Does God Exist?

05 Mar 2010

Does God exist? Probably not the question you’d expect to see on a Christian website, but nonetheless it’s an important question for each of us to ask.

Of course, the official view of The Salvation Army (as part of the Christian Church), along with 85% of the world’s population, is very much in the affirmative. However, there are many—in fact, 35% of New Zealanders—who do not believe in a greater being. Internationally, one of the loudest proponents of the atheist position is British biologist, Richard Dawkins.

Darwin’s Rottweiler

In mid-March, Dawkins, who has often been described as ‘Darwin’s Rottweiler’ for his aggressive stance against religion, is visiting New Zealand on a sell-out speaking tour. His catch cry is that the evidence of science—and in particular, his version of evolution—proves that God cannot exist. He argues that ‘somebody who claims not to believe in evolution … is ignorant, stupid or insane’ (you can taste the fervour in his words).
 
In making discoveries in science and, from them, drawing conclusions about something supernatural and outside that scientific system, Dawkins is essentially saying that from this world we can establish some fact about another world. This, as you can see, is a curiously bold step to take. It would be like someone trying to prove/disprove the ocean by analysing a glass of water. Sure, it might generate some clues, but there would be very few concrete conclusions one might reach from such a logical process.

And this is the big problem we all have when we debate the existence or non-existence of God. For the only common ground we have to talk about—a non-believer to a believer—is what we find and discover in this world. But from this foundation it is very difficult, if not impossible, to reach a concrete conclusion either one way or the other. And so the believer and the non-believer are left only agreeing to disagree.

The other world

Where does this leave the believer? Well, a Christian believes that they have a direct experience of this other world through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. So, for him or her, God can be talked about in a sensible way that doesn’t involve a jump from one world to another—the Christian is already in the other world.

I believe this is why Jesus taught us to pray ‘Thy Kingdom come’ because what this world needs is neither some fancy intellectual proof of God’s existence nor a scientific demonstration of the necessity of a Creator. The world needs a living and breathing experience of Christ’s world on earth: his love, mercy, peace, hope and righteousness—all the things found in his Kingdom. It is only then, with an experience of this other world, that a non-believer might be able to believe that God might exist.

So, when faced with doubts, whether from yourself, from friends or British biologists, over the existence of God, simply pray, and ask the Father for his Kingdom to come in your life, and our world. Today.

By Hayden Shearman (from War Cry magazine)