Do most people subconsciously know all religion is false?

Question

I remember when I was semi-religious. All that time, doubt lingered. Looking at it now, I realize that I leaned upon the expression "ignorance is bliss". The fear was that exploring non-religious explainations could only bring me anxiety. I dont remember consciously having this debate, but this is how I subconsiously rationalized the subject.

I lived in a mega-church community for many years and witnessed a lot of hatred for atheists/agnostics. Why is it that religious people have such hatred for agnostics and atheists? After all, arent they merely another subset of humans who need to be reaced?

In Islamic countries, its not even a debate at all. Atheists are not to be reached or talked to...they are to be beheaded. Period.

Unlike Islamic doctrines, Christians are neverthless supposed to still reach out atheists, but do the opposite. Why is that? Could it be that, despite the teachings of Jesus to the contrary, Christians subconsciously recognize the falsehood of religion...

Answer 1

Yes, I strongly suspect that they do.

It's hard to miss the desperate denial of the believers, for example as they refer to atheism as a religion , or get upset that there are atheists here talking about religious belief.

It's also hard to miss the "doth protest too much" tone of their "Isn't God the greatest?!" posts. I don't hear them constantly telling each other that trees are real, or that Australia is real, or anything like that.

There was a study last year that showed that fairly young children (early grade school) recognize that when adults say that germs are real they mean something very different from when they say that "God" is real. The observations suggested that even young children pick up on the fact that adult believers put so much effort into insisting that "God" is real simply because they know in fact that he is not.

Answer 2

Atheists don't like anyone who threatens their way of life, their belief structure, because as you say, most people, religious or not, could well be aware that religion is false and only an invention of man.
Still, consider if you had stayed the relious person that you were growing up, and whole-heartedly believed that god existed and eveything you were taught was true, how would you accept it if one day you awoke to the inconclusive proof someone discovered of the very notion of god was a fraud? Would it break down your entire world so you couldn't believe in anything anymore? Would you still live each day normally? Would you go insane?
I think most people have a hard time trying to contemplate those thoughts, and find solstice in their beliefs which is not a bad thing.

Answer 3

Well, that's a bit of a loaded question, isn't it? Either way, you seem convinced that 'religion is false'.

I'm religious, and I don't feel any hatred whatsoever for atheists. Actually, I consider them a step ahead of all those that believe blindly - at least they've turned their brains on.

For the record, it wasn't all that long ago that Christians went around burning people at the stake and/or torturing them to death for not believing in their doctrines.

But don't confuse 'Christianity' with 'religion'. Just because you've finally learned to see through the mythology of the Church, you shouldn't jump to the conclusion that everyone is running the same scam.

Answer 4

Over in the US people are perhaps christian by convention a lot of the time ... so behave merely tribally. People who don't belong to the tribe are not liked.
There's also the obnoxiousness factor. Some atheists do their best to mock people of faith. I suppose if a person is pretty secure he's not really bothered. But most people take offence when some wingnut has a go at them because the wingnut has some bee in their bonnet. They can also act in a smug superior way that might irk some people. (It doesn't bother me because my family is very bright.)
If the christians are developed in their faith they will be able to handle this. But I get the feeling that a lot of the christianity in the US is almost a thing of conventionality, so you'd expect them to be tribal in their thinking.

Answer 5

I don't think it's about knowing it's false but probably has much to do with not knowing enough about faith. Meaning, the people who are truly in love with God and Christ will easily and freely speak to all people - regardless of faith - about God. I think there is a big percentage of Christians who may not realize the true fullness of God's love for them and therefore have a hard time showing that to others. I've been through some of that myself... being less loving, less forgiving than I should be. When I look back, I always think "Christ would have embraced that person, why didn't I?" So I have resolved to be more and more loving.

Another quick note: Some Christians feel personally slapped in the face when somebody talks bad about God or Christ. And I understand that. It's very hard to separate the two. And get slapped enough times and it becomes hard to keep going back for more! I try to remember that it's not me they don't like... it helps keep me strong in the Lord.

I pray you are fully blessed!

Answer 6

I think people choose to believe in religion due to fear of the unknown, fear of death, and fear of religious people. We are taught from the time we are small children that we must believe in a god or horrible thing will happen to us. As we get older I think we all question it because it makes no sense but we are so brainwashed that the fear of "what if" keeps us pretending that we believe it. I have a friend that allowed himself to open his mind a little and started to question what he's been fed all his life but then slammed his mind shut again with the simple thought "better safe then sorry". He's afraid of going to hell. Religion is nothing more than a way to control people through fear. Lack of knowledge creates fear and fear is how you control people. Organized religions are dead set against people gaining knowledge because then they would lose power.

Answer 7

I know that most religions are false, but that God and His Son Jesus are very real. I believe most Christians do try to reach out to atheists and others, but we are also told to stay away if they don't want to hear what we've said. I am sorry that your faith wasn't strong. I know that nothing an atheist says will ever make me doubt or deny God.

May God Bless you.

Answer 8

Without the ability delve into everyone's subconscious, I can't know that. I have no doubt that the type of person you're describing does exist, I've met more than one. But as to how common they actually are... making a guess would only rile people up unnecessarily.

Answer 9

you seem to be in a similar position as me.

personally, i'm agnostic, but i think that christians really do believe.

their reason for believing, however, may be a little off.
in the christians i'm around, i seem to sense a bit of fear when they talk about religious subjects such as hell.

i'm sure there are completely devout people out there, however.

Answer 10

There is no possible way that this many people could really believe what they claim to believe. If they did, this planet would be in chaos, because those beliefs are so irrational. A tremendous number of people, if they really did believe it, would have to be insane. This is why you see the "apologetics" - and the ones who claim that "no true Christian" would say this or that. They are saying that a "true Christian" doesn't really believe in the more horrific aspects of Christianity, which rather ironically would make them the ones who are not "true Christians". A "true Christian" is one who believes wholeheartedly in a repulsive, divisive doctrine of hatred.