KAMPALA: In the last column, we defined an atheism as an ‘absence of belief in the existence of deities or a rejection of the belief that any deities exist’.
Perhaps you the reader is wondering why am bothering to write about atheism, when I in fact carry a first name that suggests that I am baptized.
It can be argued that Atheism takes on two forms. The theoretical form denies the existence of God based on reason… The practical form denies the existence of God by living as there was no God. So, it is probable, that one who carries a name like mine, associated with a faith, may practically be an atheist-a ‘practical’ atheist.
Does God exist?
The Catholic church teaches that the existence of God can be proven by reason alone. A bit strange, since most of us would expect that being a church, it would have advanced faith over reason. The dogmatic constitution Dei Filius which dealt with faith, reason, and their interrelations, decreed that ‘God, the origin and end of all things, can be known with certainty by the natural light of human reason, through the things that he created’. (Dei Filius 2).
The biblical Paul (formerly Saul), writes to the gentiles in Rome, ‘For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.’ (Romans 1:19-21).
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Way before Paul came on the scene, the author of the Book of Wisdom, writing in the 1st Century B.C, is not as charitable in his take over those ignorant of God. He writes; ‘All men who were ignorant of God were foolish by nature; and they were unable from the good things that are seen to know him who exists, nor did they recognise the craftsman while paying heed to his works; but they supposed that either fire or wind or swift air, or the circle of the stars, or turbulent water, or the luminaries of heaven were the gods that rule the world. If through delight in the beauty of these things, men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them. And if men were amazed at their power and working, let them perceive from them how much more powerful is he who formed them.
For from the greatness and beauty of created things comes a corresponding perception of their Creator. Yet these men are little to be blamed, for perhaps they go astray while seeking God and desiring to find him. For as they live among his works they keep searching, and they trust in what they see, because the things that are seen are beautiful.
Yet again, not even they are to be excused; for if they had the power to know so much that they could investigate the world, how did they fail to find sooner the Lord of these things?’ (Wisdom 13:1-9).
The idolatry that the writer of the book of Wisdom writes about is not lost on us. Here in Uganda, we have Nakayima tree in Mubende, that people move to, to consult the gods. Am told the Nakayima tree has breasts on its face, and the roots that have supported it for over 400 years. Apparently, there are bees in the root chambers that provide security to the mediums. It is easy to see why people would associate a tree with unique features to gods. Nnalubaale lake (Lake Victoria), is another which because of its peculiar features has been taken by many to have a connection to gods. Nnalubaale means ‘Lake of Lubaale’ (Lake of the gods) perhaps because of its expanse-which was beyond human imagination. These two examples show the logic in advancing the notion that creations should point to the creator.
Creation should be a logical pointer to the creator. Creation should be a ‘path’ to the creator. Augustine of Hippo (Theologian, Philosopher and Bishop) challenges us to ‘Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky. . . question all these realities. All respond: “See, we are beautiful.” Their beauty is a profession. These beauties are subject to change. Who made them if not the Beautiful One who is not subject to change?’
The problem is that some people instead of being led to the creator, concentrate on the path-on the creation. We need to remember that the creation, whoever beautiful, is a path, not a goal. The beauty that we savor should be a path to travel in order to arrive at an encounter with the Creator. This also applies to any method of prayer-which should also be a path. Unfortunately, some of us stop on the ‘road’ and just look at the ‘path’, in effect making a ‘god’ out of the path. We end up making ‘gods’ out of creations, which should have led us to the creator.
I have assumed that you, dear reader, believes that there is a Creator! In the next column, we shall attempt to discuss about the existence of a creator. The one that the Acholi call ‘Lubanga’; the Baganda call ‘Katonda’ and Banyankole call ‘Ruhanga’. Names that refer to the creative power of God.
Anthony Rucukye, an avid commentator on faith and social issues can be reached on; rucukye@yahoo.com
