I am fortunate in that I can listen to a lot of audio while I work. One particular show I listen to is the Don Johnson Radio Show (It’s now an internet radio and podcast. Click here for details). A few weeks ago Don and Brandon, the hosts, talked with an atheist caller in an excruciatingly painful display of irrationalism. Hat tip to Don and Brandon for their extreme patience. I recommend listening regularly—though that particular show might give you a headache.

Anyway, the caller used a phrase that’s all too common among atheists as a dismissal of religions. Simply, he says that “faith is belief in the absence of evidence.” Unfortunately, too many Christians accept this dichotomy as well, as do other religions. I know the LDS missionaries that I spent about 2 months talking with last year held that view. Their explanation for why we saw little or no evidence for the historical claims of Joseph Smith was because if they could prove it, there wouldn’t be need for faith.

This is not what Christianity means by faith. Continue Reading…