I have heard atheism defined as “false ideology”. Is this definition possible?

Good morning. My name is Francesco.

I have heard atheism defined as “false ideology”.

I have not found anything about it on the internet.

Is this definition possible?

What do you think?

Kind regards. Have a nice day.

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Priest’s answer 

Dear Francesco,

1. It is the first time that I hear this expression. But I believe it is not far from the truth.

2. Someone said that so far there has been no proof that denies the existence of God.

While many have been brought forward for the contrary thesis.

3. No serious person can say that God does not exist because he does not see him.

There are many things that cannot be seen, yet they exist.

Without going too far: thoughts cannot be seen, yet they exist.

Even though they are not visible, they can be manifested through signs and words.

4. God also manifests himself through signs (creation and the very wise laws that govern it).

The entomologist Fabre, taking an insect in his hand, said that there was no need to demonstrate the existence of God, because it was completely evident.

Scientists with all their skill would not be able to create one in the laboratory. And if they were to succeed, they would borrow science from what they have seen in nature.

5. For this reason St. Paul (for Christians it is the Holy Spirit who speaks through him) said that he who does not recognize God by the works done by him is inexcusable (cf. Rm 1,20).

Here is the commentary of St. Thomas: “In this regard it must be considered that a man manifests his ideas to another through external signs, for example words or writings; God, on the other hand, manifests something to man in a twofold way.T-N.

In a first way, by infusing the interior light through which man knows, Ps 42,3: Send forth your light and your truth.

In a second way, by placing before him external signs of his wisdom which are the sensible creatures. Sir 1,7: He spreads wisdom in all his works. T-N.

So, then, God manifested to them the knowledge (of his knowledge) both internally, by infusing the light, and externally, by placing visible creatures in which he can read it as in a book”.

And again: “As art is manifested through a work of the craftsman, so also the wisdom of God is manifested through creatures. Wis 13,5:For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen.” And: “God, in fact, can be known with the intellect, not with the senses or with the imagination that do not transcend corporeal reality”. T-N.

6. Why are they without excuse if they have not known?

St. Thomas writes: “Ignorance excuses guilt when it proceeds by causing guilt, not when it is caused by it.

But if ignorance is caused by guilt, ignorance itself cannot excuse the guilt that follows. Therefore, if someone commits murder because of drunkenness, he is not excused from guilt, because by getting drunk he has sinned; for this reason Aristotle says that he deserves a double sanction”.

7. For this reason Jesus said: “The light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” (Jn 3:19-21).

Therefore, declaring that God does not exist is often an ideological prejudice.

But other times it also arises from a darkening produced in one’s own mind. We know well what this darkening comes from, although the person who suffers it is not able to be aware of it.

We wish you all the best, I bless you and I remember you in prayer.

Father Angelo

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