“I am my own God.” (Part 2)


“An unfair generalization.”

That’s the comment of an atheist when I posted Part 1 of my “I am my own God” article on Facebook. He also said, “Can’t we just say that it’s the result of an intellectual inquiry?”

Screenshot of our Facebook exchange

 To be fair, the controversial “deconversion” story of Joanne Abigail Dela Cruz on Rappler was her personal experience. It does not speak for the experience of all atheists. Yes, there may be people who became skeptics because the questions they have about their religion went unanswered or the answers they got were not satisfying to them. But their “journey” does not also speak for others also. To say that all those who turned away from God did so because of honest inquiry is also an unfair generalization. 

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Interestingly, in her “Science vs. Religion – What Scientists Really Think,” Rice University sociologist Dr. Elaine Ecklund noted that, in her research, “some scientists do not believe because of their scientific studies” (Source: The Confident Christian). However, she also added, “In fact, for the majority of scientists I interviewed, it is not the engagement with science itself that leads them away from religion. Rather their reasons for unbelief mirror the circumstances in which other Americans find themselves: they were not raised in a religious home; they have had bad experience with religion; they disapprove of God or see God as too changeable.” (Ibid. Emphasis theirs.) So, their “losing-my-religion” journey was not really because of a lack of evidence about God and His existence. Their experience was actually more of a heart issue than a head issue. 

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The question now is, “Why make it appear to be a head issue when it is in fact a heart issue?” If it’s a heart issue, then their so-called intellectual questions against our faith appear to be mere squid tactics. Thus, the skeptic must confront himself and ask, “Does my unbelief stem from my head or my heart?” He has to be honest with himself. With due respect, isn’t it pride to claim it’s a head issue when in fact it’s a heart issue?

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So, as far as your doubts are concerned, what kind of issue is it?



Comments

  1. Anonymous8:43 PM

    tricky. sometimes the issue starts with the head and then nahahawa yung heart and it becomes a bigger issue for the heart. :\

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eyriche Cortez8:52 AM

    Thank you for your comment. I'm not suggesting that we divide a person into compartments. Of course, there is a dynamic connection between the head and the heart. All I am saying is that there are times a person turns away from the faith for reasons other than logical issues. It's important what the root is so that we can properly deal with it. As one saying goes, "The heart has reasons that reason does not know."

    ReplyDelete

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