they might argue further that you can’t prove your existence to me or anyone else. A bunch of individuals have, in the past, sat around and argued for the simple fact that none of them actually exists in reality. This would be laughable if it was merely hypothetical, but sadly and tragically –it is true. And, if history is any guide, it’s likely to happen again. Once philosophers argue God out of existence [i.e. atheists], there are no restraints and the seat belt that holds them to the chair of sanity magically disappears. As a result, their argument shifts away from God to their own selves, and they proceed to arguing themselves out of existence! If man rightly derives the significance of his existence from the significance of his Creator then any refutation of the Creator must logically descend into a pit of self denial, and a refutation of man’s own significance. Is it any wonder that Communist Russia had the highest suicide rate in the world during the 70’s and 80’s? What was the end of these philosophers’ theories about their own non-existence? One simple statement: Cogito ergo sum.

Rene Descartes, the famous French philosopher, theorized “I think, therefore I am.” He originally wrote this statement in Latin, “Cogito ergo sum.” Descartes summarized that because of his ability to have cognitive function, intellectual capacity, logical analysis and reasoning, and imaginative processes he must surely exist. Descartes attempted to prove the reality of our own existence by offering thought processes as an undeniable proof. He did this in response to some of his atheistic philosopher contemporaries. Descartes faced an interesting and absurd challenge to rationality, to which he responded simply – “Cogito ergo sum,” I think, therefore I am.

How do you suppose God responds to atheists and philosophers who deny Him? There’s an interesting little verse that you find at the end of Exodus chapter 2. Exodus 2:25 says, “God saw the people of Israel – and God knew.” I again came across this verse, and again, it gave me chills.

Is there any aspect in your life that you’re ashamed of? Are there some shortcomings that you are glad no one knows about? Guess what. God knows. Have you had a rough day? God knows. Are you secretly plotting the take-over of the entire world? God knows. Are you tired of people picking on you with their sarcastic witticisms at work? God knows. Are you tired of the neighbor because their front yard looks like a used car lot? God knows. Are you attempting to suggest that God does not exist? God knows. Are you taking a national holiday to blaspheme God? God knows.

Is there anything? God knows.

He makes two statements very early in the book of Exodus: “I AM” and “I know.” [Whew, both of those statements continue to give me chills.] For all the atheists who have attempted to argue God out of existence, who continue to swing their sledge hammers at the indestructible ultimate truth that we refer to simply as GOD, who have moved on to less complicated philosophical and atheistic gymnastics such as arguing themselves out of existence (LOL), you should know- He IS and He KNOWS.

The atheists are NOT arguing against a silent invisible infinite ultimate God. They are in a room arguing with a God who is and who SPEAKS BACK! But the atheists are choosing to ignore Him. They are like little children who refuse to listen. They’ve stuck their fingers in their ears, and they walk around screaming, “La, La, La, La, La, I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you!” As soon as God stops arguing with them (because He knows how silly, foolish, and immature they are) they can then safely proceed to their allegedly logical arguments. They are really no different than the philosophers of the 17^th Century against whom Rene Descartes refuted simply and easily.  

Once they become satisfied with their own arguments against God they will move on to arguing themselves out of existence. Sadly, the end result of this train of ‘logic’ is suicide. I pray for all those who took part in National Blasphemy Day. I pray that God has mercy on them and reveals to them His goodness and His love.