Following this argument, Russell goes on to say that the injustice that is prevalent in the world is a reason to doubt God’s existence. While Christians would maintain that even defining what is just is impossible without a Deity to base such realities upon, Russell says that justice does not rule at present and so there is no reason to think it will in the future. The question still remains for Russell: What is justice? How is it determined? The answer is a subjective one in the ultimate sense if there cannot be a Judge to put forward a system of justice, and thus the entire premise crumbles under its own weight. On the contrary, although justice is not necessarily prevalent in any given society, justice as a concept, and in many cases, in practice, still exists, and its existence gives reason for the existence of a Deity. More than anything, the absence of justice speaks to the inherent evil in man and longsuffering of a holy God.
Russell could not believe in Christ, in particular, because he maintained that while Jesus was a good prophet and good man, to a large extent, he was a cruel, delusional teacher who in the end was a sadist.[1] The atheist held firm that hell was a despicable concept and one that would lend itself to an unloving Deity. Christians’ belief in this Deity showed their delusion as well. The whole idea that eternal punishment would be reserved for those who would refuse to submit to His arbitrary will is a tragic, unjust way of looking at reality. And in the end, reality does not conform to the Christian position because Christianity and religion in general, actually inhibits morality. While Christians follow their God supremely out of fear of retribution, those who are truly liberated will pursue the fulfillment and full expression of their desires.
Yet, the fullest, most satisfying expression of our desires is not found in the physical but in the spiritual. Unfortunately the brand of Christianity that Russell was exposed to was a far cry from the gospel of Christ, because a knowledge which is truly satisfying is that which embraces the Infinite; love which is truly joyous is that which is eternally increasing. “…For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The analytic philosophical contribution of Bertrand Russell cannot be denied. He brought to the forefront an ideological system of beliefs that made logical constructions and inferences upon scientific perception and experimentation the main criteria for truth propositions. However, his materialistic belief that nature is all there is in the end demonstrated some of the philosophical inconsistencies in his position. When studying science and mathematics, Russell sought to show that inferences could be drawn to metaphysics because of logical systems that were consistent with physics. But by denying the reality of the order and design that is seen in the physical realm, and by repeatedly contradicting that which he saw in the physical realm, he put into question the very structure of the logical constructions of meaning that his entire philosophy depended upon. Unfortunately, then, his ultimate aim to increase love through knowledge for the purpose of the elimination of suffering was quite unattainable indeed.
[1]Bertrand Russell., Why I Am Not a Christian, and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects (Simon and Schuster, Inc.: New York, NY), 44-47.
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