How many , do you think , are non-belivers that hide behind religions to fit into society better ?

Answer 1

I never had a reason for it.

Answer 2

Very many probably. Most people don't want to make waves or take the risk of being rejected for having a different point of view. It takes a measure of bravery to be different in a public way.

Answer 3

Actually, considering the modern disparaging view of religion, I would say there are more believers that hind behind non-belief than visa versa. This isn't to say that there aren't plenty of non-believers who haven't realized that they don't believe yet, but that is a different category.

Answer 4

Good question. That would be difficult to determine, since those who are nonbelievers but attend a church would probably lie when asked if they are believer. Also, many people are probably "on the fence"; their beliefs might change back and forth according what's going on in their life.

Answer 5

I believe that the answer to that is more than we actually think. Satan in desguise.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Answer 6

No idea to the exact number, but I bet there's a lot.

This was something I did myself as a teenager when I was still living at home and forced by my family to go to church. I didn't really believe, or at least had a lot of questions, but not going wasn't an option, so I was stuck. Even when I was in college on my own, if I came home, it still wasn't an option despite my being an adult.

So I could do nothing more than attend to "fit in", especially when I began to resist and my family started pushing harder for me to go. I figured I'd just go and not pray or sing or believe, just go, and hope they'd shut up. They did shut up about the issue, but I felt worse for it.

Going to services felt hollow and empty and I felt like I was a complete sellout in attending when I didn't believe. I felt that I was denying my own beliefs(or rather, nonbelief) and for what? To avoid arguements? Wasn't worth it. I eventually quit going and now, as long as I live on my own, nobody bothers me too much about whether or not I go to church.

Unfortunately, when I'm at family gatherings or go to visit my aunt and cousins, I'm not given that choice. Nobody's openly said anything, but I know that if I don't go, they'll suspect reasons as to why, or at least assume, and I'm stuck going whether I want to or not. Fortunately, that's only once a year at Christmas and I can actually tolerate a Christmas Eve service.

Gets pretty at my uncle's church when they do the candlelight service and I do like their bell choir when they have said bell choir perform. It's tolerable to do it once a year if I must, especially when the services are already pretty to begin with at Christmas Eve, but I wouldn't be able to do it every week.

I imagine, given the weight religion tends to bear with people, there are others who aren't as lucky as me to find a way out. There's probably a lot of nonbelievers who appear to believe in order to fit in and avoid personal attacks in their communities, or do it to avoid family troubles, or may even continue to believe for other reasons, especially if they live in a place where said religion is government-mandated.

I've read off and on that there's theories as to the number of people who profess to believe, but really don't and are just putting on appearances. Supposedly a lot of "believers" don't really believe, but it's unproven because so many people are afraid to admit they haven't believed in their religion in a long time. Afraid of familal and societal backlash, to which, given my own experiences, I can't exactly blame them.

There's probably thousands of people out there that don't believe, but an exact number is anyone's guess.

Answer 7

I think there is many and I also think there is many who believe they are saved because they have been blinded by satan. Some believe they are saved from birth well thats a lie from satan. Some believe if your a good person your saved, well again thats a lie from satan. This list could go on and on.

Answer 8

Wouldn't you think it would be the other way around since religion is so frowned upon these days?

Answer 9

I'm guessing there's a lot.... Actually I did that for a while, I went to church while not really believing... And I even at times consider going to church with my family, for their sake, even though I don't even believe in god.

Answer 10

One never knows. But it doesn't stop me or my beliefs. God only knows what's in your heart.