Now here's the issues... Penn's counter arguments to me centered on two specific areas:
1) you cannot prove God / creation, but you don't have to prove (believe) any specific alternative
2) if God exists He is an evil bully for demanding we all believe in Him or suffer eternal punishment
So let's take the first one:
I'm funny this way but assuming a physical reality, I see only two possibilities:
1) some being beyond this reality made/makes it what it is, OR
2) some random coincidence of chaos happened to generate the reality we have.
Again, this assumes reality as opposed to some "we're all in a dream and when Pam wakes up Bobby's not actually dead" scenario (sorry for the old 'Dallas' reference if you're under 30... instead think Leonardo Decaprio a la' Inception if you're cool young and hip.)
So take random coincidence. The probability of so many random factors needed to take place in the exact correct and specific order for life to occur at all, much less some form of semi-sentient life is of such an order and magnitude that I am convinced the avowed atheist has a much greater faith to believe as they do than the creationist to believe this ordered universe came about by a creative and purposeful act. I asked my buddy Penn a few times - what else? His only response was just because it can't be thought of doesn't mean it doesn't exist, cop out.
Either somehow out of nothing came a soup of chaos and disorder which then proceeded to become a perfectly ordered arrangement capable of forming, evolving, and sustaining life OR a perfectly ordered purposeful creation has been brought forth from a being capable of doing so. What else is there? How else did all this get here? Of course, from this come the next questions no atheist wants to even consider.
What kind of being is this Creator? Why did He bring forth such a creation? How active is He in this Creation? What might be then expected of us by such a being? Nope, easier just to say god does not exist and move on to living as we choose, no justification then needed. This is intellectual dishonesty at its finest, the culmination of the atheist mind is it isn't because I say it isn't until I prove differently to myself.
SECOND... of course Jesus is a bully... you know in that way that bully's leave their eternal state of glory and power place themselves in a weaker existence and then sacrifice themselves even to death suffering the eternal judgement due others. So we pick out a few verses out of context and obsess on the one issue no atheist (or nominal christian for that matter) wants to confront as relates to themselves but will mead out on any and all - judgement. The truth is we are all under judgement, everyone of us. That's so much worse isn't it, it's not just the non-believer subject to Holy contempt and punishment - it is all of humanity. We all have the same problem and concern. Some of us choose to ignore it, some to confront it, and some to accept it.
It is not as the atheist will claim 'Believe or suffer torment' - even if the failure of the church has been to try to sell salvation under such guise for many years as 'fire insurance'. NO! It's this, you are going to suffer judgement like everyone else - except that by the very grace and mercy of God you won't because by belief you are covered under such. It is NOT believe or get out of the boat to drown... It IS get in the boat so you don't drown out there in the water. There is a subtle difference in direction that the mind clouded with sin refuses to even acknowledge. It is the man who doubts gravity only to prove it in himself too late to benefit from that understanding. It is the child who disbelieves the parent who warns the burner is hot, only to have the scars as proof. The judgement is there for all due singularly to the fallen nature of humanity, but those who believe are prevented from having to experience it.
So then what... instead of celebrate in acceptance of such a gift as life they revel in their rebellion, pleased with themselves enough to demand from their non-existent evil overlord justification for his failings. This is the truth on its head that starts with the presupposition that there is no god AND the just-in-case caveat in the same breath that if He is then He is to blame for all evils, failures, and shortcoming, which are in the fallen world and fallen humanity. The if You exist You should have - created telling Creator - clay to Potter - failure in those who consider themselves to be driven only by logic and reason. An art, science, and religion devised and founded on one presupposition 'there is no god' and a failsafe that 'if there is' well I judge him rather than he judging me.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul AND love your neighbor as yourself..." but the atheist claims we hate and we bully. That the God-as-man who uttered those words and gave Himself as a sacrifice to overcome death and sin for us is instead a Manson-type death cult leader who demands life and blood rather than gives it. Why such a distorted view? They are looking at an imperfect image of their non-existent god in themselves (and even worse in empty believers) and placing all judgement anywhere but on themselves.
The atheist will tell you we are much alike except that we stopped at one less God than they did. I say the atheist and I have in common a great disbelief in their god. I am further convinced they have yet to truly encounter the Lord of creation and the Christ sent for their salvation. Speaking as one with scars gained in 'let me prove it myself', I am praying for that moment of connection to Christ for these folks that they might have a truer understanding of judgement now rather than then.
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