STUNTED PERCEPTION
My wife and I will have a baby next spring. We made the announcement to our relatives this past weekend, and I encountered a strange response in some. First, my uncle exclaims, "Praise God, maybe this is just the thing Brian needs to wake up and get right with God." Later my grandmother asks if I will raise my new child in a God-fearing home, to which I respond in the negative. She then wonders aloud when I will snap out of it and stop being so stubborn.
It's no secret some Theists contend that even Atheists believe in God, and these two family members fall into that camp. Neither seems to think I am even an Atheist, but am instead going through a phase. Perhaps they believe I'm angry at God or, maybe over a disagreement, have allowed my pride to come between us. I'm sure this experience is quite common for Atheists, affecting the manner in which Theists interact with their would-be-converts.
I began thinking, however, about how this condition affects the Theists themselves. If they truly believe it's impossible for a person to not believe in God, how seriously could they have considered other options besides believing in God? Have they ever given Atheism a fair hearing, providing themselves the opportunity to test this peculiar belief? How could they possibly be able? I have a good deal of trouble imagining it. It's reminiscent of Plato's Cave. Don't presume to tell me there's nothing beyond the dark confines if you've never dared to endeavor forth.
So I have a difficult time respecting the quality and depth of any Theist's beliefs when they come at me with the foolish and demeaning observation, "How can you say there is no God, when you know otherwise? Now tell me what's really the matter."