Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
November 9, 1967
NUMBER 27, PAGE 4-5a

Atheism Wasn't The Answer

Editorial

Did you see that unbelievable story in the newspapers the other day — the one telling about ex-Bishop James A. Pike being fully convinced that he had been in touch with his son who committed suicide some eighteen months ago? The story made the front pages in most of the nation's great dailies; it was a sensational item. Particularly so because of the controversial nature of Dr. Pike's widely heralded "heresies" for which his denomination (the Episcopal Church) had scheduled a heresy trial. Bishop Pike for a number of years has hit the head-lines regularly with his oft repeated denials of belief in the virgin birth, the inspiration of the scriptures, the existence of a "personal" God, the doctrine of the Trinity, and a wide variety of other cherished beliefs held by most people. The fact that he could be so blatantly atheistic and at the same time hold a high office in the Episcopal Church was a source of great embarrassment to many members of that body. He finally became so rank and outspoken in his unorthodox views, not only of God, the Bible, and kindred themes, but in his defense and advocacy of the most liberal and far-out ideas of ethics and morality that it became impossible for him to continue in his churchly office. He left the bishop's office some months ago, and is now affiliated with a more secular calling.

Several weeks ago the ex-bishop came under the influence of a "medium" of sorts (a preacher in the Disciples of Christ church) who proclaimed himself able to communicate with the dead. After the usual (weird?) preparations, the medium did "call up" the dead son of Dr. Pike; and father and son had a most interesting "conversation." Dr. Pike said afterward that he was fully convinced he had talked with his son; and that this gave evidence of life beyond the grave. Certain cynics (according to the story in Time Magazine) wondered why the good bishop with a pipe line like that into the supernatural world did not clear up some of his questions on the virgin birth, the existence of a personal God, etc. But he didn't.

And therein lies the most fascinating angle of this whole fantastic story. The ex-bishop and his son "talked" not of that other world in which the son now exists, nor of God, or Christ, or what life was like on the other side — but of earthly topics. And particularly of the son's desire that his father and mother not feel any sense of failure or guilt because of his suicide in February of 1966! The "conversation" evidently lasted for quite a little while, but the son's reassurance of his parents and his desire to relieve them of guilt feelings was the chief item of discussion.

Well, to one who is fully convinced (like this editor, for example) that the ex-bishop did NOT talk to his son in any such fashion as he believes, this story offers a classical and typical case of "release from guilt." You see, for many years this high official in the Episcopal Church had flaunted his atheism and "unorthodoxy." He had made a mockery of the most cherished beliefs of millions of people, holding them up to scorn and ridicule. Finally, his own son (for no apparent reason) had committed suicide. The shock must have been terrible — as it would be to any father. And it is very certain that the bishop and his wife must have had many agonizing hours of self-reproach and self-condemnation, asking themselves over and over again, "Where did we fail? What was short in our teaching and influence? Why did this awful thing happen?" This would be the normal reaction of ANY parent, and we are sure the bishop and his wife were not exempt.

Finally, the overwhelming burden of guilt simply became unbearable. In the frightening reality of death, Dr. Pike found that his "atheism" didn't offer much comfort or consolation or hope. Atheism was not the answer to the enigma of death; it offered neither explanation nor excuse. But had his boastful teaching of atheistic dogmas been instrumental in driving his son into the abyss? Had the young man simply been unable to face the harsh realities of an existence in which "God" was an outgrown superstition, and immortality a pipe dream? How these terrible questions must have plagued the tormented bishop these past eighteen months!

And now he has the answer. His "medium" has helped him to find release and relief from the agonizing burden of guilt which was tormenting him. That "reassurance" from beyond the grave has solved his problem! The whole bizarre story throws more light on the eccentricities and vagaries of human behavior and emotions. To us it appears that we have here a fine example of "wishful thinking" finally coming to the point of a positive hallucination. The bishop wanted to believe he was not to blame for his son's suicide; he wanted to think that his son held nothing against him. And that "want" eventually reached the point that it unhinged his reason, and caused him to go completely "irrational" — a thing easily understandable to a psychologist or a psychiatrist, but not so obvious perhaps to most people.

We sympathize with Dr. Pike, of course, in the shock of losing his son; we can feel deep compassion for him in the grief and agony he must have experienced in long and lonely hours of self-examination and self-accusation since the boy's death. But we do believe his case points up once again the folly of ANY man depending on human reason to supply the answers for the mystery of man's existence. Questions of origin and destiny, of birth and death, go far, far beyond the power of any human intelligence (be it ever so brilliant) to explain or define. In the final analysis man is forced back to — God! In the awful hour of death, all else fades into folly and insignificance. Bishop Pike found that atheism wasn't much comfort when he faced the reality of his son's death. And however mistaken and perverted his ideas of that "other world," he finally was driven by the sheer force of unutterable need to acknowledge it. Only thus could guilt be removed, and life, of some sort, become tolerable.

Jesus Christ has a better remedy than mediums or sances. His own blood will wash away all guilt. Submission in humble penitence to Christ is the true solution for all who bear the burden of guilt — whether it be an Episcopalian bishop or a humble worker beside the road. Christ knows no distinction between them. And his gospel is for all.