CHALLENGE TO ATHEISTS

This is addressed particularly to those people who think that the concept of God and a divine religious process is simply a psychological artifact of the human mind searching for or seeking psychological comfort.  It is also addressed primarily to those who are not as closed minded in their stance (re: God and Religion) as those they find on the opposite side of the issue (religionists in particular) and are willing to at least consider contrary arguments on any issue.

Leaving any specific references to the Bible aside for this discussion and the opinions of the rank and file of professed "Christian" advocates as well, I suggest that any temporate and inquisitive mind on the subject, take an in-depth look at the historical record of the rise and development of the Baha'i Faith in Iran from 1844 to the present day.  I suggest this primarily because it was or has been considered by scholars, such as orientalist Prof. E.G. Browne of Cambridge University as quite typical of the rise and ascendency of major relgions of the past as observed for the first time by modern scientists.  In fact, it was primarily he, Dr. Browne, who spent years in observing and recording observations of this modern day religious phenomenon, even spending years in Iran with this in mind.  He is the only westerner known to have personally met and been addressed by Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith as recorded in the book BAHA'U'LLAH AND THE NEW ERA by J.E. Esslemont. 

What is also interesting, as I personally view it, is the very close parallel of the life and life events of Baha'u'llah's predecessor entitled The Bab to the life and events as recorded for the life of Jesus of Nazareth.  There is also the completely inexplicable in "real world reality" as we know it of the execution of The Bab on July 9th, 1850, a true miracle in every sense but witnessed by about 10,000 people and recorded  even by enemies of the Faith and the Bab in newspapers of the time... and reported to their countries by foreign diplomats.

A study of this historical record will probably not change your mind with regard to your present position as juxtaposed to that of the average Christian or Jew, for instance.  However, it may get you to seriously reconsidering your general view of the efficacy of the idea that there is something we only call "God" because we don't have any really descriptive word better suited to the inexplicable unknowns still extant with regard to reality and our vast, vast universe.  It may also get you to thinking more in depth about the possibility that there is a natural phenomenon in the universe as it is constituted that manifests itself to us in a way that we have labeled (for want of any other word) "religion."

Are you up to the challenge?  Or do you wish to simply ignore it based on an intractable position that is as unreasonable as that of those you oppose (i.e. the rank and file Christian believer)?