Young Christian Kills Himself Because He Could Not Handle Atheistic Arguments
Ever read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins? I have. He is well versed in his arguments against Christianity. Dawkins was so convincing that a grieving New York Dad blames him for the suicide of his son. Here’s a snippet:
A New York man is linking the suicide of his 22-year-old son, a military veteran who had bright prospects in college, to the anti-Christian book “The God Delusion” by Richard Dawkins after a college professor challenged the son to read it.
“Three people told us he had taken a biology class and was doing well in it, but other students and the professor were really challenging my son, his faith. They didn’t like him as a Republican, as a Christian, and as a conservative who believed in intelligent design,” the grief-stricken father, Keith Kilgore, told WND about his son, Jesse.
What can we blame Jesse Kilgore’s suicide? Religion? God, if you believe in him? Possible post traumatic stress disorder since Kilgore was a vet? Some other form of mental illness? I know what I think, but I won’t speculate. I must say that leaving faith or Jesus in general is more than depressing…I’d liken it to the death of a loved one. That is exactly how it is describe to me by those who identify as exChristian. But, I SEE NO LOGICAL REASON TO COMMIT SUICIDE, EVEN IF YOU NO LONGER BELIEVE IN JESUS. LaShawn Barber said it best when she made the following comment:
Can you imagine a hardened atheist blowing his brains out because he’d lost faith in atheism and began to believe in a God who allowed his Son Jesus Christ to be sacrificed on the cross to pay for his sins, and that God loves him and wants to give him life, abundant and eternal?
Come to think of it, I can’t. I DON’T KNOW OF ANY FORMER ATHEIST WHO CLAIMED TO BE DEPRESSED AFTER COMING TO A BELIEF IN GOD. But I’ve heard numerous stories of depression from those who went from believers to atheists. Why is that?
All I can say is this, if the God of the bible is truly merciful, Kilgore is resting in peace.
“I DON’T KNOW OF ANY FORMER ATHEIST WHO CLAIMED TO BE DEPRESSED AFTER COMING TO A BELIEF IN GOD.”
Good point. I think atheists sometimes assume that Christians mock them with “I told you so” statements if they become believers, but it is nothing of the sort. We rejoice when people believe, just like Heaven does (Luke 15).
Trusting in Christ saves your eternal soul. If someone thought that was depressing then they have some serious problems!
It’s sad when people feel that the only choices they have is between extreme belief on the one end or extreme disbelief on the other. We “Liberals like Christ” recognize that there is a great deal of merit in many of the arguments of “atheists” and have no hesitation in rejecting whatever is irrational in the bible and “Christianity”. And we do so not for the sake of being sheek or hip, but because we believe that if God gave us brains, he or she intended us to USE THEM.
If you reject things in the Bible it isn’t because you are using your brains, it is because you aren’t using them hard enough. The original writings turned out just like God wanted them to.
We already see in Genesis 3 that Satan says, “Did God really say . . .”
Yes, God really said it all. Christians should seek to understand it properly and in context, but not to dismiss what they don’t like. That isn’t “extreme belief,” just belief.
Well, I was never raised in “the church” as they say, and I am sure some “Christians” viewed me in a negative light because of this. At this point in my life however, I am not affiliated with any religion. I don’t call myself an athiest, but with the way I have been attacked at times for holding a different opinion on a subject that people I know, follow based on what their Bible says, it seems they have categorized me as such. I won’t denounce someone for believing what they want, but blaming a person’s suicide on the sole influence of a book that questioned biblical teaching is a tad bit much…I could go on…but I’d rather conclude. I think in life experiences that throw a heavy amount of anger and frustration your way just because you hold different beliefs and understandings, one should stick to what works for them. For me, that is choosing to be spiritual rather than religious. I believe in a higher power beyond living human reach, and that’s what works for me. If you don’t like it, then worry about yourself, and stop wasting your time trying to make someone feel bad about their choice. It almost never results in the person converting to the other party’s belief and often causes a lot of hurt on both sides. Leave it alone people.
Hey Lor
I love your blog. I was raised in the church I am a Seventh Day Adventist christian. It is sad anybody would take their life. I have mixed feelings about religion. I think every young person goes through their doubts. That is why you must lead a good life as much as possible.
At the end of the day people find religion when their dying or when they are “down and out”. That is not the definition of Christ Love. You must love god regardless of your circumstances.
That is just my opinion.
I don’t know if Dawkin’s book was the primary cause. I do know that Dawkins is an educated fool, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic.
I do know a couple of atheist that found God in some of their lowest points of life, so it is possible.
Hi there,
Suicide is very complicated and eventhough people may SPECULATE on why a person chooses to kill himself or herself, the truth is that suicide decisions are rarely the result of just one thing but rather a series of deep-seated issue that consume the person’s mind…
This is so very sad.
One of my closest relatives is an avowed atheist.
It’s always more difficult making a transition from fantasy to reality than the reverse. Realizing there is no Santa Claus, no paradise, no fantasy land, no warm and fuzzy parent god to nurture you like a child can range from emotionally unsettling to downright traumatic.
But we soon have to grow up. To lament about this is to miss the point. What we believe should be base on reality, on what’s true, not what makes us feel good. Reality is not established by feelings.
I’ll take reality over fantasy every time. It makes us much more able to deal with the challenges of real life on this mortal coil.