Recent surveys of the Arab world show that people who identify themselves as “atheists” or “agnostics” are on the rise. This is particularly interesting in a culture that is predominately religious where, in many countries, it is a punishable offense for a person to proclaim they do not believe in God.
Whether we admit it or not, we have all struggled through periods of doubt. Some would try to hide it, but I think it is acceptable, even healthy, to have certain doubts. Having doubts means that a person is thinking and evaluating things.
Some say this new trend in the Arab world is a direct reaction to a culture of absolute fundamentalism and oppression that forces on people what to think and what to believe; others think that it is not necessarily new—it has always existed, but we just know more about it now because of the widespread of social media.
We have several programs that tackle these issues. Some of the titles are “iDoubt,” “Religion or Science,” and “Where is the Truth?” They address many of the doubts young people may struggle with, presenting both scientific facts side by side with Biblical teachings to help them think through these issues. Topics include the existence of God, creation vs. evolution, Bible authenticity, historical facts about Christ, faith and archeology, etc.
As with all our programs, we do not push our beliefs on the listeners but rather encourage them to think for themselves and ask God for guidance. We present the good news in a loving way and leave them to make an informed decision. The Word of God never returns void—I have no doubt!
