Is Charlie Sheen an Atheist?

Charlie Sheen has been in the news a lot lately--for outbursts of anger, bad relationships, splitting with his publicist, restraining orders, drug and alcohol use, prostitutes, and threatened lawsuits. Lesser actors would give their right arm to be in a continual national spotlight. It seems that to his many fans, Sheen can do no wrong.

Even though he acts as if there is no God, he is not an atheist. He told "Entertainment Tonight" why he believes the Creator exists, saying, "Anybody that doesn't believe in God hasn't looked into the eyes of a child."

These words cleared any fan-base he may have had with American Atheists, Inc., who were greatly insulted. The troubled actor wasn't the only one upsetting the group. Earlier this year they called the "Today Show" and complained about the use of the maxim, "There are no Atheists in foxholes." Apparently they think there are a few.

Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, explains why Charlie Sheen so offended them: "This statement insults millions of Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers who raise families and value their children. Imagine if he or some other prominent Hollywood star made a similar statement about Jews, black people or another group." Jews? Blacks? Atheists? I guess they believe there's some connection between ethnicity and their professed non-belief.

I believe that God created little children. I could never believe that any child could be the result of random chance. But I'm not offended by any atheist who thinks otherwise--who looks into the eyes of his child and sees a half-grown ape. I think it's disgusting, insulting, and ridiculous. But he has a God-given right to believe anything he wishes. No apology necessary.

Picture: Charlie Sheen, March 2009, by Angela George at www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics