Atheism and Christianity

I don't normally quote other blogs here but I recently read here where Ashish, a self-described athesit, writes that in dialog with Hindu leaders he has challenged the existence of God and this idea is recognized as a valid form of Hinduism.

Then he writes, "Try doing it to the Vatican! Try challenging the existence of God in presence of the Pope, and if he still extends his hospitality to you and accepts you as a Christian, I will be more than willing to convert to your Faith."

I do believe that you can challenge the existence of God to the Pope or any other Christian and still be received with hospitality. Every Christian has wrestled with their faith, asked questions of religious leaders (maybe not the Pope) and prayed to Jesus Christ with doubt in their minds at times. Challenging the existence of God is not unique to Ashish or to Hinduism.

While the Chrisitan faith can comprehend the challenge to the existence of God, a phiolosphy of atheism is not nor can it ever be a valid form of Christianity. At the root of Christianity is that firm belief the Jesus Christ is God incarnate. Christians are not afraid of dialog with atheists or with those of any other religion but those who call themselves Christians who follow the teachings of the crucified and risen Christ cannot validate non-faith in these teachings.

Every philosophy or theology has a foundation, for the Christian this is Christ. Any form of religion that omits Jesus as the Son of God cannot be viewed as valid through the scriptures. To ask such is to ask Christianity to become something it is not.

So, Ashish, if Christianity would recognize your non-belief as valid Christianity it would cease to be Christian and thus become invalid in itself.