WEDNESDAY, December 1 (Nicholas Ferrar)

Psalm 14. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

There are two kinds of atheism. The first is an atheism of the head: an intellectual conviction that there is no God. The psalmist is concerned with the other kind, that of the heart. This is the atheism that wants no God.

Be honest. Isn’t there a streak of this atheism in all of us? If God exists, we belong to God and not to ourselves. And that means that we can’t just do as we please with our lives, because we are not our own.

Thomas Huxley said that our worst difficulties begin when we can do exactly as we like. Fortunately, Jesus Christ steps into our lives to deliver us from this worst difficulty. Once we have truly heard his voice, we know that we can’t just do exactly as we like. Whatever we may make of Jesus theologically, the very fact that he lived and died for us makes us belong to him. Even when we are not sure that God, the Supreme Being exists, Christ is here. And Jesus Christ leads us to God, to life and to perfect freedom. (1963)

If you attain perfect self-forgetfulness in the love of your neighbor, then you will believe without doubt. Doubt will no longer be able to enter your soul.

—Fyodor Dostoyevsky

PRAY for the Diocese of Kinshasa (Congo)

Ps 119:1-24 * 12, 13, 14; Isaiah 2:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20; Luke 20:19-26

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Dec 01, 2010 at 8:40 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

A hearty "Amen brother (or sister) !" from me.

Sidebar: I read recently that atheists score higher on theology tests than professing believers.

Article about Pew Forum Survey

Dec 01, 2010 at 8:54 am

Written by Brad @ Forward Movement,

Thanks, Steve.

Here's a link to an article about the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life survey about atheists' knowledge of religion: http://articles.latimes.com/20...y-20100928

Theology tests

Dec 01, 2010 at 10:40 am

Written by Mary Kier,

Thanks Brad for the meditTion!
Perhaps the reason atheist do so well on theology exams Is because they are torn between their heart and their intillect.
I was reminded of the phrase "becareful what you wish for"! When we try to control our lives eventually we dig ourselves into a hole. I have an uncle who is an atheist. He is a very succesful scientist with two succesful children. "successful meaning they have good jobs and a nice way of life. It makes me wonder, they have so much more than me. I am also chronically I'll, and they are healthy. Then I ask myself what is the nature if their soul? Then ivrealize their lives are filled with "me" and not thou. Their family and acheivements fill the vacum of their heart. If anything were to happen to those elements in their lives they would crash into themselves.
No one is immune to illnesss, or hard times. However with faith and beleif we have a firm shoulder to lean on,
and a path that will teach us to open our hearts and love with perfect self-forgetfullness. Our emptiness is filled with God abd the Holy spirit which directs our lives with our true self towards a life of service and compassion.

Living Alone

Dec 01, 2010 at 11:43 am

Written by Lynn,

"Thomas Huxley said that our worst difficulties begin when we can do exactly as we like." As one who lives alone I find it so easy to fall into the trap of doing as I please. To remedy that, I try to live as if Jesus were in the room with me as companion. Sometimes it works and sometimes I simply pout. But its always better when I remember God's arms and presence.

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