(according to you)
We are absolutely, positively wrong.
(according to us)
We are indoctrinated as children, brainwashed in our youth, inundated with Christianity throughout our lives, told we are going to Hell for not believing in Jesus, asked to say "under God" every single day in school, and much more...
2007-09-23 01:40:21 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"American Atheists" claim that almost 30 million Americans are Atheists.
2007-09-23 01:50:44 · update #1
I'm actually surprised there aren't more.
2007-09-23 01:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
No, not surprised. Though I believe they get that number from Adherents website which states in 2004 it's approx 9,000,000 - 27,000,000 Atheists/Agnostics/Non-Believers in God. Going by this, they are merely stating that anyone that doesn't believe in the "God" of the 3 Mainstream Religions of which I would fall under that category even though I do hold beliefs being Pagan. So I don't think it's as cut-n-dry as they present it in that case. Actual Atheists in the US? I'd say it's probably closer to the 15,000,000 mark, rather than the 30,000,000 mark taking all of this into consideration.
But no, I am not surprised there are that many Atheists in America.
2007-09-23 10:04:10 · answer #2 · answered by River 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My friend, I am a christian and I do not condemn you for thinking differently. No one should condemn anyone, because we are all feeling our way and none of us has all the answers.
Christians should offer an opinion that should never be rammed down people's throats.The same goes to atheist and anyone of any other persuasion. Spiritual beliefs have no real value unless they come from a personal conviction and not through peer pressure or convention - even if they start off that way.
If what you have been brought up to believe does not make sense to you challenge it by all means - even if you have to go through becoming an atheist.
The question of meaning and spirituality for human beings - no matter at what stage you are at - is very determined by an inner compass we all have which makes us seek an authentic direction to our understanding.
Peace
2007-09-23 09:19:10 · answer #3 · answered by ziffa 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm actually surprised there aren't more. And of course there will be more over time,the better educated a society becomes,the more it turns away from Religious Dogma as a rule,so as we advance in the education arena,the more Atheists there will be. And even now many who call themselves Christians,or whatever Religion they choose, use it more as a moral guideline than anything else. I would venture to say that the vast majority of those who embrace a certain religion do not truly believe the totality of what those Religions teach.
Jack
2007-09-23 09:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
According to CIA Fact Book USA:
"Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)"
10% from 300 million is 30 million atheists.
These figures are gathered from Census information.
The reason it's fairly believable is that Census information is confidential - I would suggest that if there was no threat of hell hanging over believers there'd be a mass exodus from xian ranks.
Betcha if you ask anyone here: if there was no threat of hell, would you still believe in 'god'?
I reckon most would admit they were only doing it to be safe.
Then again - they wouldn't, would they?
They're too scared to tempt their invisible sadist.
.
2007-09-23 09:21:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's all because those people have not learned the TRUTH about and of God. Many of the "main line" churches teach false doctrine. This is why I ALWAYS say, "Talk to God FIRST"
I agree that we are "indoctrinated as children, brainwashed in our youth, inundated with Christianity throughout our lives, told we are going to Hell for not believing in Jesus, asked to say "under God" "
But I also ask YOU this... If you believe in ANYTHING, are yoy still an atheist? The term atheist means someone who believes in NOTHING.
Do you believe your money is in a bank? That's believing in the bank....
Do you believe that your grass will grow if it rains? That's belief in something....
Who created the stars you see at night?
Who created all the vegetation that grows?
You KNOW in your heart that somehow everything WAS created, made and formed by someone, or something. It didn't "just happen", as some claim in the :big bang theory... I say, "God said it, and BANG, it happened."
I was indoctrinated as a child also... HOWEVER... I wanted to know the TRUTH... and went right to the source. GOD. I was somewhere alone, and confused... and just yelled out... "who, what, where, when, why and how" and I learned from HIS mouth personally. I can't explain it any clearer.
It is only the lack of knowledge that keeps people from the truth.... Many are just TOO LAZY to study for themselves... they want others to learn for them. Many just want to "hang on" to others beliefs and have THEM carry them thru life... like those fish that hang on to whales...
There will come a time when ALL, even atheists will bow to Yehushuah!!! Even you!
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Rom 14:11)
Best wishes in Him.
2007-09-23 09:05:09 · answer #6 · answered by Cica 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I am surprised by cars braking in front of me. I am not surprised there are so many delusional people walking around with " This is the one and only true answer!" in their hands. All the true answers are different. Each is the only true one.
Atheists just question the certainty of the assertions.
Too bad the technology capability got so far ahead of the reasoning ability. The technology made us powerful, the unreasoning is killing us.
2007-09-23 13:07:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) "indoctrinated" no, thankfully taught the word of God, yes.
2) "brainwashed in our youth" no, continued our education in religion in our youth, yes.
3) "inundated with Christianity throughout our lives" no, thankfully having the grace to perservere in the Faith yes.
4) "told we are going to Hell for not believing in Jesus" no, made to realize that the debt for unrepented grievous sin is eternal yes.
5) "asked to say 'under God' every single day in school" no, not asked, but in fact priveliged to say it and much much more . . . yes.
Btw, you are absolutely, positively wrong. But, take heart, you may realize your error someday!
Cheers and all the best - may God bless you now & always!
2007-09-23 09:10:09 · answer #8 · answered by Adviso 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, I'm not surprised. The easiest way to make an atheist (or a pagan) is to force them to study the Bible. Then when they ask reasonable questions, answer with "The Bible is the word of God. You must not question it."
Worked on me.
2007-09-23 08:52:42 · answer #9 · answered by auntb93 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'm surprised there are so many believers seeing how much we know nowadays. Of course the US is way more religious than the rest of the developed world, seeing how bad we are in science.
2007-09-23 08:45:53 · answer #10 · answered by mattgo64 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No I am not surprised at all. The bible says that this is going to happen and it is. So you all fulfill prophecy, that makes my faith stronger.
And I have never said that anyone is wrong.
I have only stood up for what I believe. And I have ALWAYS said that hey, you have free will and freedom of speech so say what you want and believe what you want.
You can see what you want to see,
or believe what you want to believe,
No matter the chatter,
some day we'll all see.
2007-09-23 08:56:39 · answer #11 · answered by plowmscat 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋