It’s no secret that Christians and non-Christians have some fundamental differences in their worldview. Many atheists suggest science and God are incompatible, though I like to think since God created science, it supports God and the Bible’s claims.
But let’s take a look at Stephen Hawking. Although he’s already passed away, he’s undeniably regarded as one of the world’s all-time leading physicists. Dr. Hawking believed God was not necessary for the creation of the universe. It was his thinking that the Big Bang was a natural consequence of the laws of physics, and that there’s no room in our lives for the concept of a creator or heaven.
Even if you’re a leading physicist, I must say, that’s a very bold claim to make. Is it ego that allows someone to so confidently proclaim that since science and math exist, God does not? (Does absence of evidence count as evidence of absence?) I believe in the rotation of the planets and their orbit around the sun, but I also believe God makes the sun come up every day and is responsible for the changing of the seasons. The two are not incompatible.
While I can understand the idea of not wanting God to exist (because then I’m answerable to a higher power and the idea of sin is real), this is where my bet-hedging comes in. If you believe this life is all we’ve got, it makes sense to me that you’d want to live it up while you’re here. Party like there’s no tomorrow, carpe diem! If that’s your mentality, you’re going to look at Christians and think “what a waste. They think there’s an afterlife. They’re wasting their opportunity to enjoy the best life has to offer right now.”
If their beliefs turn out to be correct, then that’s true. This is all we’ve got. The catch is, this belief has an interesting result. Whether you indulge in every possible pleasure during this life or deny yourself even basic comforts by living like a monk, once you die, you’re not even going to be aware that you were right or wrong. You’re aware of nothing. Your consciousness simply ceases to exist. Atheists don’t even have the opportunity to gloat over the “religious fools.” Neither do the religious fools have time to feel sorry for themselves for having squandered the opportunity to enjoy life more. In other words, the religious folks still vanish into oblivion, but they never have the opportunity to experience sorrow at having missed out.
Now consider the other position. What if Christians are right? What if there IS an afterlife and people who don’t believe in God have missed out on the chance to seek mercy and forgiveness? Well sadly, the answer is…”sorry, there’s nothing you can do about it now.” If Christians are right, it means people who have missed their chance have nothing but time to be sorrowful about their choice, and they have all of eternity to regret ignoring any possible evidence they can recall dismissing.
So if people like Dr. Hawking are right, then he’s no worse off than he imagined he would be, and it means Christians are wasting their time believing in Christ and giving up some good times in the here and now. If he was wrong, though, he’s wishing with everything he is that he could go back and choose differently.
Seems to me that’s a very lopsided either-or. Even if you’re not a religious or spiritual person, but logic makes sense to you, what would you rather do…forfeit some pretty wild parties, or forfeit an eternity of anguish?
Just something to think about.