The root reason for human dignity lies in man’s call to communion with God. From the very circumstance of his origin man is already invited to converse with God. For man would not exist were he not created by God’s love and constantly preserved by it; and he cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and devotes himself to His Creator. Still, many of our contemporaries have never recognized this intimate and vital link with God, or have explicitly rejected it. Thus atheism must be accounted among the most serious problems of this age, and is deserving of closer examination.
(GS, 19)
It is true that in our time the phenomenon of atheism has spread, especially in countries dominated by Marxism, as a consequence of the systematic persecution of religion, but also in countries of democratic freedoms and economic development.
Atheist is a word that means without God. Two kinds of atheists can be distinguished: some, called practical atheists, in fact live as if God did not exist, without raising further questions; others, on the other hand, try to argue in various ways that it is not reasonable to believe in God: they are called theoretical atheists. The Second Vatican Council expresses it in this way: “Still, many of our contemporaries have never recognized this intimate and vital link with God, or have explicitly rejected it” (GS, 19).
The Council adds: “Undeniably, those who willfully shut out God from their hearts and try to dodge religious questions are not following the dictates of their consciences, and hence are not free of blame” (ibid.).
Modern atheism often takes on a systematic expression which, in addition to other causes, stretches the desires for human independence to such a point that it poses difficulties against any kind of dependence on God. Those who profess atheism of this sort maintain that it gives man freedom to be an end unto himself, the sole artisan and creator of his own history. They claim that this freedom cannot be reconciled with the affirmation of a Lord Who is author and purpose of all things.
(GS, 20)
One of the forms of atheism that has most influenced our time is the one elaborated by certain thinkers, among them the Marxists, according to which the affirmation of God would mean the “alienation” or negation of man. They explain it by saying that if man must live in relation to another being (God), he will not live for himself. They call this “alienating” or “estranging” oneself, that is, becoming alien and strange to oneself. For this reason they consider that, in order for man to be affirmed, God must be suppressed. Once God is removed, “man is God for man” and must not live in relation to that other being, distinct from himself.
This doctrine loses sight of something as evident as the fact that man is a limited, imperfect being. And still more, it forgets that the God of whom religion speaks is a being who needs nothing from man. He is the very opposite of a cruel master who would treat his slaves harshly. He is precisely Love, Goodness, and He has done nothing but show by His works His love for man. Creation itself is already a work of His love.
Experience has shown that these doctrines do not lead precisely to the defense of man, which is what they claimed to seek, but to his destruction, which is what they criticized. Love and respect for God have led men for so many centuries to master their lowest and cruelest tendencies. The lack of religion shows us every day the absence of scruples in the vilest acts.
The believing man, far from “alienating” himself, is enriched and becomes more faithful to himself when he lives bound to God. And God offers him as his goal the gift of Himself completely in the future life, as real as the present one.
“The fool says in his heart: There is no God!”
Author: Rev. Dr. Enrique Cases
Source: Encuentra.com
