A logical and spiritual breakdown of the blind faith behind secularism and materialism
“Atheism is not the absence of faith—it’s the redirection of it.”
— Dr. Peter Kreeft, Catholic philosopher, Boston College
Introduction:
Atheists often pride themselves on being "people of reason," rejecting religious faith as unscientific, unproven, or outdated. But when you strip away the surface, you’ll find that atheism itself rests on a series of unprovable, unscientific, and illogical assumptions—what we might fairly call "miracles."
They don’t call them miracles. But when judged by the same standard atheists apply to theism, these beliefs require just as much—if not more—faith.
This article isn’t written to mock. It’s written for the wandering soul who still believes in logic, evidence, and truth—and is willing to follow reason wherever it leads, even if that path leads back to God.
1. Something Came from Nothing
Atheism often begins with the claim that the universe came into existence unprompted, from absolutely nothing—no space, time, energy, or matter.
But as Dr. Lawrence Krauss (an atheist physicist) tried to argue in A Universe from Nothing, his “nothing” wasn’t really nothing. It was a quantum vacuum—a something.
“Nothing” has no properties, no potential, and no reality. So how can it produce anything?
Even atheist philosopher Quentin Smith admitted:
“The universe came from nothing, by nothing, for nothing.”
That’s not science. That’s faith in magic.
2. Order Came from Chaos
The universe operates with staggering mathematical precision. Fundamental constants (like the gravitational constant, speed of light, Planck’s constant) are so precisely balanced that life could not exist if they varied by even a fraction.
Physicist Paul Davies (agnostic) wrote:
“The impression of design is overwhelming.”
Sir Fred Hoyle, a secular astrophysicist, said:
“It’s as if a superintellect has monkeyed with physics.”
Yet atheists still insist it’s all random.
That’s not science. That’s denial of design.
3. Life Came from Non-Life
Atheists believe that non-living matter spontaneously became alive—a process called abiogenesis. Yet no laboratory on Earth has ever replicated this.
Chemist Dr. James Tour, a synthetic organic chemist and nanotech expert, states:
“We have no idea how the first life form arose from non-life. None. Zip.”
He continues:
“Those who say we do are either uninformed or misleading you.”
Yet atheists believe it.
Why? Because they have to.
4. Consciousness Came from Matter
How do subjective experiences, self-awareness, thoughts, and emotions arise from neurons and chemicals?
There is no atheist explanation. None.
Philosopher Thomas Nagel, an atheist himself, admitted in Mind and Cosmos:
“Consciousness is not physically explainable by natural selection or material causes.”
He even criticizes other atheists for clinging to materialism:
“The fear of religion is a big motivation for the belief system.”
So even some atheists know this is a faith position—not science.
5. The Laws of Logic and Mathematics Just Exist
Materialists believe only physical things are real. But math, logic, and reason are immaterial. They cannot evolve, decay, or be measured by science. And yet, science depends on them.
If only matter exists, where did these immaterial laws come from?
Answer from Catholicism: They reflect the Logos—the rational Word of God (see John 1:1).
Answer from atheism: 🤷♂️ “They just are.”
6. Objective Morality Evolved from Amoral Atoms
Atheists claim that morality is either:
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Subjective (a social construct)
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Evolutionary (helpful behaviors for survival)
Yet they also insist that racism, murder, rape, and abuse are always wrong—even if other cultures, times, or species think otherwise.
But if we’re just evolved animals, why should anything be morally right or wrong?
Atheist philosopher J.L. Mackie admitted:
“If objective values exist, then God probably exists. But I don't believe in God—so I reject objective morality.”
That’s not reason. That’s avoidance.
7. Free Will Emerged from Determinism
In a purely material world, everything is governed by cause and effect. Your thoughts and choices are just the results of atoms bouncing around in your brain.
So where does free will come from?
Neuroscientist Sam Harris, a prominent atheist, openly says:
“Free will is an illusion.”
But then atheists tell you:
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“Think for yourself!”
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“Make good choices!”
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“Stand up for what’s right!”
You can’t have it both ways.
Without God, you are a robot.
8. The Universe Created Itself
Some atheists claim that the universe is self-caused—that it brought itself into being.
But that’s logically impossible. Something cannot exist before it exists in order to cause itself. That’s like saying a book wrote itself—or a builder built himself.
“Every effect has a cause.”
— Aristotle, Aquinas, and the entire basis of science
But atheists believe the greatest effect—the universe—has no cause.
9. The Human Soul Is an Illusion (But Still Special)
Atheists deny the existence of the soul. You’re just a meat computer running software encoded in DNA.
Yet they still speak of:
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Dignity
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Human rights
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Love
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Hope
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Justice
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Meaning
These concepts are spiritual in nature. Materialism cannot explain them.
Dr. Mortimer Adler, a former secular philosopher who later converted, once said:
“Only the existence of a spiritual soul can account for man's rationality.”
10. Everything Has a Reason—Except the Biggest Things
Atheists will grill Christians:
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“Why do you believe in God?”
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“What caused God?”
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“How do you explain suffering?”
But they will not ask:
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“Why is there something rather than nothing?”
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“Why does the universe obey laws?”
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“Why do we seek meaning and truth at all?”
It’s selective skepticism.
It’s faith disguised as science.
Conclusion: Atheism Requires Faith—Catholicism Requires Courage
This article is not an attack on atheists. Many are sincere, intelligent, and searching. But it is a challenge to the unquestioned assumptions of modern secularism.
If you believe:
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In reason
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In truth
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In love
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In justice
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In the dignity of human life
Then you already believe in things that point beyond matter.
The Catholic faith doesn’t ask you to abandon reason—it asks you to use it fully.
As St. John Paul II said:
“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”
Ready to Take the Next Step?
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Read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
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Watch Fr. Robert Spitzer’s series on science and the soul
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Explore The Case for Catholicism by Dr. Trent Horn
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Reflect honestly: Which worldview explains more—theism or atheism?
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
You were made for truth. And truth, when followed honestly, will always lead to Christ.
