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C. Denial of the existence of God in its various forms.
Students of Comparative Religion and missionaries often testify to the fact that the idea of God
is practically universal in the human race. It is found even among the most uncivilized nations
and tribes of the world. This does not mean, however, that there are no individuals who deny
the existence of God altogether, nor even that there is not a goodly number in Christian lands
who deny the existence of God as He is revealed in Scripture, a self-existent and self-conscious
Person of infinite perfections, who works all things according to a pre-determined plan. It is the
latter denial that we have in mind particularly here. This may and has assumed various forms in
the course of history.
1. ABSOLUTE DENIAL OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.
As stated above, there is strong evidence for
the universal presence of the idea of God in the human mind, even among tribes which are
uncivilized and have not felt the impact of special revelation. In view of this fact some go so far
as to deny that there are people who deny the existence of God, real atheists; but this denial is
contradicted by the facts. It is customary to distinguish two kinds, namely, practical and
theoretical atheists. The former are simply godless persons, who in their practical life do not
reckon with God, but live as if there were no God. The latter are, as a rule, of a more
intellectual kind, and base their denial on a process of reasoning. They seek to prove by what
seem to them conclusive rational arguments, that there is no God. In view of the semen
religionis implanted in every man by his creation in the image of God, it is safe to assume that
no one is born an atheist. In the last analysis atheism results from the perverted moral state of
man and from his desire to escape from God. It is deliberately blind to and suppresses the most
fundamental instinct of man, the deepest needs of the soul, the highest aspirations of the
human spirit, and the longings of a heart that gropes after some higher Being. This practical or
intellectual suppression of the operation of the semen religionis often involves prolonged and
painful struggles.
There can be no doubt about the existence of practical atheists, since both Scripture and
experience testify to it. Psalm 10:4b declares of the wicked, “All his thoughts are, There is no
God.” According to Ps. 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” And Paul reminds
the Ephesians that they were formerly “without God in the world,” Eph. 2:12. Experience also
testifies abundantly to their presence in the world. They are not necessarily notoriously wicked
in the eyes of men, but may belong to the so-called “decent men of the world,” though
respectably indifferent to spiritual things. Such people are often quite conscious of the fact that
they are out of harmony with God, dread to think of meeting Him, and try to forget about Him.
They seem to take a secret delight in parading their- atheism when they have smooth sailing,
but have been known to get down on their knees for prayer when their life was suddenly