I have a confession to make. Sometimes I visit an atheist Twitter account. Occasionally I like to read what they’re up to. The quote below appeared in a tweet on the page recently and I don’t have the vaguest notion what it means.
Religion is now a post-modern relativistic shape-shifting spectre, able to take the shape of any individual’s mental inadequacies.
Can anyone explain what this writer was saying? What’s a “spectre”?
Every time I read atheist tweets I get tickled at their topics. For folks who don’t believe in God they certainly spend a lot of time talking about Him.
I don’t devalue their thoughts and beliefs. I respect them as legitimate children of God, regardless of their beliefs. They are entitled to believe or not believe whatever they choose. I will still show them the love of Christ at every turn. God gave them the gift of free will just like He gave us ours. If they want to exercise that gift to deny the existence of God, they have every right to do so.
It seems to me atheists like to talk about logic and reason and science and facts. There’s a law of logic that says in part,
two contradictory statements can not both be true at the same time and in the same way.
Put another way, A can not be A and not-A at the same time and in the same way.
So, given the atheist’s adamant belief in logic and reason and science, what our differences with them boil down to is:
- Either there is a God or there is not.
- Either God’s right, or they’re right. They both can not be right at the same time and in the same way.
Put another way,it’s black or white. No middle ground.
I’ll choose to believe God every time, thank you.
For His Glory 
I think this person is trying to say that religion is a ghost of our particular imaginations, which the writer is trying to imagine him or herself as an intellectual! But atheism is just as much a spectre, in this regard, as belief in God. Both require faith.
LikeLike
A “spectre” is the British spelling for the word “specter”, which refers to an apparition. So this writer was only indicating that religion is just another “apparition” that people create in their minds in their efforts to explain what they see and experience without being willing to admit that it might be caused by the one and only true God, the creator of everything. Our God of faith, like that of Abraham and Peter and Paul, is the only God who really does anything and who has any power to reveal himself. All the gods of our various religions have no powers to do anything, not even to reveal themselves. They are only “apparitions”, and atheism is just another “apparition” that even denies the existence of any gods. Religions are not logical. I hope that this brief comment helps.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bob, thank you for your explanation. I would like to us it as part of a post I’m considering with responses to my question post. Thank you.
LikeLike
Steven, go ahead and use it elsewhere, if it fits into the context of the other message. I’m glad that it was helpful. Bob
LikeLiked by 1 person
hum, I know about spectre from “get Smart” that late 60’s tv show…think they are trying to say ghost….maybe they thought if they just strung a lot of “intelligent sounding words” together the statement would make sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha. Maybe so. Thanks for your comment. Did you ever use the cone of silence? :>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol
LikeLike
Like I’ve said before…. Nobody has ever been able to create something out of nothing and yet people still deny the existence of a creator.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know. It’s sad. Thanks, Michelle, for your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t devalue their thoughts and beliefs. I respect them as legitimate children of God, regardless of their beliefs. They are entitled to believe or not believe whatever they choose. I will still show them the love of Christ at every turn. God gave them the gift of free will just like He gave us ours. If they want to exercise that gift to deny the existence of God, they have every right to do so.
This is so important. I teach my children that light shines in a dark room. It doesn’t hit anyone over the head. God is infinitely more patient with people than we can imagine. We simply need to shine…
Wonderful, Steven!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tanya, thank you SO MUCH for your encouragement and confirmation of the Truth of the Gospel. God bless you, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That same to you, Steven! You are a tremendous encouragement to me as well. God bless you!
LikeLike