Most church people are actually already atheists? But convince themselves they believe in God?

Question

They are de facto atheists, but generally think they believe in God?

Meaning, when everything is normal and they are not being challenged, they subconsciously recognize that God is imaginary?
In their innermost minds they understand this, and let it go at that?

While on the surface of their minds they can instantly shift into the other mode and declare that God is real, and even condemn atheists? But not necessarily.

Meaning, you can be religious and still be rational and irrational and everything in between? People are basically people? We all have our own personalites; and religious thinking is pretty much ancillary?

I myself don't condemn religious people, and I know enough of them to know that they are basically normal and well-adjusted people, and they know how to function in the real world, and how to behave in a proper manner.

So I can take their overtly stated religious views with a grain of salt, so to speak.

Are you people with me on this?

Answer 1

Just say "NO" to drugs!

Answer 2

I recognize the possibility that what I believe in is not real but I also feel though that idea comes to head that it could be. You can never be totally sure 100%(At least in these times). Also I don't declare God is real and try to pressure others to believing in what I believe and I don't condemn people of no faith or of different faiths. And yes thank you for realizing that some Christians aren't crazy and oh wow can function in real life.

Answer 3

I'd say quite a few are agnostics but go to church just in case God's real.

I don't know that all that many actively don't believe God exists but still act religious. Most atheists are pretty adamant about their views. Agnostics are less militant--I mean, their view is that they don't know one way or another. For many people, church is about social connections, community status, stuff like that.

As far as believing in rational things...I wouldn't say that the idea of God is particularly rational if you approach it from an atheist view, or even an agnostic one, but it's reasonable to see a bunch of unexplainable phenomena and decide something unexplainable controls them. I don't have a narrow view of God, so I can fit the idea in my worldview just fine.

But I don't go to Christian church cuz they're hypocritical and annoying for the most part and I don't want to be anywhere near them.

Answer 4

i imagine God would manage more suitable harshly those that make a promise to him and do not carry it by skill of. a tragic truth is the existence's of many that call themselves Christians. that's that they that mock Jesus and God more suitable than those stupid those who take the piss. they are in the darkish yet those which have stepped into the gentle and yet nevertheless stay in darkness are fools and on a hiding to no longer some thing. earlier you position down others have a lengthy seem at your self. in case you're like countless unmarried Christian I truly have encountered, ok, virtually each christian then you honestly have a variety of of explaining to do. i wish God will be affected human being even as you bypass by skill of the record of belongings you knew you should have achieved yet many times did not.

Answer 5

You apparently have a false assumption on the way that believers think.
We realize that God is there every day of the week and atheism would be alien thought to our brain and our spirit.

Perhaps you are unable to put yourself into someone elses shoe and realize that we have a firm grip on life and realize that their are many intelligent people who have analyzed our faith and the existance of the Living God.

I have seen way too much proof to think He may be an imaginary God and I pray that your eyes will be opened.

I have found that those that fight the hardest against Him, usually find and come to Him.
Paul (SAUL) is a great example.

Answer 6

That's not it. At all.
I thanks God when things are good, and look to him when times are tough. But he is with me all times, 24/7. I don't have an ounce of Atheism in my mind or heart.
God is real and not imaginary - try to embrace that reality. He is a person, different and greater than us; not tied to what we think or know, or what or who we think he should be.

Grain of salt or not - he created us loves us. We are the ones who rebelled from him, are blinded by our sin, and need him.

Answer 7

I concur.
when I told my father I'm an atheist, his response was basically a rehash of Pascal's wager. he never goes to church, and is basically an agnostic, but he won't make the leap because of "the risk".
If there were a god, how much would such lukewarm, self-interested "faith" impress him, anyhow?

Answer 8

I say sitting in a garage doesn't make you a mechanic nor a car.
Many people go to church simply because they were raised that that is the right thing to do. God isn't looking for religious people. He is looking for people that seek him from their spirit. The Bible says many will come to Him and say, 'Lord didn't we do all these great things in your name' and He will tell them, 'depart from me; I never knew you!' Why? Because He is not looking for people that go through religous rituals or traditions of man. He wants people who are truly seeking Him. It is all about having your heart right and not doing things for vain or selfish reasons as well as acknowledging God in your heart in all things.

Answer 9

Isn't that the reverse of the Atheists secretly WANT to believe argument?

I doubt either has any real merit.

Answer 10

You are right, I've found very few who do follow the saying of Jesus. Religion has become big business and like a fat rat in a cheese factory.

Answer 11

Hey, you are 100% wrong, but you can believe what you want, God gave you the free will to do that.