When responding to an atheist who claims that God does not exist, one can point out that denying God essentially equates to rejecting the very foundation upon which anything can exist.

The Divine Foundation: Rhetorical Reflections on God

When responding to an atheist who claims that God does not exist, one can point out that denying God essentially equates to rejecting the very foundation upon which anything can exist. As illustrated in one of the arguments from document “ link txt”, an evocative analogy is provided: “The madman said in his heart: there is no God.

Without a foundation, how can a building stand?

Without a base on which a vessel rests, how can a ship remain afloat? Without a shipbuilder, how is a ship built?…” This rhetorical sequence emphasizes that the entire universe resembles a structure that requires a fundamental design or Creator. Thus, the denial of God results in the abandonment of the logic underlying the existence of all that is.

Regarding the question “Can man be stronger than God?” – it is primarily rhetorical and is intended to clarify the principle of absolute power. In one fragment from “ link txt” it states: “But here an external factor presents God as omnipotent and infinitely superior to man. Either it is untrue, or He is responsible for all the horrors that I dare not mention. Of course, He is, for I, weak and never doing any harm.” This passage underlines that true power is attributed solely to God rather than man, since man, by definition, is limited by his nature and weaknesses. Thus, the question “Can man be stronger than God?” points to the principle that man—as a created being—cannot surpass the source of his existence, who is responsible for order and harmony in the world.

In conclusion, one can respond to an atheist as follows: denying God leads to the loss of the fundamental support necessary for the existence of the Universe, just as a building cannot stand without a foundation. Moreover, the question of whether man can be stronger than God serves as a rhetorical reminder that the supreme power, by its very nature all-powerful, far exceeds any human strength, making it impossible for man to achieve a comparable level of influence over the world.

Supporting citation(s):
“The madman said in his heart: there is no God.

Without a foundation, how can a building stand?

Without a base on which a vessel rests, how can a ship remain afloat? Without a shipbuilder, how is a ship built?…” (source: link txt)
“But here an external factor presents God as omnipotent and infinitely superior to man. Either it is untrue, or He is responsible for all the horrors that I dare not mention. Of course, He is, for I, weak and never doing any harm.” (source: link txt)