Would an atheist ever go to Church to make their family happy??

Question

I'm beginning to doubt that my uncle is an atheist from some of the atheists answers from another question but he went to church as a Christmas present for his ex wife. Now an atheist who answered another question said that he doubts my uncle is an atheist because he will say to others May your God bless you & the other day he said maybe there is a higher power. So do you have any idea why he wouldn't come out & say he believes??

Answer 1

Having worked in religious schools, I have had to go to church as part of my job. Only once was I ever chastised for not praying.

It sounds like your uncle might be agnostic which, in my opinion is a wise choice because yu can never be certain whether god exists or not.

I think he sounds like a thoroughly decent man, he does and says things to people to make them feel better eveb though his beliefs may differ from theirs. It's a pity others (both atheist and christian) don't do the same

Answer 2

Maybe your uncle is just a very tolerant, open-minded and respectful atheist. Or maybe he is not really a firm atheist but more like agnostic.

I'm an atheist. I go to church if there is some family event there that is important to my family or friends (a Christening, confirmation, wedding, funeral, whatever such event someone I know invites me to attend). I don't go to normal masses, but then again nobody has asked me to and the Christians I know don't even go to mass often themselves. I have no problem going to church on a rare occation if it makes someone happy, just as long as they are not trying to convert me.

Answer 3

I would go to an event, like a wedding, or a christening, definitely. Maybe... (BIG maybe) on a holiday.

But to attend regularly and act like I'm something I'm not, no. I wouldn't ask them to be what they are not, and I expect the same in return.

As for other atheists, it's an individual decision that depends on a lot of different things. Some are apathetic, some "believe in belief" so to speak, and some just want to keep the peace. I'm sure it happens all the time. To each his own.

Answer 4

some atheist spend a lot of time thinking about God , some even go through the bible looking for thing to prove us believers wrong.
I say let them do it , one day their going to find something in the Bible that's going to hit them like a ton of bricks.

Like my sister Atheist all the ways trying to prove me wrong all the time.
Gave birth It was a compacted birth, the baby stayed in the hospital for three week
My mom and i want to see the baby, found my sister crying hysterically, she was told that the baby may not make it.
Her words: if there's a God why did he do this to my baby.
Before I Know it without thinking i said this is your punishment he is just paying it for you.
I was shock that that came out of my mouth I would never her my sister in any way.
My sister umm I think God came down and gave her one Almighty slap on the face, because that was her expression.
Now she believes .
He's there he just don't know it, He's wating for that Almighty slap.

Answer 5

Sometimes I do if a family member asks me. I don't see why I shouldn't attend such a function. I'm perfectly comfortable with what I believe and as long as no one asks me to perform the service or "testify" for the church I can just sit there.

It sounds like your uncle may be an atheist, but he doesn't try to ruffle anyone's feathers. Despite what you see on the forum, many of us don't go around looking for arguements. We usually just try to blend in and keep our Sundays to ourselves.

Answer 6

There may be a higher power, i don't know, if there is he can prove it to me, if not i am not going to waste my life trying to find him. For christmas sure i would make my wife happy and go to church for her. Ex wife? well he must have good relations with her then. He might not be an athiest, who knows? ask your uncle what his veiws are, we don't know the man.

Answer 7

Yes, sometimes people are willing to sit through a service if it makes another family member happy. I don't share the same religious beliefs as my family, however I have gone to services with them, especially things like funerals and weddings. I've also gone on holidays when my whole family is going, then it isn't about the religion, it is about community, a chance for my mom's church friends to meet my children and I.

It sounds like he is trying to be respectful of other people's beliefs when he says things like "may your god bless you". He has a right to identify as whatever religious label makes him comfortable.

Answer 8

I dated an atheist guy who knew he would lose me eventually because of our difference of beliefs, and he did go to church with me. Although he squirmed and rolled his eyes the whole time, not exactly making me happy. Your uncle may be on his way to believing if he doesn't already. I'm going thru the same thing with my stepdad. He doesn't go to church but whenever we ask him he says he believes but won't go any further about it.

Answer 9

I wouldnt read too much into it.
Maybe he just really wants to please his ex.
The 'GOD bless you thing' today is kinda like
'how are you'
no one reallly means it in the sense that they dont really give a shyt. It is kinda like saying hello.
Don't believe me?
try answering the 'how are you thing' with 'My leg hurts and my funds are very low'
People will make dents in the concrete to get away from you.
I am not exactly if the term your uncle would be agnostic
(I believed it to mean that he believes in a higher power)

Answer 10

Um, yeah. Well I don't know your Uncle but I have seen couples where the wife was convinced that Her Husband was doomed for an eternity in Hell and did everything in her power to make him aware of that fact.