Has atheism became a trend?

Question

I'll start off by saying that I'm an atheist myself. I once believed in God. Now I'll say that I have encountered many people who declare themselves atheist. I ask them why and they provide me with answers that are very shaky, with incoherent arguments. I've noticed this more among the youth. Its as if its perceived that labeling oneself as atheist makes you original, hip, or rebelious, as if they want to stand out from the crowd.

Answer 1

I think many people who claim to be atheist just lack understanding in what atheism really means. Many of the people whom you encounter may simply be agnositic. An agnostic is one who believes that it is impossible to know whether there is a God or one who is doubtful or noncommittal about something. Thus, their lack of knowledge and understanding leads to incoherent arguments. I really think many of our young people are not so much against believing in God, but more not believing in religion. Some of our greatest philosophers oppossed religion.

Whether you are an atheist or an agnostic, I believe if one just remains silent and contemplates the creation of the universe, I believe they too will heard an inner voice of wisdom.

Albert Einstien once stated:

“The most beautiful and most profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the sower of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms—this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.”

“My religion,” he says, “consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds. That deeply emotional conviction of the presence of a superior reasoning power, which is revealed in the incomprehensible universe, forms my idea of God.”

-Dr. Albert Einstein

Answer 2

There is a real God and He loves you. Listen very closely. He hears and sees you.


“I don’t believe it if I don’t see it!”

An atheist once said in a debate that he could never believe in anything that he could not see, taste, hear, smell, or touch. His opponent asked him how he kn ew he had a brain, if he had never seen, tasted, heard, smelled, or touched it.
The atheist replied that even though he had never seen, tasted, heard, smelled, or touched his brain, the fact that brain experts had always found a brain in everyone they examined meant that he too probably had a brain. But he admitted that on this line of reasoning it was possible he may or may not have a brain, just as there may or may not be a God.

Amazing progress
His opponent pointed out that there had been some progress, because now that the atheist had admitted there could be a God he was no longer an atheist, but an agnostic (someone who doesn’t know whether God exists or not).
And this really is the best that scoffers can come up with. To know that God doesn’t exist means you would have to know everything, because if there is any information you don’t know, God could be among that. You would also have to be everywhere at the same time, because if you were not, God might be somewhere you were not.
Why will some atheists never find God, even though God has promised to reward them if they diligently seek Him in faith? Because they never honestly look. Christians need to help them to see the wonderful truth of Hebrews 11:6, not look down on them.

Answer 3

A trend is short-lived. Atheism is nothing new. We are all born atheists. Animals are atheists. Isn't that 1% of the world becomes atheist every year? The reason this is happening is because people are slowly, SLOWLY becoming more intelligent, more logical... etc. And when that happens WOOSH - there goes theism right out the window.

People who become "atheists" as a rebellious sort of thing really aren't ATHEISTS. You are one by default. You can't MAKE yourself not believe in something if you truly believe. You need common sense to change. You can't just wish it.

There are 2 billion atheists in the world. We are 1/3 of the world's population. Does that sound original to you?

Answer 4

I have never some across an atheist that hasn't thought it out. Most of us tend to keep pretty low key about it. But it were going to be the "in" thing to do, it would be among teens.

You really can't take most teens too seriously. Although I was an atheist before I was a teen, I did think that out. Most everything else I didn't. The result is that I am completely a different person in every aspect except being an atheist.

Answer 5

A great deal of one's core beliefs have nothing to do with "intellectual reasoning" and have much to do with simple "feeling." I don't think it's trendy to be an Atheist, by any means, but I think it is a symptom of a society that examines itself to any great degree, without the guidance of a Church or religion in place.

I'm not saying that lack of religious upbringing is either good or bad--it merely IS.

Being forced into the religion of your parents is not always a good thing, and perhaps it is best to raise our children in a religious vacuum, and let them decide for themselves which, if any, path is right for them when they have matured.

I spent age 12-36 as an atheist, and am now a Buddhist, for example.

Answer 6

That's interesting, because I usually don't have the opportunity of having this kind of conversation.

I think there are many young people who can't wait to get away from home and get rid of the constraints of their upbringing. Being an atheist is a sort of an excuse for rejecting the moral standards that come with a religious faith.

Answer 7

Shalom Diana,

Atheism is merely a byproduct of spiritually disenfranchised Christians who have negated all reasoning and logic to unintelligently champion the literal letters of the scriptures or as Paul gave the letter that killeth. People who become atheist and think they have found truth are merely moving from illusion to another.

I wouldn't say Atheism is a trend, rather I would say that it happens because our society is based on logic and reason and their is no room for superstitious stories, which is contrary to Islam middle east where having no reason and logic is championed. In the end all these different beliefs and religions are merely fragmented pieces of knowledge that exist because of man being a dualistic nature. Or as shown in the bible, Tower of Babel syndrome.

Peace

Aza

Answer 8

Let`s say that today the world contradicts each other. Some say god exist and some say no and with what`s been going around if god would really exist he could have stoped some barbaric things, he wouldn`t have sent a tsunami or president bush so for young people such as me it`s easier to believe in your own self and to save your neck instead of your soul....

Answer 9

That could be true. It's certainly true about "religious" affiliations these days. Certain religions are fashionable, like Scientology or Kabala. Everyone wants to fit in, but be unique. Weird, huh?

Answer 10

In the same way that paganism has it's dablers.


You will find genuine atheists that don't believe, for whatever reason, but you will find some that are going with a fad.