All people who are religious choose their religion, but an atheist doesn't choose to be an atheist.
2006-09-11 12:18:44 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think that either one really chooses. Obviously people who believe in the various religions get them largely from their parents and family and people around them.
Similarly, I think that Atheists don't choose to be atheist any more than they "choose" to believe that the sky is blue. I couldn't simply choose to believe otherwise.
2006-09-11 12:38:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An interesting question. I don't think there is one answer for everyone, but in general I'd say both the religious person and the atheist make choices.
Some people are born into a certain faith and retain that faith all their lives. Same with atheists. Even though they cannot choose into which tradition they are born, they can, in most cases, choose whether or not to stay in it.
Some people are born into one faith tradition but change their religion. Same with atheists. Many began as people of faith then became atheists. Certain these people are exercising choice.
I was once a person of faith, but certain things about faith--especially blind faith--always bothered me, and eventually my thinking evolved beyond being religious. I learned about Humanism and recognized that it was a philosophy that suited me. It could be said that I chose Humanism, but another might argue that I was a Humanist all along but simply didn't know the name for what I was.
2006-09-11 19:27:31 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. Some religious people are born into a religion and just never study it for themselves or decide to change it. and some atheists choose not to believe even in the face of evidence,(not proof) but evidence.
2006-09-11 19:27:34 · answer #3 · answered by I-o-d-tiger 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bull. Atheists are no different than anybody else with respect to their ability to make their own choices in life. If you're saying that atheists don't choose to be the way they are, then you're also saying they don't have free will in the matter, and that atheism chose them. Bull.
2006-09-11 19:26:24 · answer #4 · answered by WHITE TRASH ARMENIAN 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. A person cannot choose to be part of religion once she or he find there is nothing to worship. However, when one believes in the Mysterious Tremendum (God, Goddess, Great Spirit, etc), then she or he can choose the path to follow in worship.
2006-09-11 19:21:52 · answer #5 · answered by Mrs. Pears 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An Atheist chooses the religion of Atheism.
2006-09-11 19:21:28 · answer #6 · answered by Kitten 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
no, I believe an atheist chooses to be an atheist and to remain ignorant while religion finds everyone else
2006-09-11 19:25:07 · answer #7 · answered by Mr. Lemons 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't find truth in that statement. An atheist is someone who rejects all religious belief and denies the exsistence of God.
That is a choice.
2006-09-11 19:28:16 · answer #8 · answered by redeemed 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the first statement is true,the second is false...
its a person's decision to be an atheist or not...its a choice to have a religion and to believe in God or not
2006-09-11 19:22:06 · answer #9 · answered by Ruthie B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An atheist that converted to Christianity once told me that he became an atheist because he was angry at God. He figured the best way to retaliate would be to try and prove God is imaginary.
And C.S. Lewis once said something like, "I was the hunted, everything I did, I found him in. God never ceased in his drawing of me to him" (not even close to exact, but the general idea"
2006-09-11 19:25:48 · answer #10 · answered by Joe P 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋