One of the most basic categories in world religion today is atheism - the belief that there are no gods. But what does the Bible say about it?
Talking Points:
- Religious atheism is a spiritual system that doesn’t acknowledge any personal God or gods. More common in Western society is a new, naturalistic atheism – a belief that nothing exists outside of the natural world, including God and spiritual beings.
- In the Old Testament, we see the Israelites consistently following false gods, idols created by other nations. The God of the Bible had a very clear opinion about these fabrications of the human imagination and their creators. Isaiah 44:9-10
- The clear verdict of the Bible is that atheism is foolish – not just intellectually, but morally and spiritually. For many, atheism is driven by a desire to be free from objective moral authority. Whatever the motivation, God’s opinion is that it is folly to pretend that he isn’t real. Romans 1:19-20
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- When is the last time you were amazed by something you saw in nature? What was it?
- Read Romans 1:19-20. How does creation point to the existence of God?
- In what way can certain religions be essentially atheistic?
- How would you define “naturalism”? Why do you think people find this philosophy attractive?
- Read Isaiah 44:9-10. Why is the worship of images foolish?
- How can we be respectful toward others even though we disagree with their beliefs about God?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
