Someone once said that "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians,,,,, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."
Do you agree/disagree and why?
2007-09-25 15:32:31 · 52 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
and what religion are you (or lack of)
2007-09-25 15:32:54 · update #1
I did not choose my path to spite someone whom I feel is hypocritical. I chose my path after much study and contemplation.
I can not speak for how others came to their beliefs.
2007-09-25 15:36:58 · answer #1 · answered by Pangloss (Ancora Imparo) AFA 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
That may very well be one of the main reasons but I think it's more of an alibi than a reason. People don't have faith in God and go to church to honor other people. The honor, thanks, praise, and reason for going to church is to God, not to other people. If most of the people you know are Democrats but you're a Republican, are you not going to vote because you disapprove of their views? No. Do you hate them and distance yourself from them because they aren't exactly like you? No. I might say I like Ford Shelby Mustangs the best, but I might drive a Grand AM. I'm "not practicing what I'm preaching". Does that mean you have to do the same thing? No. A disgruntled person may feel others aren't trying as hard as they should to get the job done. Does that mean that the disgruntled person has to do likewise and not try anymore? Or, should the disgruntled person feel that "Hey, that's their problem." and try to do the best job possible regardless of what the others do? Don't just "follow the leader" the leader may be following the wrong thing. Do what's in your heart and not what's in the heart of someone else. If flaws are seen in the lifestyle of others, go to the instruction book (the Bible) and do what's right. You could go to the errant other person and thoughtfully point out the error of their ways. Help. Don't hinder.
2007-09-25 15:58:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a great question.
I think that the hypocrisy of some religious people may play some part, but probably a small part of the reason people are Atheists.
We are not born with a book of rules for ourselves, though there are books that claim to be this.
Everyone must come to terms with the world as he or she can.
To be asked to believe in an all powerful being that has our best interests at heart, requires that we either ignore or find some twisted logic to account for all the misery, suffering and death in life.
Ten million children under the age of five died last year from starvation and disease. Was this a test of faith for them or their parents?
Were other matters more important to the Supreme Being?
For me, someone who is interested in how the world works, I have not found any credible evidence to support the existence of this Supreme Being.
What I find is that men WANT there to be a God, but can produce no marks of a God on this life or on this Earth.
It is a fact the the more educated and/or intelligent a person is, the less important the God issue becomes.
The some is true in reverse also: the least intelligent and/or educated, the more belief in God becomes important.
2007-09-25 15:51:35 · answer #3 · answered by smkeller 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Christians somewhat ,but mostly understating history and researching other religious story's ,they have a lot of different tails for the same events in history
example =a historic flood,there are a 100 different tales as of why this happened and everybody thinks there god caused it at that time in history how else could you explain it
also the story of Jesus sounds alot like the Greek Hercules ,the son of a god born of a mortal and saves the Greeks from evil ,,,,,,,,have to admit its very similar
2007-09-25 16:02:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course not.
Atheism is the lack of belief in gods. It doesn't have a cause.
But philosophies like secular humanism and skepticism that are related to non-theism often do have moral causes.
My cause is to help reduce the influence of pseudo science and superstition by encouraging more discussion of science in this country (we all need to be informed), and to revoke government laws that oppress free speech concerning anyone on the basis of religion or belief system, which usually applies to countries outside the U.S. and across the Middle East.
2007-09-25 15:40:24 · answer #5 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Reason is the greatest cause of Atheism. Not believing in a Christian deity does not necessarily man being an Atheist. And who cares how Christians act? The text and theology are incoherent even if all Christians follow as they claim to believe.
2007-09-25 15:37:50 · answer #6 · answered by neil s 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
That would be a factor, but the two that actually matter to most atheists (as far as I can tell), is 1. lack of any shred of evidence for any holy book or deity and 2. The bible if read objectively is very violent and contradictory book, as well as being fairly unreasonable.
If Christians lived as they professed they should, it would generate more respect. Greater respect would be gained if they actually understood what evidence meant. But until there is evidence, and as long as there is overwhelming evidence for evolution and super strings, it is not likely that the number of atheist will do anything but increase.
Edit:
I'm a atheist.
2007-09-25 15:43:40 · answer #7 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I disagree. The hypocritical behavior of many Christians certainly reinforces lack of belief but the "cause of atheism" is the complete lack of any credible evidence or even a compelling logical argument to support belief in a deity.
2007-09-25 15:47:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I disagree. People can be hypocrites or have any number of faults and be any religion.
The greatest single cause I've seen of atheism is the reading of the Bible itself. If it's read with a reasoning mind, and not one already predetermined to prove it's true, the contradictions and faults are easy to find.
2007-09-25 15:52:03 · answer #9 · answered by strpenta 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christian Hypocrisy is certainly a factor for some but I would say the greatest cause of atheism is the absurdity of the god claim itself.
It simply makes no sense to explain our complex world with a greater complexity. You don't answer a question with a greater question.
2007-09-25 15:42:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
No denying that exists, but it is only a convient excuse. Look at the growing number of people who follow Jesus, without having a home church. To let a hyprocrite cost you your eternal soul, just does not make sense.
If I wanted to be part of a group that benefited me, the hypocrites would not keep me out, I would simply not associate with them as individuals.
2007-09-25 15:44:26 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋