"Practical atheism-a way of living and being that assumes that God is not involved in the process of the universe or in our lives." - Marcus Borg, "Speaking Christian"

Marcus Borg writes that he often has conversations that begin with a person declaring, "I don't believe in God." Borg's response: "Tell me about the God you don't believe in." Often the person describes God in terms that many Christians, including Borg, would reject.

From where do we receive our understandings and images of God? And how often do we take the time to examine them? As a parish priest I often encountered people who had earned several academic degrees or were highly successful in their professions but had not seriously examined the religious messages they had absorbed as children. Thus the God they rejected was often a caricature or a simplistic image that could not hold the weight of adult reasoning.

I have also recognized in myself and seen in others the practical atheism Borg describes. It isn't that we don't believe in God; we simply imagine that despite our faith, everything that matters is up to us.

In recent years, I have become more confident in the abiding presence of God. I believe, despite all that might argue otherwise, that God is merciful and loving as revealed to us in Jesus. The weight of the world, therefore, does not rest on my shoulders-or yours-alone. I don't expect God to make life in this gloriously complex and troubled world easy, but I do trust in the mystery of divine presence. We are not alone.

Where have you encountered practical atheism? Share your experiences and comments on Facebook.