“If God is real, then why did he make me an atheist?”

I saw an interesting video clip on Youtube the other day. It was an interview with comedian Ricky Gervais (recent M.C. of the Golden Globe Awards) in which he was discussing his lack of faith. Gervais reminisced about his childhood in which Jesus was treated much like Santa Clause. Gervais was working on Sunday School homework one day when his older brother broke the news to him that God was not real. He recalls his mom angrily trying to shush the out-of-line sibling, but that moment signified the death of his belief.

Gervais, in the interview, goes on to ask, “If God is real, then why did he make me an atheist?” It gets a few chuckles from the audience, but there is no twinkle in his eye when he says it. Indeed, he goes on to admit that he wishes there was a God, but he just can’t bring himself to believe.

So, does God make atheists? I think the fact that Gervais can even ask that question says that God doesn’t. No doubt “belief” is a complicated thing, and I completely agree when atheists say that can’t simply make themselves believe. However, Gervais and other unbelievers must understand that the choice to pursue the question of God with a truly open mind is still theirs.

When the psalmist wrote “The fool says in his heart, ‘God does not exist.'” (Psalm 14:1) I do not believe this “fool” is completely ignorant. It is not like saying “That two-year old is a fool because she does not understand String Theory!” It is dealing with a choice to remain in unbelief. 1 Corinthians 1:20 says, “Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?” Perhaps this is the difference between an atheist (one who has determined in his mind there is no God) and an agnostic (one who tries to remain neutral until convinced one way or the other). The world offers “wisdom” that has no place for God. When you start with a worldview that says “no God,” it becomes very difficult to entertain honest discussion and inquiry about Him! Perhaps a worldview of “maybe God?” is a better option.

But, it seems as though many atheists have determined in their minds not to believe—no matter what. They are like Ebeneezer Scrooge when he tries to justify his vision of the ghost Jacob Marley by saying it is a hallucination caused by some undigested food. Although their experiences may point to one conclusion, their presuppositions steer them in another.

Does God make people atheists? No. He has left evidence for those who are open to see it. Sadly, the Apostle Paul spoke truly of his culture and ours when he said, “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.” (Romans 1:18-19)

Let us not approach questions about God with closed minds, since that will always lead to dead-ends. Perhaps an honest skeptic should ask his or her questions while taking the advice of the philosopher Blaise Pascal, who challenged unbelievers to live as if it were true for a time while keeping an open mind. Perhaps once they immerse themselves in the world of faith, they will see things they never saw from the outside. It is true that people cannot believe in something they truly no not believe in, but it’s amazing what can happen when you open up your mind to the possibility that it just might be true.