Are atheist gaining converts?

Question

Could it be that because many responses from Christians
just are not logical or even reasonable, that people (many of whom may be very sincere with thier questions) are drifting more and more toward Atheism?

Should Christians try to be more educated and thus give more astute answers to them that inquire as to a certain belief?

As an example, the answers Jesus gave to his detractors by citing scripture, using stunning logic, and speaking with the autority of totally educated man.

In other words, Does Christianity share the blame for the rise of Atheism?

Answer 1

Atheism is not on the rise religion is.

http://www.adherents.com

Answer 2

I dont think Christianity shares the blame. What I think it is, is that we live in an age where most people want everything explained to them logically by science. Science has in a sense become a religion in itself (not quite literally).

There are many people claiming to be Christian that really have no clue as to what the Bible really says though. To them, as long as they believe in Jesus thats it. Of course we know there's a bit more to it than simple belief (the scriptures state Satan believes, but of course he's not saved). It would aid them greatly if they were a bit more educated, and could give reason to their belief, rather than trying to get someone to understand them just on their personal ideas. As the Bible states, All scripture is inspired of God, for reproof, teaching, etc. There said "teaching!" But you need to read and study the Bible to be able to teach about it. To be a Christian means more than going to church and taking the priest or pastors word for it.

Athiests though, from what I've seen, often come from some sort of religious background, and leave it after serious study of it, as well as deep soul searching, and deciding there is no god. I doubt they decide to become Atheist because a so called Christian couldnt give them a decent answer. I myself am no longer Christian (though I'm not an atheist) after a very deep and few year biblical study, pertaining to each book of it, its history, writers, as well as other sources. I discovered its something I do not, nor cannot believe, and that the Bible God is not one I care to honor. I feel others probably come to the same conclusion, and some to the conclusion that there is no god. No Christian helped me on my way away from the bible God, it was my own choice.

Answer 3

This is a good question. I've asked this before on YA. Tons of "Christians" are to blame for the rise of Atheism. Too many people self proclaim themselves to be Christian. True Christians who study scripture and set a living example are too few and far between. Most people believe in what other people tell them without looking into it themselves and most of those people will be in denial about it. That's the problem. It's a mixture of self proclaiming Christians and people who don't care enough to look into the issue themselves, with an open mind. I like how alot of atheists say "I've read the Bible a dozen times." Well, you didn't read it with an open mind and open heart. That's why they lose in the end.

Answer 4

This is just an opinion.

When I was in mainstream Christian churches, when someone would mention that a liberal or a skeptic would say there are contradictions in the Bible, the preacher or a leader in the church would act as though the very idea that the Bible contradicts itself is outrageously absurd.

Things that didn't cause me to lose faith but that stayed in the back of my mind were things like how both of the following could be true:

Matthew 12:30: "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."

Mark 9:40: "For he that is not against us is on our part."

And there are plenty of these at

http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/

Doing more and more research into the Bible did more to complicate things than simplify them. The more I studied it, the more I found that bothered me.

There's plenty of skeptical literature at

http://www.infidels.org/library/

Even if there were no Biblical conflict, it would bother me that there was so much about church history that never came up in conversation. The first time I heard the term "The Gospel of Thomas," my eyes grew as wide as saucers. When were the Southern Baptists or the Disciples of Christ going to mention that there was a Gospel of Thomas and there were other gospels that were not included in the Bible? And what else were they not telling us?

In the interest of objectivity, contradiction and conflict are not identically equal.

And I don't think the case for skepticism would be weakened by my posting some links to sites most would consider of the mainstream Christian variety. Visit them and build your faith:

http://www.billygraham.org/

http://www.family.org/

http://www.bellevue.org/

http://ww2.intouch.org/

http://www.coralridge.org/

It's just my opinion, but I think they're fighting a losing battle.

Answer 5

Of course. ... Atheism was a trickle in 1860 and we're many hundreds of millions now... It's due to science and TRUTH!

With the ToE, Big Bang Cosmology and much more, the upshot is that we’ve gone from relatively few to huge numbers in less than 150 years. We find (roughly) the percentages of Atheism for certain countries: Vietnam – 81%, Sweden - ~65%, Denmark – ~65%, Norway – ~64%, Japan – ~65%, the Czech Republic – ~58%, Finland – ~51%, and so on. China has ~150,000,000 atheists, while Russia has ~44,000,000, Germany has ~36,000,000, France has ~28,000,000, the U.K. has ~22,000,000 and even little Canada has ~8,000,000 atheists (lots more of course). There are up to 26,000,000 atheists in the States. Given these numbers and associated growth, it becomes apparent that atheism is just thriving. Hopefully, the current trend will even accelerate!

Answer 6

Anyone who bases their opinion of Christianity on the responses to an anonymous online forum should have their head examined in the first place. While you may think that Christians need education, a short walk outside your own front door will reveal a whole world of educated, intelligent and rational Christians. Yes, there are Christian scholars, Christian psychologists, Christian evolutionary biologists, Christian philosophers, Christian professors, Christian engineers, Christian astronauts, and Christian doctors. I know that is hard to believe. And there are thousands upon thousands of books written by Christians that present a rational justification for Christian doctrines, offer a scientific analysis of the Bible as an ancient work of literature, etc.

So no, Christianity does not share the blame. If I rejected atheism because of all the Y!A atheist trolls, that would be my fault for not investigating 'actual' atheism. If an atheist rejects Christianity because of a bunch of ignorant hicks who represent less than 5% of the Christian population, that is their fault.

Answer 7

It's not converts... it's people coming out and being honest.

Atheism is losing its "evil" stigma, no matter what the fundies try to say to the contrary. And people that haven't actually believed in or practiced Christianity in decades are finally coming out and admitting that they don't even believe in god.

They've been atheists the whole time, but it's been easier up until now to shrug and call oneself a Christian, just to avoid unpleasant conversations.

But to directly answer your question, people like George Bush, Jerry Falwell, and muslim extremists are the reason why atheists are speaking out.

Religious insanity is costing too many lives. And we're not going to tolerate it anymore.

Answer 8

One could certainly draw that assumption. Perhaps if more christians, as you said, took the time to think through their answers instead of just quoting scripture or avoiding the questions all together fewer people would be so put off from the religion.

Answer 9

Well, if you want a serious answer to this, you have come to the wrong place. First of all, there is no way whatever to make this question anything other than a demonstration of bias which invalidates any result you might get from it. Second, how can you possibly put blinders or controls on it? Last, do we put issues about life and death up FOR A VOTE?

Answer 10

I wouldn't say christianity is to blame...but yes, atheism is on the rise by small numbers...I think people are now realizing it is ok to question beliefs they would not have questioned otherwise...it's ok to question the existence of god and it's ok to believe in evolution....I have christian friends who believe in evolution.

Answer 11

It might have something to do with the advancement of science. As people become more educated they can see how religion and science do not mix. Most people prefer reason and logic. It is evolution at work.