Atheism Will Never Survive (and Here's Why)
Dostoevsky's Prophetic Warning for Young Minds
Marcel Roux (1878-1922)
Atheists think themselves superior to those who believe in God. But are they really?
Fyodor Dostoevsky dealt with the same question toward the end of his life. Russia became more industrialized, and with industrialization came anti-religious “enlightenment” ideals. Darwinism spread fast. More and more people fled the Orthodox Church for naturalism.
He came to the conclusion that atheism cannot survive.
In his final novel, the Karamazov brothers and their conflict with each other and their father illustrate the human struggle with the brand new atheism. Which seemed unbeatable and would soon devolve into the communist Soviet Union.
At the beginning of Part II, just after watching his brother and father fight over a woman, which ended with his father’s face bloodied and brutalized, Alyosha Karamazov is about to return to his kin from the nearby monastery where he serves when he’s stopped by Father Paissy, who gives him a profound and prophetic warning:
“Remember, young man, unceasingly…that the science of this world, having united itself into a great force, has, especially in the past century, examined everything heavenly that has been bequeathed to us in sacred books, and, after hard analysis, the learned ones of this world have absolutely nothing left of what was once holy. But they have examined parts and missed the whole, and their blindness is even worthy of wonder. Meanwhile the whole stands before their eyes as immovably as ever, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Did it not live for nineteen centuries, does it not live even now in the movements of individual souls and in the movements of the popular masses? Even in the movements of the souls of those same all-destroying atheists, it lives, as before, immovably! For those who renounce Christianity and rebel against it are in their essence of the same image of the same Christ, and such they remain, for until now neither their wisdom nor the ardor of their hearts has been able to create another, higher image of man and his dignity than the image shown of old by Christ. And whatever their attempts, the results have been only monstrosities. Remember this especially, young man, since you are being resigned to the world by your departing elder. Perhaps, remembering this great day, you will not forget my words either, given as cordial words of parting for you, because you are young and the temptations of the world are heavy and your strength will not endure them.”
Through four crucial claims, the Father tears apart any notion that atheism can survive for long, but in its time, it will be a dangerous, deadly enemy to humanity. We’re going to explore those claims one by one and discover how they relate to our world today…
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Blindness of the Learned Ones
“Remember, young man, unceasingly…that the science of this world, having united itself into a great force, has, especially in the past century, examined everything heavenly that has been bequeathed to us in sacred books, and, after hard analysis, the learned ones of this world have absolutely nothing left of what was once holy. But they have examined parts and missed the whole, and their blindness is even worthy of wonder.”
Paissy takes a passing reference to 1 Corinthians 13:12 and modernizes it for Alyosha.
Modern science thinks itself clever. But it lacks full power and potential because it disregards what is heavenly and holy.
Science only sees in part, not the whole.
One can’t help but picture “learned ones” in air quotes. Paissy no doubt dubs them with that label based on their own considerations of themselves. They go about with lofty haughtiness, picturing themselves as the best of the best of the best, all the while being deceived.
Because they limit themselves to the study of the material and mundane and can’t go beyond that domain. Their hubris and atheism won’t allow it.
Therefore, considering them “learned” can be nothing less than pure theater.
Stuck in physics, they cannot grasp metaphysics, and they are indeed blind...and weak. The “learned ones” can’t stand against the Higher Power of the kingdom of God.
The Immovable Whole
“Meanwhile the whole stands before their eyes as immovably as ever, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Did it not live for nineteen centuries, does it not live even now in the movements of individual souls and in the movements of the popular masses? Even in the movements of the souls of those same all-destroying atheists, it lives, as before, immovably!”
Paissy combines the Imago Dei with the historical resilience of Christianity.
Since Dostoevsky lived and died in the 19th century, his count of Christianity’s years stops there, but Christianity continues to be resilient even now, no matter what it faces. Nothing has destroyed it.
G. K. Chesterton, born seven years before Dostoevsky’s death, noted that Christianity’s survival has been akin to ongoing resurrections, mirroring the Savior’s own destruction of and escape from the grave. Every time the enemies of Christ think they have beaten him, he blasts aside the stone anew.
No other faith system has lasted as long. None. And yet Christianity has done so and also spread worldwide despite relentless persecution.
Paissy rightly sees that fact combined with the evident inherent value inside all humans as God’s little images to be irrefutable. Even atheists cannot escape the latter, for any attempts at escape result in abominations.
Manufactured Monsters
“For those who renounce Christianity and rebel against it are in their essence of the same image of the same Christ, and such they remain, for until now neither their wisdom nor the ardor of their hearts has been able to create another, higher image of man and his dignity than the image shown of old by Christ. And whatever their attempts, the results have been only monstrosities.”
Christ is the ultimate image of humankind. He lived to the fullest what we were designed to be and then gave his life to overcome sin and death and make the holy image of God permanent in this world and beyond.
Before and after his sacrifice, humans tried and still try to perfect humanity. Create utopias and always fail.
Paissy calls our attempts “monstrosities.” Little did Dostoevsky know just how monstrous the attempts would become. Over 10 million dead at the hands of the “utopia”-makers in a single century, something he would thankfully never live to see.
Although, it seems he suspected that outcome with Paissy’s prophetic words.
Without the perfected Imago Dei in Christ’s life and sacrifice, humans are mere animals to be experimented on. Fodder for the Frankensteins. Dolts for the Darwins.
You will be ruled by kings or by the King, and only the latter leads to salvation.
Strong Spirit, Weak Flesh
“Remember this especially, young man, since you are being resigned to the world by your departing elder. Perhaps, remembering this great day, you will not forget my words either, given as cordial words of parting for you, because you are young and the temptations of the world are heavy and your strength will not endure them.”
Alyosha Karamazov, while the specific addressee, represents all youth who reach adulthood and are sent out into our dead world.
Though he’s tasted the whole from having spent time around the wise fathers in the monastery and learned of Christ, unless he carries Christ with him, lives out the perfected image, he’s sure to be devoured. For his strength alone is insufficient.
Devils lurk around every corner with weapons beyond brute strength and mental fortitude. Their tactics of seduction...overwhelming.
Paissy says with confidence that Alyosha’s (anyone who thinks he can face the world alone) “strength will not endure.” Not “might not,” not “maybe could”...WILL not. Because sin crouches at the door waiting to twist, pervert, infect, and kill.
You cannot face the mundane without the holy, or you will become a monster yourself.
The Utter Futility of Atheism
Atheism, therefore, is futile because it has deliberately shoved aside the holy and made itself the soulless, monstrous option. Though promising the illusion of freedom, its only end is lust. Obsession. Seduction into evil via the promise of unattainable power.
Because it is void of the divine. Void of real life.
Prior to the warning, Alyosha already had a taste of what lust would bring. His father’s and brother’s (both atheists) obsession with Grushenka led to relational collapse and almost left his father dead.
Alyosha was about to step back into that horrid context. Not knowing what to expect.
Same for you each day when you walk out the door. Evil waits for any opportunity you give it to invade and twist your mind, unless you remain forever vigilant, walking in the footsteps of Christ.
Life resides in the Source, the perfect Imager. All else is folly.
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