CFI debates Jim Spiegel, author of The Making of an Atheist
April 06, 2010
Michael Payton, CFI spokesperson, debates Jim Spiegel, author of The Making of an Atheist and professor of philosophy and religion at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, who claims that although atheists present arguments against belief in God, "Atheism is not at all a consequence of intellectual doubts. These are mere symptoms of the root cause—moral rebellion. For the atheist, the missing ingredient is not evidence but obedience," says Spiegel.
In The Making of an Atheist, Spiegel explores the following:
* Atheism is not about arguments and evidence but hardness of the heart against God's ethical standards and the psychological trauma of a missing or defective father
* The human mind does not neutrally observe the world, gathering facts without any preferences.
* What one believes about the world is always deeply impacted by one's values
* When addressing atheists, Christians need to demonstrate love, encouragement, patience, kindness, humility, truthfulness and perseverance