MINISTERIUM – A Journal of Contextual Theology Vol. 3 No. 1 (2017) 89-110 PRACTICAL ATHEISM: A PROBLEM OF FAITH IN NIGERIA Victor Ifeanyi Diocesan Secretariat, Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Nigeria. Email: [email protected] Abstract One of the greatest challenges to the Church today, and particularly to the Church in Nigeria is practical atheism, a peculiar form of atheism of those who theoretically profess belief in God but live as if God does not exist. Our article explains the meaning of practical atheism, shows some of its characteristics, the reason for its existence, its harmful effects, its mode of existence in Nigeria, and some possible ways to overcome the problem. In Nigeria, practical atheism is manifested especially in excessive pursuit of wealth by all categories of people. Consequently, many less privileged are cheated and deprived of their rights, the wealth of the nation is plundered by a privileged few, and bribery and corruption rampant. The Bible and Church documents clearly show, however, that a true Christian should see in Jesus Christ an exemplary life. Christ had come on earth to spend his life for others, and had called on his followers to imitate him and to heed his commandments. The ways to overcome the problem include a regular reflection on the beauty of created realities and on their cause, as well as on man’s life and a life of active faith. These would offer regular acknowledgement of God’s existence and relevance in everyday life. Words of advice and encouragement to the atheists for active involvement in Church’s life especially in liturgy could also save them. Praying for them and encouraging them to pray for more light on their problem could also help them. Introduction One of the problems that poses a great challenge to the Church today, and particularly to the Church in Nigeria is practical atheism. Pope Benedict XVI, says on it, “A particularly dangerous phenomenon for faith has arisen in our times.” And Robin A. Brace of U.K. Apologetics website makes it known that the attitude of practical atheism applies to the great majority of people in modern, liberal western society. This article tries to explain what is meant by practical atheism, show some of its characteristics, the reason for its appearance and existence, its harms to human society, its 88 PRACTICAL ATHEISM: A PROBLEM OF FAITH IN NIGERIA mode of existence in Nigeria, and some possible ways the problem could be overcome. Towards Explaining What is Meant by Practical Atheism Atheism is a word derived from the Greek word ἄθεος which among other things literally means, “without God”, “impious”, “forgetting God.” Atheism is widely known to be a complex phenomenon. The Fathers of Vatican Council II clearly point out that the word atheism is applied to different phenomena which are quite distinct from one another. For while God is expressly denied by some, others believe that man can assert absolutely nothing about Him. Still some never get to the point of raising questions about God. Because of the complex nature of atheism, “it is not possible to formulate a single, comprehensive definition of atheism that will cover all cases equally and adequately.” Reid has, however, pointed out that atheism can be considered from two main points of view: as a way of life and as an intellectual position. He argues that as an intellectual position, atheism is a philosophy, “a view of the universe as a closed and self-contained system, existing and intelligible in and of itself.” This form of atheism, also known as theoretical atheism, can be negative or positive depending on whether or not there is a lack of sufficient reflection on the question of God. Atheism as a way of life also exists in different forms. Reid distinguishes three different forms of this: absolute atheism, pseudo-atheism and practical atheism. In absolute atheism, often known as radical atheism, there is a life from which God has been consciously and consistently excluded. However, this atheist may think of God often, but only firmly and absolutely to shut him out of his life and to deepen his attachment to the values that have usurped the place of God. In pseudo-atheism the atheist denies and repudiates the gods being worshipped by other people. In the depth of his heart he is yearning for the presence of the God of life. He lives a life without God because God is nowhere to be found. His disbelief is in the ghosts and shadows which other men take for God. In practical atheism the atheist denies, by the way he lives, the God whom he professes to believe. Reid describes this as “the most common and certainly the most 89 MINISTERIUM – A Journal of Contextual Theology Vol. 3 No. 1 (2017) 89-110 curious” form of atheism. It is curious because the atheist is not only unaware of his atheism but would almost infallibly deny it if it were called to his attention. Thus the practical atheist is neither conscious of, nor disturbed by, the absence of God from his life. Characteristics of Practical atheism Practical atheism is thus the form of atheism in which the atheist makes an affirmation of God in his vision of the world but does not make this affirmation influence the determination of his comportment in his daily life. This is manifested in a special way by the tranquility of conscience with which he behaves as if God does not exist. This practical form of atheism is differentiated from that which is speculative by the fact that while the speculative atheist can offer an explanation for his lack of faith in God, the purely practical one cannot articulate the irrelevance of God in his decision on that which he ought to do. It is remarkable that though the daily life of the practical atheist is not influenced by his belief in God, there are some ways in which this belief is relevant to him. However, as the God in which he believes is a God of limited importance, the relevance of God to him is greatly limited. Johann offers two examples of how God can be relevant to the practical atheist. The first example is as “a God of explanation.” Here God is affirmed simply to satisfy the intellectual necessity of order and of intelligibility; he is a mere functional God, whose function is to hold things together to enable them act in a way that they could show good result, and to explain that which could not be otherwise understood. If there is a tragedy in one’s life one can call on him to obtain his help. Furthermore, if something “mysterious” happens one can place its origin in this God. But as long as things are running smoothly one has no need to think of him. The second example is as “a God of life-beyond-the tomb” with whom one should be in a reasonably good rapport if one does not wish to be lost forever. For the atheist with this notion of God, the constant fulfilment of certain religious norms and prescriptions is a sort of passport for the future life. With God’s norms fulfilled no other thing is felt to be required 90 PRACTICAL ATHEISM: A PROBLEM OF FAITH IN NIGERIA for being assured of a happy life in the world of the dead. Thus, for this atheist God is important but he constitutes a distinct and separate dimension of life clearly cut off from the decisions of daily life. The Bible Baptist Church further teaches that for the practical atheist, life consists only of self-centered concerns. The Church also makes a comparison between absolute atheists and practical atheists and observes these to have much similarity: Absolute atheists do not pray - practical atheists seldom pray. Absolute atheists boast they can get along without God. Practical atheists do little more than pay God a Sunday visit. Absolute atheists do not lay up treasure in heaven; neither do practical atheists. Both have all their treasures down here on earth! Absolute atheists do not set their affections on things above; neither do practical atheists. Absolute atheists are mainly concerned with those things that can be seen, heard, and felt; so also it is with practical atheists. Absolute atheists live only for today; so do practical atheists. The Bible Baptist Church further makes it understood, that often the practical atheist operates by distorting the image of God and making it into an image more acceptable to him. This Church, however, shows this practice to violate the second commandment of God that prohibits idolatry, making it known that the graven image, or imagined god, is nothing more than a projection of the mind, showing the reason why this idolatry is so hateful to God to be that the idolater rejects his Creator (God) as He is. The Bible Baptist Church again teaches that the practical atheist often gives little attention to the Word of God and often interprets it in a manner that suites him. It illustrates this with the information in the passage of Matthew 15:1-9, where the Pharisees, have the Word of God, but in actuality, consider what the elders and the clergy, and the priests said more important than what God said! Hence the issue is not that people don’t believe in God. It is simply that people do not like God and His laws. The Bible Baptist Church makes it further known that in practical atheism, the problem is mainly with the heart (Mt 15:7,8,9; Isa 29:13).