The current interest in atheism reminds me of a story of a century and more ago. The distinguished speaker Robert Ingersoll was in Chicago to present the case for atheism. Walking in the loop district, Ingersoll paused to listen to a gospel message by Christian evangelist Dwight L. Moody, who was preaching on the street. After the message, Ingersoll challenged Moody to a debate on the existence of God. Moody agreed.

Moody suggested that Ingersoll have several people describe how it changed their lives to learn there is no God, to be convinced the Bible is a tissue of lies and that Christ could not have risen bodily from the dead. He said that after those testimonies, he would produce scores of former thieves, addicts, gangsters, prostitutes and the vilest of criminals whose lives were changed through faith in the saving grace of God and the cross of his son, Jesus Christ.

Needless to say, the debate never came off, for no one has ever been changed by atheism. God is real. His book is inerrant and infallible and Jesus lives.

Lyle P. Murphy
Overland Park