We went on another homeschool field trip yesterday, to the Griffith! I was so excited to be able to go now that it is open. I love space and the study of it fascinates me. The planetarium show was awesome. I was worried it would be too atheistic, but it actually was presented in a great format. They began by saying man has always searched the heavens to discover who we are and why we are here, and they ended the program by saying we are still searching. So I thought that was a good way to frame it.
Here, Regan posed with Albert Einstein. Lots of fun..The best part was finding out what I weigh on the moon! I'm about 20lbs! Woo hoo!!! I wonder if your thighs are thinner on the moon as well?
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Dear Michelle,
You will find as you grow up that atheists are human beings, too, and we are capable of doing good work and caring for people we love.
For you to lump atheists into some category that is something you need to be afraid of tells me that you do not understand humans too well yet. And you are capable of saying hateful things about people you don't know... it would be as bad as if I said about something you created that it was "too Christian" or "too religious" or "or too girlie." wouldn't make you feel good, would it?
You need to learn and define for yourself what you mean when something is "too atheistic" because it may not mean what you think it means.
Respectfully,
A thoughtful atheist and another space lover like you.
Invite me next time, I have not been there in years!
Dad
We need to go back again at night, and when we can stay longer! I loved the show too, but I couldn't stand the woman's voice narrating it!
i agree, Aunt Angela! (that lady was freaky!)
To the thoughtful atheist and fellow space lover:
I'm sorry you read into my post assumption that weren't there. I have never said nor thought that those who reject the idea of God are somehow not human beings or are incapable of good work and caring for people they love. Quite the contrary. If one does not believe this universe was designed for a purpose, one MUST find purpose in doing good and loving others. Otherwise, there is no point to existance.
I would argue that without God giving us purpose and meaning all the good works and love and concern for others is pointless. For all of us, atheists and believers alike, search for meaning and a reason for living.
I am certainly not afraid of atheistic views, but as I had my children with me, I didn't want them to hear that the universe is simply a random collection of matter, randomly generated, for no purpose whatsoever. I want them to learn that an immense God, bigger than the universe, which according to many scientists is infinite, cares for them and created them to love and be in relationship with Him. To believe that we are no more than a collection of atoms created in a cosmic explosion by pure chance is a depressing thought that I don't want my children to entertain.
I love that we have a God who reveals Himself in creation. I love that we are continually baffled by what He has made, despite our best attempts to explain it all. I love that 96% of the universe is dark matter, something which conforms to no known scientific principles, and that our best scientists have no idea how to explain it. I love that the more we look at the immenseness of the universe, or the microscopic qualities of DNA, we find, not randomness, but a very orderly, tightly functioning system DESIGNED by someone who knows my name.
I'm sorry that you have taken my joy in exploring the universe and seeing the glory of God in it as "hateful". I meant nothing of the sort. Please accept my apologies for not fully explaining myself and thank you for the opportunity to do so now.
Hey Michelle,
Good thing the fire was out before you went!
I know I usually am the one who gives you grief... but it looks like CCP (I wonder if one C was missing? 'CCCP' beat me to it.
Being a former ATHIEST I can speak with some authority on the subject at hand. Yes, I agree with CCP that Athiests are human beings - lost human beings. People without hope. Humans that need Jesus! Humans that need a purpose and love.
I did not read that you lumped athiests into a category that is to be afraid of - however, the fear of having secular/liberal society try to fill a childs head with 'theories' played off as 'facts' is very much something to fear. And, without much thought needed - most athiestic arguments are just that - theories played off as fact.
I know athiests, and I know you - YOU don't hate, you have the love of Jesus in you and you express the love that Jesus commands you to express. "Love your enemies".
Hate is the term generally used by someone who is incapable of loving anyone with an oposing view. That type of person uses "hate" to try and de-rail a conversation.
e.g. "If you don't believe what I believe, then you hate me. If you hate me I can then hate you." Foolishness.
Comment directed to CCP - What do you mean in your comment about calling something Michelle created "girlie" etc. - as if YOU or an athiest created the Griffith, or space? As if calling something "too religious" or "too Christian" is a bad thing? I would think that calling something "too" of something you are proud of wouldn't be bad. I am confused by your comment and lack of logic!
Michelle - your response is well written (not like mine) and very 'spot on'. If CCP truly wanted to get their point across they could have used their name, or linked to thier profile or blog. Come on now, if you are a proud athiest you would stand for your beliefs. Don't hide in anonymity!
Being a Christian is something I am very proud of. I will defend that with my life! Call me "too Christian", "too religious", "too manly", I would wear that like a badge! Wait.. I do!
Michelle, one of the things that I admire about your blogging is your incredible amount of respect and tact for others. I have never thought you to be tooooo anything, especially something offensive or extreme. Except maybe your love of God which is a good thing. You have always been thoughtful and careful in your writing and expressing your viewpoints.
By simply being creations of God, we are given free will. And with free will comes free opinions, viewpoints, and desires. As much as you might think a display might be too athiestic, an athiest might think that a family praying at a table in a restaraunt might be too religious or fanatical.
When we are blessed with opinions, we are also reponsible for supporting those opinions. Too say what you did about the Griffith simply means that you have expressed a quite polite and respectful opinion. Too bad for people that can not respect respectful opinions.
And to CCP: -- If you actually knew Michelle, you might want to believe in God.
Michelle,
I printed out your original blog, ccp's response and your response to their post.
George read it in our apologetics class and you got amens and applause for your wonderful response.
How unfortunate for ccp that their "defense" for an atheistic mindset is to transfer their lack of understanding to you. Maybe what they mean by "too Christian" is not what they think it means.
Great job,
Mom
Ditto part of Rick's comment. ccp is what I call in the blogosphere a coward. If you are gonna slam somebody on their blog, at least have the guts to show yourself.
The sad part is, ccp will probably never bother coming by here again to read any response.
It would be funny if I left this as an anonymous post. But I won't.
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