To all you "open-minded" atheists: Why aren't you "open-minded" enough to go to church on a regular basis...

Question

...and have your beliefs questioned sincerely?

Just to clarify: I grew up as a catholic and I certainly agree with many of you. My natural progression as a result of going to catholic "church" was to become an agnostic, if not an atheist.

Per my question: Why aren't "open-minded" enough to regularly visit a Bible-believing and Bible-preaching church where EVERYTHING you believe in will be questioned?

Answer 1

Their "open mind" only has a one way door. YBIC

Answer 2

I am open minded to other peoples beliefs, but it amazes me how many people stick there heads in the sand so to speak and don't observe the world around them and blindly believe what a book, that is really old says, in a time where people had next to no idea what was really going on. There is also a lot of arrogance in religion, to say that, it isn't in our holy book, so therefore it doesn't exist and can't exist. Ive been to church a few times, and it is boring, a person going on about something that has more holes in it than swiss cheese, it also annoys me, how children are indoctrinated into religions before they even get the chance to make their own minds up and their own beliefs. So i think that it is the atheists who are the open minded people, not the religious groups who wont accept anything that hadn't been written years and years ago.

Answer 3

I try to, my sisters are Jehovahs Witnessess and I go to the Kingdom Hall with them every once and awhile. A few months ago I went to church with a Christian Catholic friend. Sadly, they don't discuss evolution, creation, abiogenesis, etc. at church, so nothing is really questioned. I spend the majority of the my limited time on the internet looking at videos and reading articles that are about the religious and scientific theories. Believe me when I do say that I honestly do look for ways to have my beliefs questioned. How do you think I converted from Christianity? Then how do you think I converted from Agnosticism? how do you think I converted to Atheism? How do you think I converted to Satanism? By having my beliefs questions. For the first 17 years of my life I raised Christian, it's not like I was raised Atheist. The vast majority of Atheists were raised Theistically, very few are raised Atheist.

If I knew a Muslim i'd ask that they take me to a Mosque every once and awhile, I wish I knew someone of every religion.

It's impossible to sustain an intelligent religious or scientific argument with someone if you don't know what the other person believes. There was a Christian guy on here saying him and other Christians were going to have a walk-out in Science class whenever the teacher started talking about evolution. That kid could never hold an intelligent Creation v. Evolution argument because he doesn't even know what evolution is.

Added: See what I mean? Look at "lawson403" answer. He doesn't even know what an Atheist is, yet he'll question us and probably try to have an argument with us, but how can he do that if he doesn't even know what Atheism is?

Answer 4

I'm not atheist, but I have a friend who is who grew up in the Catholic Church. She's very open-minded and not at all offended that people *gasp* believe in God. For her, she just cannot wrap her mind or heart around the concept that God is possible. It makes as much sense to her as trying to tell most of us that 1+1=3. She doesn't attend church because 1) it makes no sense to worship that which she doesn't believe in and 2) out of respect for those who DO believe.

Maybe we Christians needs to be open-minded enough to attend services at a mosque or synagogue and have our beliefs tested.

Answer 5

Im a Christian but if I can (pardon the terminology here) play "devils advocate" for a second, Id say that going to church sometimes causes atheism. And Im not saying its bad or anything but church hardly ever provides the answers for questions we look for. Its only an hour, or hour and a half long, once a week and usually the sermon itself is only 1/3 of that, there isnt much research or study involved in going to Church. However, joining varius Bible studies might be more helpful or going to an educated Christian themselves and asking questions. Maybe they can search for the answer together?

Dont get me wrong, I like church, but Atheism always starts with unanswered questions and they're really hard to find in a half hour sermon.

Answer 6

I've been to church. I was raised in a Christian family. It's boring, and it can be a hostile environment. I had a preacher that told me I was going to Hell in the middle of his speech (he knew I was atheist before beginning his preaching). I have no reason to go to church on a regular basis. Are you open minded enough to take a few biology classes that dive deeply into the theory of evolution? Most Christians that I know (specifically the ones that claim, "why are there still monkeys?" or "missing link,") have no idea what evolution is all about.

Answer 7

I attended church for 50 years before I became atheist.. Most of us had a religion at one time and attended a church. Many of us were also raised in religious home.

Answer 8

I think that people who go to church every Sunday and then come home at night and beat thier wives and children only proves my point even further. Why would I sit in a church and recite scripture that I do not beleive in, its hypocritical to do this.

Answer 9

I tried church, I read the bible, I can honestly say i gave Christianity a fair go, it has too many plot holes, and the stuff that does make sense is crap. "Live your life praising God/Jesus" How about "live your life being good to others, and the environment." Really which is better.........that's what I thought.

Answer 10

I question my beliefs CONSTANTLY... the Buddha practically DEMANDED that we do and I still believe there is no creator god. Why would we go to a building in which people worship a creator god, whom we don't believe exists, go to unless to be of benefit to someone who needs our immediate help? (i.e. like a sick grandfather who can't make it to church w/o help and you're the only one available) Wouldn't that (other than benefit for sentient beings who require help according to their own needs) be rather pointless?

Do you go to the cleaners when you have no dirty laundry?

_()_

Answer 11

I attend churches all the time, of many different denominations and in many different countries. I am still an atheist.