The Beliefs That Deny God

The theism that we have by divine revelation gives the knowledge of an eternal, all-wise God, who exists in three Persons, and, who loves mankind so much that He created a gracious plan for eternal salvation. The triune God is revealed in limited form in the Old Testament, and more completely by progressive revelation in the New Testament.
Other theistic views are generally polytheistic, naturalistic, or pantheistic, and originate from the imaginations of the depraved human mind. Scripture tells us that our original ancestors, "even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or [gave] thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures" (Rom. 1:21-23). 

There are those who deny any divine being altogether. David said of them: "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God,’ they are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice" (Ps. 53:1). 

From what is stated above, we observe that the spectrum of unbelief can be both broad and deep. 

Atheism. Of atheism A. A. Hodge writes:
Atheism, according to its etymology, signifies a denial of the being of God. It was applied by the ancient Greeks to Socrates and other philosophers, to indicate that they failed to conform to the popular religion. In the same sense it was applied to the early Christians. Since the usage of the term Theism has been definitely fixed in all modern languages, atheism necessarily stands for a denial of the existence of a personal Creator and Moral Governor.1 The apostle Paul uses the word atheos only once. He speaks of the Gentiles who had no hope and were "without God" in the world (Eph. 2:12). Paul also says natural men are "haters of God" ("theostugys") (Rom. 1:30). And the lost are described as the godless sixteen times throughout the Scriptures. Job says, "the hope of the godless will perish" (Job 8:13). Though not all men are atheists, it is true that, "There is none who seeks for God" (Rom. 3:11b).

Agnosticism. The etymology of the word means simply not knowing. This view sets out to discredit any attempt to understand God. It stands firm in the belief that, if there is a God, one can never know of Him with certainty. "It is negative in every particular and therefore destructive in its effect upon truth which is gained by the normal functions of the human faculties."2

The spirit of agnosticism is reflected in the idolatrous Israelites who thought God, if He existed, could not see them worshipping their carved idols in the dark rooms of their houses. "The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land" (Ezek. 8:12). Yet He asked the Jewish people, "’Am I a God who is near, and not a God far off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places, so I do not see him?’ declares the Lord" (Jer. 23:23).

However, to know God in an intimate way is to come to Him through the revelation of His Word. Though nature reveals His handiwork, to know Him spiritually one must come to Him in spirit, and in humility! And then the issue of sin must be dealt with through the intercessory work of Christ on the cross. Jesus becomes the way to finding God!
Chafer lists other isms and philosophies that attempt to cloud the knowledge of the true God, or deny His existence and being altogether: 3

Evolution. All matter, the universe, and life on earth, evolved by chance without the working of a wise God. Matter is unintelligent and mindless, but eons of time have brought about an "accidental" order of inter-locking forces. All of the mysteries of the universe are explained by random, blind happenings.

Materialism. Generally evolutionary in principle, materialism goes further and argues that nothing but natural laws rule the universe. It denies the existence of the soul, any form of spiritual realities, and denies the need of a God, or even an Absolute Spirit, who governs His creation. Any spiritual or mental life comes about only by physical or chemical synthesis. If science cannot explain reality, there is no other higher explanation to be sought.

Polytheism. This view holds that there are many gods, though there may be an ultimate deity that rules over the spiritual pantheon. Animism, fetichism, and Hinduism itself, are the most obvious expressions of polytheism.

Idealism and Realism. In idealism, nothing exists except in the thought or impression found in the mind. With realism, all objects of which the consciousness is aware are realities. There are no other realities. However, in Christianity there is such a thing as spiritualism realism, and this is found only in the Word of God.

Pantheism. This is found in the theology of many Indian cultures, and also in the religion of Hinduism. Matter originates everything and is even "God." Both Hinduism and Buddhism are pantheistic. In Hinduism, the entire universe is the Creator, comes from the Creator, and returns to him. The ultimate glory is to be "absorbed" into the deity, and lose all conscientiousness and distinction.
Pantheism has become the inheritance of every nation on earth and has curses the streams of human thought beyond all estimation. It assumes the eternity of matter and the absurdity that matter has power to originate life and spirit. … According to pantheism, the potter and the clay are one and the same thing—if they exist at all.4 Deism. To deists, God has wound up the cloak of creation, and walked away from its daily processes. God is not near in creation but transcends it. Deism rejects the Scriptures, personal prayer, and the providential working of God in His world. All knowing of God is restricted to deductions that can be made, with limitation, from creation.

Positivism. Human knowledge is restricted only to what be can see by observation—by phenomena. There can be no spiritual or philosophical speculations about God, an afterlife, or eternity. One just exists!

Monism. Everything is reduced to one source of being and existence; a one ultimate principle or substance. This has pantheistic shades, but is very uncomplicated and impersonal. The universe, the physical, and spiritual, are all explained by one driving force!

Dualism. In theological dualism, there are two compelling forces at work in the universe: two eternal and opposing principles, or divine beings, one good and the other evil. This view is found in ancient Zoroastrianism, and Gnosticism. In early Christianity, Nestorianism held that a divine Logos dwelt in Christ. He possessed two personalities, a divine and a physical. In Chinese theology, dualism was expressed in the two extremes, the good and bad—the Ying and the Yang!

Pluralism. There is a denial of a one-world unity. Pluralism denies the unity of the world and the universe. It argues that the mind makes its own world, and there are as many worlds as there are minds!
Chafer concludes:
Such in general are the naturalistic arguments pro and con for the existence of God, and the philosophical issues which they engender. From this, as important as it is, the spiritual mind turns with relief to the complete satisfying, and authoritative revelation of God as set forth in His own Word.5
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1. A. A. Hodge, Outlines of Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1957), 46-47.
2. Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, 8 Vols. (Dallas: Dallas Seminary Press, 1976), 1:165.
3. Ibid., 1:166-78.
4. Lewis Sperry Chafer, 1:174-75.
5. Ibid., 178.