Really?

In a recent post on his blog Pharyngula, P.Z. Meyers makes the following statement in his discussion of atheists.

Dictionary Atheists. Boy, I really do hate these guys. You've got a discussion going, talking about why you're an atheist, or what atheism should mean to the community, or some such topic that is dealing with our ideas and society, and some smug [jerk] comes along and announces that "Atheism means you lack a belief in gods. Nothing more. Quit trying to add meaning to the term." As if atheism can only be some platonic ideal floating in virtual space with no connections to anything else; as if atheists are people who have attained a zen-like ideal, their minds a void, containing nothing but atheism, which itself is nothing. ...

If I ask you to explain to me why you are an atheist, reciting the dictionary at me, you are saying nothing: asking why you are a person who does not believe in god is not answered when you reply, "Because I am a person who does not believe in god." And if you protest when I say that there is more to the practice of atheism than that, insisting that there isn't just makes you dogmatic and blind.

Meyers has got this right, and it is something that people don't often realize. When you make a statement about the existence of God you are forced to make certain conclusions about the world if you are to remain consistent. Atheism has deep theological and scientific implications, and once you buy into a part of atheism, you buy into an interpretation of facts that is 1) not always consistent with itself, and 2)inconsistent with biblical thought.

This is why believing in an old earth is such a problem. Scientifically the claim is still questionable, and there are other conclusions that can be drawn from the scientific evidence. The belief that we live on an earth older than twelve thousand years old is one that was hammered out and and brought mainstream by the belief in evolution, a theory in and of itself diametrically opposed to the account given by Jehovah. In evolution, and belief in an old earth, death is a part of the fabric of the world, the driver of progress instead of a result of human sin, and how can you believe in a God who built death into the fabric of the world? If you want to read more on this, check out my post from a while ago Why does Creation Matter

Meyers' post is interesting, and I suggest that you read it, it gives an interesting look at atheism as some of the more influential and militant atheists see it. Also, just scanning his blog, you can see that all the man has to do if he wants to beat on Christianity before breakfast is scan the internet, find a few Christians making fools of themselves and walla! he's debunked christianity, again. Some of these people a good men who are fools in the world's eyes, but others are just simply being foolish. If Christians would take care of themselves and clean up our own act, we've have a lot easier time doing the Lord's work.