Evangelist Counters Nonbeliever's Claim That 'Atheism Trumps Christianity'
Evangelist and bestselling author Jason Frenn counters an atheist group leader’s claim that Christians’ faith in God is irrational by saying that it is more reasonable and rational for a person to believe in a Creator than not.
Frenn was asked by The Christian Post to respond to the recent article, “On Morals: Why Atheism Trumps Christianity,” written by Al Stefanelli, who is the Georgia State director of American Atheists, Inc.
On the group’s website, Stefanelli states in his post that “Christianity, by design, demands ignorance. Both naiveté and willful ignorance is at the core of a faith that is contrary to the development of knowledge through reason and rationality.”
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Among the many points of contention with Christianity that Stevanelli outlines, he argues that, “The belief in a god is irrational, as are those who accept the belief in a god.”
Frenn, whose ministry has held more than 53 international crusades with more than 3 million people attending the events, said that someday, like the prodigal son, atheists will come to their senses. He argues that it takes more “faith” for an atheist to believe in the evolution of life.
“The greatest leap of faith is assuming that order evolves out of complete chaos,” Frenn said. “Logically speaking, well balanced ecosystems, reproducing organisms, and perfectly calibrated oxygen and carbon-dioxide levels do not simply manifest even over time. Such order implies a designer. The most biased and illogical choice is the refusal to see something as obvious as that.”
Stevanelli also has a problem with Christians' belief in Jesus. “The belief that there was a divine man who died for the sins of the world is a grievous and immoral notion. It amounts to human sacrifice,” he states.
Frenn responded to Stevanelli’s observation by saying, “Nothing in life is free. The more valuable the object, the higher the price. Nothing is more valuable to God than the human race, which is why such a high price had to be paid, and in this case with a divine human life.”
Stevanelli argues that, "The basic problem with Christian morality comes down to it being little more than a primitive system of reward and punishment."
Again, Frenn points out the difference between Christianity and other belief systems.
“Every facet of almost every society in the world is built on the concept of reward and punishment. Although there are elements of reward and punishment found in Christianity, it is primarily driven by love and forgiveness. And that drastically separates Christianity from every other philosophy, belief system and religion in the world,” Frenn said.
When asked how Christians should relate to atheists, Fenn said, “Christians should embrace atheists as the prodigal son because, one day, they, too, will come to their senses and God will hear their prayers.”
With a seemingly increased effort to prohibit or limit religious expression in daily life by groups such as American Athiests, Frenn said such restrictions, if authorized, can create a moral vacuum.
“When Christianity is forced out of the public square, it ultimately becomes a naked public square, void of values and core principles that keep society healthy and moving in the right direction,” Frenn said. “The Founding Fathers had no intention for the state to influence religion. But, they had every intention of the universal godly principles that come from religion to influence the state.”
Frenn, who has an upcoming book, The Seven Prayers God Always Answers, preached two open-air campaigns in Cuba in 2008. He has a daily evangelistic radio program on Radio Nueva Vida with a listening audience of 500,000 people covering Oregon, Idaho, California and Northern Mexico.
