How can you go from being a christian to an atheist?

Question

A friend of mine was in a bad motor cyle wreak a few years back.. He grew up a christian. He was strong in his faith. and It was god that saved him, Even the doctors said it was someone from above that saved him.. But how can he go from christian to atheist.. I would like to hear from all sides.. I seriously want to know why and how this could happen.. Also his family doesnt realise he is like this, they just think that since not all of his injurys are healed still he doesnt want to go to church and show his ''weakness'' as they call it. But I feel bad for keeping this secret from his family.. Even though its not my secret.

Answer 1

Well to start off a christian believes in a deity(s), whereas an atheist does not believe in God. The belief of atheism is dependent on the person entirely, if the person is still a good person then why judge him based on the fact that he is not christian? According to Christianity it is not you who should be judging this person which it sounds like you are in some fashion....as a christian you should be loving all people regardless of sex, religious belief, color, etc. (God will do judging later).

Most who carry atheistic beliefs usually have a good moral code which replaces this feeling that they need a deity to "take care" of them or "watch over them".

As for why it could happen, that is for the friend to answer, many people have there own reasons......family, friends, etc. If he wishes to hide this truth from family that is his decision, if you are looking to attempt to convert him back then you need to be able to talk to him.

You should not feel bad for keeping a secret, since you have not said anything about him I can not post a judgment on weather i think his character is worthy of saying that his moral code is his guide in life.

Well I hope I helped. Most people do not like hearing something like this. Good luck and just be there for him.

Answer 2

It is the work of the Holy Spirit that helps someone to be truly born again (1 Corinthians 12:3) so for someone to be "un-born again" the Holy Spirit has to unwind the process. This the Holy Spirit will not do because He is in us forever (John 14:6). Once he is truly saved he is always saved for the eternal blood of Jesus obtains for us eternal salvation and he cannot turn back from God especially in his spirit. He can be an atheist if he is not truly born again and had not make a confession of faith out of his heart. This heppens when he had made a confession of faith out of merely his head and emotions of the moment. In any case we need spiritual perception to know whether anyone is truly born again in the first place. But reluctance to go to church alone does not make a Christian an atheist.

Answer 3

When bad things happen in peoples' lives, sometimes they lose their faith. Many times they ask how God could allow such a thing to happen if He really existed. Because they cannot fathom a loving God allowing bad things to happen, they reject Him.

I do not agree with this process, but I understand why people come to this conclusion. For instance, I know of many gay people who completely reject God due to the cruel homophobia and bigotry exhibited toward them by some of His followers. In the same way, they cannot fathom how a loving God would allow such hatred to be sown in His name.

As a Christian, I cannot tell you why bad things sometimes happen to each of us, including me, except that they just do. There has to be a reason for it in the grand scheme of things, but if we knew all the reasons, then we would be as smart as God, wouldn't we? As Christians, we do not know everything. It would be great to have a nice, neat answer for every possible thing, but we don't. My parents died from cancer, but I did not reject God. But that's my response and your friend is not me.

I think you should also ask your friend why he changed his beliefs. He might not tell you or be able to tell you, but you will learn more about his motives if you ask him. I hope your friend is well and heals completely and has a wonderful, happy, long life.

Answer 4

Well, God is a gentleman. He doesn't force Himself on anyone. Anyone who wants to deny Him has free will to do so. What I can't understand is how someone who has truly known Him & knows the truth can turn his back on God now. The Bible says we will all go through trials & persecutions as long as we are here on earth. It's sad to hear that even though God spared your friend's life that he is choosing to deny that miracle & turn his back on God perhaps out of anger I suppose at having to go through this. He failed the test. His did not rely on his faith. He knows the choice he is now making is wrong or he would be able to tell his family of his decision. This story makes me sad.

Answer 5

I seriously doubt that he is really atheist. More than likely he is agnostic, he believes in a God but doesn't know what God he believes in.

I had a very similar experience. I was raised in a strict Jewish household and I am homosexual. Now I doubt the Abraham God because I don't believe God would condemn someone he created. However I can't escape my roots. My parents beliefs were embedded into who I am even today.

Answer 6

Maybe hes been around too many Trinitarians. Perhaps God did save him and there weren't 3 of them that showed up. So now he might know the truth and just hasn't found a right church.

Answer 7

As a Christian we are not exempt from bad things happening to us Psalms 91 declares he sends his angels concerning us in all thy ways and God kept his word he did not die.But also Gods grace is suffecient in his weakness,as a believer you have to pray Gods word and claim protection,healing,
deliverance, finances,ect.... you have to activate the angels in your life,also you said he strong in the faith,sometimes situtations make us even stronger,but God says some will fall away from the faith,tell your friend every situtation will make you grow and make you stronger,he is just mad at God right now and to sincerely think about this desision For we can do nothing apart from God I will pray for him

Answer 8

Uh, why are you asking us when you could and should be asking him?

Why is what he thinks, feel and believes important to you?

This all sounds like something that is none of your business and between him, his family -- and maybe God.

Basically anyone can do this...

...as all they have to do is to make a decision...and obviously this is what he has done...

Again, why not ask him why and how he made this decision?

And, let's say (for arguments sake) that he told you exactly why he made this decision and his explanation shook you to your very core...

...why is it that you would allow anyone or anything outside of yourself to change anything about what you know, think or feel for yourself?

Remember -- his experience is his experience alone -- and not yours -- nor anyone elses. Why would you base your beliefs on what anything or anyone else experienced?

You might be surprised that it has absolutely nothing to do with God or his beliefs.

Regards,

Answer 9

It's when I grew up, and stopped believing in magical thought.

I don't mean that as an insult. And I do not imply that all Christians are immature or believe in magical thought.

I am just saying that for me, moving from Christian to Atheist was along that path.

Answer 10

My guess is that facing his own death made him realize that...

1. He has no reason to fear death, or anything else for that matter.

2. In healing, he discovered a courage within himself that he once ascribed to god.

Although I've been an atheist since childhood, about 13 years ago, I had a very bad accident, and recovered. You learn a lot about yourself through trials like this.

The entire concept of god, heaven, hell, and the afterlife are all manifestations of human fear of the unknown. When you no longer fear death, you no longer need a fantasy afterlife to reinforce your denial.

The way you overcome fear is through courage, and that you get by "walking through fire." This experience can be different for each person, but all those who have gone through it, understand. Once you overcome fear, you learn to revere life itself, not some man-made delusion of what comes afterward.