Famous Atheists

I recently ran across an online article entitled “Most Famous Atheists” (http://www.rantlifestyle.com/2014/01/01/famous-atheistsagnostics/). 

And it got me thinking. 

I’m all for freedom of religion.  Or freedom from religion, if that’s what someone chooses.  If a person doesn’t believe in or pray to the God of my understanding, that’s fine by me.  It’s their life, their opinion and their choice. 

I just don’t understand how they could not believe.

How can you look around at nature and not believe?  How can you not believe when you dodge that bullet, make it through a red light before the drunk driver, duck your head before the tree limb falls, miss the plane that later crashes, or stop to answer the winning phone call from Publishers Clearinghouse as you’re walking out the door?  Is it all fate?  Or God?

Some of the most famous and financially successful people of our society were listed in this article as being atheist or agnostic.  People like Jack Nicholson, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Mick Jagger, George Carlin, Brad & Angie.  Even Billy Joel, who was my hero when I was a kid.  Never saw that coming when I listened to his music.

My question is…how can they not attribute their fame, fortune and blessings to someone greater than themselves?   Do they really believe they rose to fame alone, where all of the opportunities that came their way were just circumstance or coincidence?

At the risk of sounding preachy, it’s my belief that God has a plan for all of us and He wants to help us achieve that plan.  I believe the blessings that have come my way over the years were of Divine Design, not luck.  I know these celebrities have worked hard to get to where they are in life, but I don’t think they did it alone.  I think it’s a shame when they take all the credit for their fame and don’t acknowledge the One who got them there in the first place. 

So they don’t believe in God.  It must be a lonely way to live, to not have God in your life to talk to after you win a Grammy. 

Or have God to pray to for help when you get bad news.

If you have questions about your faith or lack thereof, visit our Sunday Service at First Presbyterian Church of Monroe (www.fpcmonroe.com).  Maybe you’ll find your answer.