“Faith means not wandering lost in the dark, but trusting the path lit before us.”
Faith is often misrepresented by atheists as blind belief, wishful thinking, or an irrational rejection of evidence. However, the biblical concept of faith is much deeper, involving trust based on knowledge, experience, and reason. Many misconceptions about faith arise from misunderstandings of theology, history, and philosophy. Below are 15 common errors atheists make about faith, along with responses backed by scripture, philosophy, and scholarship.
1. Faith Means Believing Without Evidence
A common atheist claim is that faith requires believing in something without evidence. However, biblical faith is not belief without evidence, but trust based on evidence.
The Greek word for faith, pistis (πίστις), implies trust and confidence built on reason. Hebrews 11:1 states:
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
This verse does not suggest blind faith but a conviction based on what has been revealed. The apostles didn’t ask people to believe blindly but pointed to historical events—especially the Resurrection—as evidence (Acts 17:31).
William Lane Craig notes: “Faith is trusting in what we have good reason to believe is true.”¹
¹ William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics.
2. Faith and Science Are Opposed
Some atheists argue that faith contradicts science, but many of history’s greatest scientists—such as Newton, Kepler, and Faraday—were Christians who saw faith and science as complementary.
Johannes Kepler said: “Science is thinking God’s thoughts after Him.”²
Modern scientists like Francis Collins, former director of the Human Genome Project, affirm that faith and science are not in conflict but address different questions.
² Johannes Kepler, The Harmony of the World.
3. Faith Is Just a Psychological Crutch
Some claim that faith is merely a coping mechanism for those afraid of death. However, this dismisses the intellectual foundation of Christian belief. Many skeptics, including C.S. Lewis and Alister McGrath, came to faith after rigorous investigation.
C.S. Lewis wrote: “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.”³
³ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
4. Faith Means Ignoring Doubt
Atheists sometimes assume that faith requires suppressing doubt, but biblical faith acknowledges doubt while seeking understanding. Even biblical figures like Thomas (John 20:27) and David (Psalm 13:1-2) expressed doubts.
Christianity encourages questioning and seeking truth, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:21:
“Test everything; hold fast what is good.”
Alvin Plantinga states: “Doubt and faith are not enemies; doubt can lead to deeper understanding.”⁴
⁴ Alvin Plantinga, Warranted Christian Belief.
5. Faith Is Just Wishful Thinking
Some atheists equate faith with believing something because one wants it to be true. However, faith is not about wish fulfillment but about trusting in something that is rationally and historically justified.
G.K. Chesterton wrote: “Fairy tales say that apples were golden only to refresh the forgotten moment when we found out they were green.”⁵
Faith is not an escape from reality but a way of engaging it more fully.
⁵ G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy.
6. The Bible Condemns Reason and Encourages Blind Faith
Some atheists misinterpret verses like 1 Corinthians 1:25 (“The foolishness of God is wiser than men”) to suggest Christianity opposes reason. However, the Bible consistently affirms the value of reason.
Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.”
Christianity has a strong intellectual tradition, reflected in theologians like Augustine, Aquinas, and C.S. Lewis.
7. Faith Is Just About Feelings
While personal experiences play a role, Christian faith is not based on emotion alone but is rooted in history, reason, and scripture. The Resurrection is defended as a historical event, not just an internal feeling (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).
N.T. Wright states: “Faith in Christ is based on a real historical claim: that Jesus rose from the dead.”⁶
⁶ N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God.
8. Faith Means Never Changing Your Mind
Atheists sometimes accuse religious believers of being dogmatic. However, many Christian scholars and apologists, including Augustine, Pascal, and Chesterton, changed their beliefs after encountering new evidence.
Faith is not about refusing to think critically but about being willing to follow truth wherever it leads.
9. Faith Is a Product of Ignorance
Some claim that faith arises only in the absence of knowledge. However, many of history’s greatest thinkers—including Augustine, Aquinas, Pascal, and Leibniz—were devout Christians.
Blaise Pascal wrote: “Faith tells us what the senses cannot, but it is not contrary to reason.”⁷
⁷ Blaise Pascal, Pensées.
10. Christians Only Believe Because They Were Raised That Way
While upbringing influences beliefs, this is true for atheists as well. Many people become Christians despite being raised in secular or atheist households (e.g., C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel).
Lee Strobel: “I set out to disprove Christianity, and the evidence led me to faith.”⁸
⁸ Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ.
11. Atheism Is the Default Position
Atheists often claim that atheism is the “default” and that belief requires justification. However, agnosticism, not atheism, is the neutral stance. Theism has positive arguments (cosmological, teleological, moral), and atheism must also provide justification.
William Lane Craig states: “The burden of proof is not solely on the theist; both sides must account for reality.”⁹
⁹ William Lane Craig, On Guard.
12. Faith Means Rejecting Science
Many atheists falsely claim that faith means rejecting science. However, many scientists are people of faith, including Francis Collins, John Polkinghorne, and Alister McGrath.
Francis Collins writes: “Science and faith are not incompatible; they answer different questions.”¹⁰
¹⁰ Francis Collins, The Language of God.
13. Faith Encourages Violence
Some argue that faith inevitably leads to violence, pointing to religious wars. However, atheistic regimes (e.g., Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot) have also committed atrocities. The issue is not faith itself but how worldviews are applied.
John Lennox states: “The problem is not faith but human nature; history shows both theistic and atheistic ideologies misused power.”¹¹
¹¹ John Lennox, Gunning for God.
14. Christianity Will Die Out
Atheists have predicted Christianity’s decline for centuries, yet faith persists. Christianity is growing in many parts of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Rodney Stark observes: “The idea that secularization will eliminate religion has been repeatedly disproven.”¹²
¹² Rodney Stark, The Triumph of Faith.
15. Faith Is Irrational
Ultimately, the claim that faith is irrational ignores the vast body of Christian philosophy, apologetics, and historical evidence. Faith is not belief without reason but trust in what is true.
C.S. Lewis states: “Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”¹³
¹³ C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Syllogism: The Rationality of Faith
- Premise 1: Faith is a rational trust based on evidence, experience, and reason.
- Premise 2: Theistic faith is supported by historical, philosophical, and scientific arguments.
- Premise 3: Atheist critiques often misrepresent the actual definition and basis of faith.
- Conclusion: Therefore, faith is not irrational, nor is it opposed to reason or evidence.
Faith is not blind belief but a rational trust grounded in evidence, experience, and history. Misconceptions about faith often stem from misunderstanding biblical teachings or ignoring Christian intellectual traditions.
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