April 21, 2013:

A Postscript To Last Sunday’s Sermon

One of our members asked me after church last Sunday: “I agree with you that an agnostic might find Pilgrim a helpful place to be, but what about an atheist?” In my message I said that an agnostic could find other agnostics in Pilgrim Church, could find a congregation that welcomes all questions and does not believe any individual or church (or any religion) has all the truth about God and the meaning and purpose of human life, and, most important, I think, would find in our church loving, caring people ready to support us in times of sorrow and need, and rejoice with us in times of joy. “So, my agnostic friend, whoever you are, wherever you are on your life’s journey, you are welcome here!” Why not share this invitation with some of your friends who have doubts or questions about faith and life?

But what about an atheist? Would he or she be welcome in Pilgrim Church? I hope so, because Pilgrim exists for the sake of all who are searching for truth. Is an atheist searching for truth? I don’t want to make a blanket judgement, but it seems to me that many of the “new” atheists in our time have minds as closed as any biblical literalist. They know there is no God as firmly as fundamentalists of whatever faith believe they know all there is to be known about God. To me, atheists and fundamentalists are simply two sides of the same coin. Both believe that human beings can completely prove or disprove the existence of a loving God. Both believe their arguments can be supported in different ways. For the atheist, science; for the fundamentalist, the Bible. There is no argument with that kind of certainty. Nor should we try.

But if an atheist by accident or invitation should come into Pilgrim Church, I hope such a person would discover the same openness to searching for truth that an agnostic would find. I hope the atheist would want to join us in helping those in need. I hope the atheist would find compassion for times of sorrow and celebration for times of joy. I believe that an atheist would find deep friendship here. Life is lonely enough. Why go it alone?

“So, my atheist friend, whoever you are, wherever you are on your life’s journey, you’re welcome here!”

Love,
Dave