“When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show what the law requires is written on their hearts…” (Romans 2:12-16, New Revised Standard Version)
I have a relatively positive opinion of atheists (and other groups of people that reject and/or do not affiliate with organized religion). I have a big appreciation for the liberal views among atheists regarding topics like racial, gender and sexual equality, and also possess a gratitude for the kindness and hospitality that I have been shown by friends and colleagues that identify as atheist - kindness that I haven’t even been shown by my fellow Christians. While I do identify as a Christian myself, my viewpoints regarding atheism tend to differ from those that are ‘typical of Christians’. This might have something to do with my own church affiliation: I am a member of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a 1.1-million member Mainline Protestant denomination that is extremely progressive in both doctrine and opinions. While other Christian churches condemn atheists, call them infidels and believe that their souls are destined for fire and brimstone, many in the UCC (including myself) believe that each person has their own individual understanding of spirituality and religion. Because UCC members don’t have to ‘check their brain at the door’, we affirm the careful consideration of questions around faith, truth and life itself without expectations for a specific, theistic end result; this is how each person arrives at their own personal understanding of their spiritual identity. While I might not understand the reality of being an atheist, I understand the questioning process that most embark on to arrive at that conclusion and, as such, believe that “God is shown forth more fully in the life of a careful-thinking, good-living atheist than a lukewarm Christian-by-default” (Caldwell & Mundy, 2011).
