Is religion dying in developed countries? Atheism!?

Question

I am an Atheist after researching all (Or most) religions and science this is what I decided, I was never brain washed at a young age and the people who taught me at school were quite impartial! Did you choose to believe what you believe or were you braught up to believe what you believe?

"In Europe, however, Islam is growing rapidly. "
Islam is only growing because the Muslims from there third world countries are flooding our boarders not because its gaining popularity with the indigenous population!

Please answer the question without trying to convert me you bible bashers!

Answer 1

Chose what I believe after being grought up Christian. Now I'm not. :)

Answer 2

Yes, I believe it is dying, particularly Christianity, and this is probably a good thing too.
More and more people are at last cottoning on to the fact that the Christian church has been peddling a false doctrine for the past 2000 years. They are beginning to realise that Christianity, in common with all other religions, is just a belief system, and nothing more.
When you strip away the panoply and the hype, and the threats of eternal damnation, you are left with mere opinion.
The assertion that the bible is the absolute and infallible word of God is seen to be so much empty rhetoric.
There is no record whatsoever of Jesus ever having written a single word.
All his teachings were verbal, spoken in Aramaic,and translated at a later date by people who were never present at the time. Certainly not the Gospel writers.
St. Paul was born nearly 100 years after Jesus's death.
Christians, with the best will in the world, just believe this material to be true. They do not know it
I was brought up a Christian, but as I have matured, I have discovered that the church that bears Jesus's name, is nothing more than vast, property owning corporation.
Martin Luther didn't know half of it.
As for Atheism! well now that is whole new ball game.
Whilst I am no longer a Christian, I am certainly not an Atheist!

Answer 3

I was brought up to be a catholic, but gave it all up at an early age. Now after 40+ years of looking and studying all the religions I could find, I have come to the conclusion that religions are only a way of raising money and controling the less clever (I realy mean ignorant but lets be kind). However I do believe that there is a God, as science cannot answer the big question, Where did the origional matter come from.

Answer 4

I do not have the same religion as my parents. They are Christian. Like you, I am an Atheist.

There really isn't such thing as "brain washing" in the context of religion. Very few people make it to 30 without questioning much of what their parents believe. In the process, most come to a belief system that carries some of what they learned as children and a lot more that they picked up on their own after they hit puberty. (Assuming you make it to my age or better, a little less than 25% of your life will have been spend under the influence of your parents...and likely only half of that will have been under their control!!)

The difference between Santa Claus and Jesus is that by the time young people make it to middle school believing in Santa Claus is ridiculed by everyone as a child-like belief system. So, although "Brain washed," children find it easy to abandon. On the other hand, society remains full of clues that Jesus is still a respectable thing to believe in, so it is harder to drop the belief the younger you are and they more you look toward others for re enforcement.

Answer 5

I'll give you a serious answer. Christianity has declined in Western Europe. It has increased in Russia and Eastern Europe (the end of Communism has something to do with it), has declined in Canada, but is strong in the United States. Since many of the Muslims emigrating to Europe are settling in Western European countries, some Western Europeans seem to feel threatened and there's certainly been problems and controversy. Some Western Europeans may end up embracing Christianity, if for no other reason than out of fear of living under Islamic rule. I would consider South Korea a developed country, and Christianity has grown there by leaps in bounds.

Answer 6

I just saw a great show on the formation/creation of the earth. Incredibly well done. No mention of God(s) though.

Now what science has discovered and described can be brought to anyone with a cheap TV.

This has never been the case before in Human history. For thousand of years people fell prey to any and all magical/divine causes for things.

It will take awhile for intelligent people to give up their beautiful Mythology, but I think that it is bound to happen over time.

Less educated people will be believing for a long time to come.

Answer 7

Religion may well be in decline in some countries. However, resistance to reasoned thinking supported by science is still rampant. This is fueled by the battle between religions who fight for their life and for supremacy - it is a selfish, power-crazed attitude rather than a logical, reasoned stance.

Nevertheless, the impact of the christian/jewish versus muslim conflict (in all senses) is worldwide and enlists followers who might otherwise shed religion in favour of reason. Until religion is discarded, our societies and progress will be held up.

BTW, I was born into a christian family/community, learned a bit about other religions, of which only buddhism was attractive to me (if only it could remain a philosophy and drop the religious baggage). I am now atheist.

Answer 8

Religion has been steadily declining in most developed countries over the years (including the United States, though at a slightly slower rate). I was brought up to be a Christian but after studying both sides of the arguement I became agnostic.

Answer 9

I was brought up to believe what I believe though, for about six years or so, I questioned everything I was brought up to believe and had a wild wild ole time. Going nowhere but hey havin fun as I saw it.
My life was changed when I decided to give this Jesus a try. Whilst I understand that the morality that He taught and what I try to follow could alone be instrumental in my success, my eyes have been opened to many things of this life. I do not wear sandals but believe that I have been called because of who I am and not what others expect me to be. Still havin fun but there is so much purpose to my life now and it's all about engaging others at their level of need as opposed to my desire for conversion. The good thing about humans is that we have ability to make choices. You are an atheist today but tomorrow who knows. In Christ all one has to do is believe that He is the son of God, quote and unquote. Religious leaders and their religions are here to distract us from the truth. Jesus came to earth to sus out why man is not taking the Godly path. As he lived he learned and made it so simple for us if we only believe. Man will make rules and regulations and judgements upon you and what you do. Jesus exposed religion and religeous leaders. He wants us to have a relationship with him. One that is personal and not public.

Answer 10

I went my own way. I was raised as a strict Catholic. Now I'm an agnostic leaning toward atheist, with an interest in all world religions, but mainly Buddhism.

I really don't think religion holds the sway it once did, at least in the West. America seems to be an exception, but I think it, too, will eventually see religion begin to wither as a powerful force.

Answer 11

My parents are Christians, I'm a Taoist Atheist. That should answer your second question. Yes, religion is slipping in developed countries. In Europe, however, Islam is growing rapidly.