I am a now an atheist who was raised Baptist and who converted to Catholicism when I married my very Catholic husband. I don't go to church any more, except for funerals or weddings and maybe Christmas and Easter. But for years when I was going to Church, I often wondered if I was the only one there who didn't really believe. Do you think that statistics on the number of Atheists are skewed by some percentage because of people like me?
2007-02-12 16:53:00 · 4 answers · asked by Whitedove 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are some who still go to church even though they have stopped believing. Mostly because of not wanting to upset family.
I have known of a few that do this
2007-02-12 17:05:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I was raised in a Southern, Church of God household, and as far back as I can remember, I didn't feel what everyone around me seemed to. I attended Sunday services because I HAD to; my parents were going and I was too little to stay by myself.
I recall once, when I was pitching a temper tantrum about bedtime -age five or thereabouts- dad suddenly placed his hands on my forehead and shouted "In the name of Jesus, devil LEAVE!" I think everyone here can easily imagine how scary it is for a kid at that age to suddenly become convinced that they might be misbehaving due to demon possession. For years after that, I prayed every Sunday to be "saved", and always went home wondering what was wrong with me because I didn't feel any different.
I stopped going in my mid-teens, as soon as I was old enough to stay home alone.
2007-02-12 17:10:41 · answer #2 · answered by JL 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, many people go to church for business. Others, like those in a small town, go to church because they would be completely isolated if they didn't. Even more go to please their family. It would be funny if the preacher asked for a show of hands with this question and 80% of the parishioners realized that the bible is not why they come, maybe the building could be turned into a community center.
2007-02-12 17:03:48 · answer #3 · answered by Sara 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just about every Christian. If they truly believed then they would do what Christ said rather than find ways to do what they want. As Nietzsche said: 'The first and last Christian died on the cross'
2007-02-12 17:13:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋