If you are a Christian, what would you lose if you became an atheist? Are you afraid of atheism?

Question

I think most Christians are Christians for two reasons.

1. Raised a Christian.
2. Became a Christian as an emotional crutch in the face of adversity.

The third reason, "intellectual oddysey," I would postulate is far less frequently the reason. By that I mean undertaking a comprehensive study of science, philosophy, and literature. Although some, like Lee Strobel, have become Christians in this way, I think it's a low percentage.

I hypothesize that in order to honestly undertake an "intellectual oddysey," one must not fear EITHER position.

That said, I think many fear the consequences of atheism:

1. Family approval
2. Friendships and social networking opportunities
3. Opportunities for dating/marriage
4. Social disapproval based on distrust and perceived lack of morals
5. Psychological turmoil and/or crisis based on concepts of the
afterlife - both for self and loved ones.
6. Suffering for eternity in hell.

How can one give atheism a fair shake with fear?

Answer 1

Lose of soul, morals and reason to live. I was considering suicide before I gave my life to God, I have no desire to return to that state of mind.

It's very disturbing to think this is all there is, I don't even like being called a human it's belittling.

Answer 2

I was raised in a very Christian family, although I'm atheist, and my family feels like I am missing out. They have the tradition to pray about every little thing; it makes me uncomfortable, so I may stand there, but I won't pray. It's especially intense around holidays. I suffer incredibly intense family disapproval, so I understand that many people would rather continue half-heartedly as a christian than risk that disapproval/ostracation. They do truely believe in a heaven and hell. However, I think none of the factors you listed would be a real deterrent to atheism, if the person truely felt that they didnt believe in the christian God. It is possible, but other Christians usually make it intensely uncomfortable for anyone to be "doubting the faith."

Answer 3

If you are an atheist, what would you lose if you become a Christian? I don't think either side to take has an advantage, if we only consider human consequences.

Christianity is about God and his loving relationship with men, and God's restoration of this relationship. Hence Christianity is about love, not fear.

When I became a Christian in my second year of highschool I was not in face of adversity, I wasn't raised in a christian family, in fact, I lived in a country that only had 2% of Christian population, so I had very little social pressure on me. And believe me, I was not in it for the intellectual oddysey. As intellent as your comments are written, stating that all christianity is based upon fear is a rather simplistic, and would you admit a little prejudiced too?

Fact is, I did once give atheism a chance, and I moved on. So give Christianity a Chance, what should you be afraid of?

Answer 4

Your points are valid, (i used to think similarly) but your conclusion is lacking because it doesn't take into consideration those living in China and Islamic countries where they risk their life to hear the Word of God. They risk being disowned by their family; many have been. Kicked out of their community...and Muslim cultures have warmer, closer knit communities than most of America. It HURTS!! It blows the emotional crutch thing out of the water. It takes more courage to join a religion than it is to leave one, unless the one you are leaving is Islam. (Those who do convert because of a crisis, generally leave after things get better and they don't need it anymore, unless they find something of substance in their religion.)

Lot of the consequences you mentioned also work in reverse:
1. Lot of those raised in Christian homes leave the faith in the face of adversity or confusion. Or they never were Christian and they want to try something new.
2. Some Christians I know (even though they go to a church with lots of people) feel it is easier to meet and date people who don't go to church.
3. There are plenty of families in America who are not church goers, and if their kid starts going to church, they think they're joining a cult.

Suffering for eternity in hell vs. eternity in heavenl. That is a key attractant to bring in new believers and to keep them from leaving. Who wants to go to Hell? And frankly atheism does offer any of these benefits. It can't prove that that there's no heaven or hell. It doesn't offer hope or strength or power. How do you give it a fair shake in that respect. Even young Christians who want to experiment and see how the other half lives, does not make a conscious decision-- I'm going to check the "atheist" box. More likely the "undecided" box.

Hope this is intellectual enough for you. But please realize when it comes to explaining a believer's relationship with God, you can't explain it all with your brain. It is a heart thing, too. And a supernatural thing. It is always slightly beyond the realm of making sense. That's why it takes "faith" to believe.

Answer 5

Yes, I am christian and I forgive you for your persecution.

I'm assuming you're athiest, by trying to instill fear in those of us who have broken off the chains of fear. We don't fear becoming athiest, we fear standing before God as the only judge of our soul.
Personally, I wasn't raised christian nor do I use it as a crutch.
As far as "intellectual oddysey", knowledge is power and only through God, who created that knowledge that we can't even fathom within our human intellect of that power he is able to bless us with.
You speak of "hypothesis", "fear", "emotional crutch", ect...
Sounds like God is eating at your conscience which is/has been instilled into you since the moment life and breath was given you before birth. Yet you mock it so callously, for the life given to you by God.
You stated we (became christians) for two reasons
then you stated a third reason, then stating six more after that.
so what is it nine reasons... or the two orginally stated?
So therefore, in Gods eyes...you are a liar, but just as the rest of us are, But we christians have one that stands before us, because we've given our lives to him...Jesus Christ! The only way, the only truth, the only life that justifies us before God!

Answer 6

It is proverbial death for them to think for even an instant, thus they must force them selfs into delusional denial as to not think to far out side their religious teaching, like you said fear is the cage of which they are locked into, and only they have the key.

and there are far better reasons to live, the one I made up is to give pleasure to others and to help make my environment better for thoughs who shall succeed me, and the thought of my body feeding future plant life and the nutrients returning to the earth is very comforting. My death will bring in & Nourish new life, how can that be any thing other then a wonderful end?

Mythology only cramps one to pseudo morals with no basis of reality, the fake morals in christianity actually causes harm, that is if you read the original bible (Stone people for working Sundays and such) the reality based morals go be what actually does harm, or better way to say it in the pagan system: Long as it harms non do as ye will.

Answer 7

You would lose your ability to create this illusion in your head that you might call god or jesus...

On the other hand you have many things to gain, for example by not wasting your life carrying out superstitious prayers to some made up god (what *is* praying all about? - man, talk about superstition! lucky horseshoe anyone?)...

...you might realise there is no "afterlife" or "eternal" life and start
living in the *real world* and enjoying the time with your family and friends. You are a long time dead - thats for dang sure. No, no... there is no jesus who you you will live with forever in heaven...

This "god" that many delussional people keep going on about does not seem to say a lot for itself. To me, it appears that everyone who talks on behalf of "god". If this "god" of yours was so mighty - i think he would have had some things to say by now... (and dont menbtion the buybull - that was created my man and is by no means a "book of god")

Where i come from religious people are a laughing stock.

"How can one give atheism a fair shake with fear?"

Its called facing up to reality and living in the *REAL WORLD* without imaginary friends such as god, allah, jesus, mohammed etc...

Answer 8

Ok I'm catholic and I'm a pretty strong catholic and you're right i was raised a Catholic and honestly i love being a catholic/christian. Before when i was younger when my faith wasn't as strong as it is now i really wasn't all that happy but now i feel happier and better about my life the world and everything. Becoming an Atheist scares me cause if my faith was weak when i was younger and wasn't all that happy, then having no faith in God what so ever would be awful I'd probably kill myself. I don't have a fear of Atheism I just know what would happen if i were to become one it's not because of family approval or friendships or dating. I mean ok some of my fear is of going to Hell because hello it's Hell i don't want to go to Hell i want to go to Heaven and be happy in heaven with God and my family. So my response was kind of confusing but my point is i would never be an Atheist because i am very very happy as a Catholic/ Christian and I love God i would lose myself and i don't want that to happen again.

HEY YOU ALUCARD, I LOVE GOD BECAUSE HE TRULY MAKES ME HAPPY, HE HELPS ME WHEN I'M IN TROUBLE, AND HE'S ALWAYS THERE TO LISTEN TO ME WHEN NO ONE ELSE IS THERE. I LOVE GOD!!!

Answer 9

Yes you would loose if you turn your back on God and no I am not afraid of atheism, as I am a born again Christian. The atheist is the one who should be afraid of eternal death in hell burning in the lake of fire and brimstone. Just because you don't believe in hell does not mean you wont go there for turning away from God's word.

Answer 10

I am a Christian because I believe in God. Not because I was raised Christian and not because God helped me through something. Intellectually, it is what I believe.

If I was an Christian and I was wrong, I would lose nothing. If I was an athiest and I was wrong, I would burn in hell for all of eternity.

Answer 11

this is not my experience at all.
I would lose myself,that is who I would lose.
I am a spiritual thing. what makes me tick is God's spirit He gave to me when i drew breath. just as He did all of us. we live because He breathed His spirit into us to make us alive. His energy; you know from science, we are all water and a few minerals and chemicals. the same as a mud puddle. we are mud pies people, and it is God who gives you the life you are using. Yes using. It is His after all. He is just letting you use it for a while. What you use it for is the thing He gives you control over. Free will for the use of the life. Kind of like borrowing a extension cord and plugging it into God until you wear out and He takes it back to Himself again, if I sound like a nut, well so did you.