Thursday, October 15, 2009 » �I deny the existence of the Holy Spirit. I also deny the existence of unicorns, homeopathy, psychics [and] leprechauns. But I guess the most important thing here is the Holy Spirit. I totally deny that,� said YouTube user Rebecca Watson, taking part in the Blasphemy Challenge. �See you in hell.�
The Rational Response Squad (RRS), a group of atheists, created the Blasphemy Challenge in December 2006, encouraging young atheists to virally deny the existence of Holy Spirit.
RRS founder Brian Sapient (alias), said that the purpose of the challenge is to help teens �overcome this religious superstition that has been put into their brain unfairly.�
According to an article by ABC News, over 800 people have taken the challenge.
Indiana Wesleyan philosophy students were given an extra-credit assignment to react to the YouTube videos with their own videos.
After watching the challenge introduction and a few responses in class, philosophy student Bryce Diener (so) was shocked. Up until this point, Diener had never heard of atheists publicly proclaiming their beliefs. But despite the surprise, Diener said that Christians need to be careful how they react.
�All we can do is pray for them,� said Diener. �I don�t think what we need to do is overreact or [say], �You�re going to hell.��
Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit is considered the �unforgiveable sin,� according to Mark 3:28, which is why Sapient said he chose this action as the challenge. However, theologians have debated about what this passage in Mark means.
�On the face of it the text is saying that using the name of the Holy Spirit when cursing, especially when one is hurling the curses at the Spirit of God, is unforgivable,� said Dr. Bud Bence, professor of church history.
It�s common for people to use the name of God or Jesus Christ as profanity, but rarely do people include the Holy Spirit, Bence added.
�This is precisely what the �Blasphemy Challenge� participants are doing,� said Bence. �As atheists, they are asserting that whatever they say has no eternal consequence whatsoever.�
Verbally denying the existence of the Holy Spirit may not be the ultimate sin, according to some theologians. The most common interpretation of the text among evangelical Christians is that someone �blasphemes against the Holy Spirit� when he or she repeatedly denies the work of the Holy Spirit, said Bence.
�There are those who contend that the unpardonable sin only refers to persons who were once genuine believers in Christ, but who drifted or walked away, eventually reaching a point where they want to be damned and are bold enough to assert it,� said Bence.
This theory is backed by Hebrews 6:4 which states that if anyone has �tasted the heavenly gift� (accepted Christ) and then denies it, they are unable to repent again.
�Certainly what these persons are doing on YouTube is reprehensible to persons of faith,� said Bence. �Rather than consigning them to the fires of damnation for their foolish actions, we pray that the very Spirit whom they blaspheme will draw them to the love and mercy of God.�