How can we teach theists to not be afraid of the truth?

Question

It seems to me that some theists have a big emotional need to believe in a god, and are quite afraid to accept that no such thing actually exists. They rail against things like evolution, which endanger their fragile beliefs.

How can we show them that reality is not something to be afraid of, and help them grow towards a rational, naturalistic worldview?

plastik: Not imposing, but helping.

Linz: Interesting perspective there, thanks.

ɹɐǝɟsuɐs: So it's all about ego? Yes, you may be right.

Gorgeous: Wilfully ignorant, yes... but I'm sure at least some of those people can be helped, it's just a case of finding the right way to do it.

zeal4him: Your argument fails the 'reason' test. Looking around you only tells you that an uncreated universe is a wonderful thing.

Leviathan: Well said.

Answer 1

linz has it, it's an addiction from birth..

Answer 2

Theists for the most part are rather averse to logic and rational thinking. I think the best way to go about this is by example. We need to show them how being logical leads to progress while perpetuating religious beliefs does not. Consider: For thousands of years, people thought that the Sun orbited the Earth, and religion always tended to stick to this belief, and no progress was made until Galileo and Copernicus stopped listening to the religious ideas and actually built telescopes and looked at the Solar System, and that's when human knowledge was actually increased. Or how the Bible says that pi equals 3 while modern mathematics only fits together properly when pi is 3.141592 etc. We need to show the theists how much science has done for the world, how virtually all true progress in the past few hundred years has stemmed not from religion but from logical investigation.

Yes, it's a difficult challenge. But it's going to have to be done sooner or later.

Answer 3

One of the most basic philosophical arguments is the question "what is real?". Continuing on from that I ask you, what is truth? Is it your truth that there is no God and no possibility of there ever have been God? Is it the agnostic belief that God can neither be proven or disproven and might be real? Or is it the theist's truth that God is real?

By the way, not all theists rail against evolution. I personally believe that God created the stars as well as subatomic particles and I refuse to put limits on what He can or can't do. I think that it's quite evident that we evolved into what we are now and we continue to evolve. The world is a marvelous place and it would be even more marvelous if everyone could just manage to respect each other's beliefs and not constantly try to convince others that theirs is the only way.

Answer 4

Reality can at times be subjective.

I think the best we can do is work towards a world where people of all beliefs can respect each other and work towards the common good. That actually embraces a lot of religions if we could just get past the part about whose god is the real god.

Answer 5

You don't know for sure what is the truth! Evolution is NOT a fact! Were you there to see it...um, NO. The truth could be your view it could be mine, it could be anybody's it could be no one's. Theists believe something else, not out of fear, but out of experiences that they had, love, compassion, and hope. Just like many came to believe there is no God. Some people loose faith in God because their prayers are unanswered or a loved one dies unexpectedly. Others, because scientific data contradicts the creationism theory.

But if there was something scientific that contradicted the evolutionary theory, or every theory that you ever believed in, that was from a credible source, would you believe it, even if it suggested a higher being? I never had spoke against evolution, I believe in it, as do many who have faith. I don't believe that evolution makes a higher being less credible, but I believe it supports the possibility of a God. There are no limits to what God can do, and evolution is an example of His power.

What do theists have to be afraid of, why are you trying to help us when we don't want the help, and certainly don't believe that we need help. All the help we get is from God and that is all we need. We ar not held down or opressed by our religion, but we believe we are set free! I was a "good" human being before I came to know Jesus, but now that God has influenced my life, I am so much more happy, so much more at ease and much less stressed knowing that someone is always going to be there when I fall.

I don't believe you have anything to be afraid of either, you have your belief, and if you choose that, I cant change that. I respect you decision, I don't condemn you to Hell, I don't avoid you because of you religious beliefs, heck I would mind dating someone of a different faith than me, or no faith at all. Theists won't change their beliefs because you think they are uneducated. They have experienced something greater than anything you can imagine. I don't expect you to understand, but I wish you would.

Answer 6

why do you want to teach them to not believe in a god?
if they can't come to those conclusions on their own, then what does it really matter? Some people's beliefs are so deep-seeded within them, they will never believe the truth, even if presented with hard-core evidence. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to change the ways of others. Be different from the religious people who try to change the atheistic way of thinking.

Answer 7

I think the only way would be to avoid teaching religion at such an early age. If a child is told that a paternalistic figure is always taking care of him/her, that child will get accustomed to the idea of a protective force. People are afraid of "losing" that protective force that they once had.

I think if we didn't teach children that God exists at a young age, they wouldn't have such a strong need to be protected as adults.

Answer 8

Tough question.

I think that we have to unravel a lifetimes worth of indoctrination that claims that they are special and have a purpose that God will provide.

Most religious believers have built their sense of self worth around the belief that they were created unique and with purpose. So when evidence is presented to them that the God they believe in is myth, they will always reject it because it is a direct assault on their sense of self value.

So if we are to be successful in alleviating their fears, we have to find a way to separate their ego from their belief in God, and let them know that they have a very important and special purpose on earth, even without the existence of God.

That is why I like to point to the value of family, friends and human progress. I try to explain that my life has tremendous purpose in providing a better life for my kids and improving society for my friends and neighbors. I don't need a belief in God to understand that these things are inherently valuable to mankind.

Answer 9

They are so close minded and brainwashed that they are the only ones who are right that I doubt anything could help them.

I would just be happy if they excepted that they might not follow the "only" truth as there is no such thing.

Answer 10

Actually we theists have the right to believe as we do. I personally already have a fairly rational, naturalistic world view. I also oppose war, the death penalty, anti homosexuality laws, prejudice of any kind and the merging of religion and government.

Lets focus on making all theists realize that their beliefs do not need to be universal - or forced by law.

Answer 11

Its a difficult question, no doubt it will sound arrogant to them but I know what you're getting at. Its hard because you can't promise them eternal paradise for becoming an atheist, and the cold harshness of reality is not what some people want. I have talked to people and been getting in to my stride explaining why the whole notion of god is ridiculous then they mention that someone they loved has died and I'm stuck for words.

It doesn't make any of their beliefs more plausible, its just like having an intellectual conversation with someone and they'll say 'well I'd kill myself if I didnt believe in that' and it suddenly becomes a lot more complicated. I don't think everyone has the emotional stability and intellectual resolve to embrace those ideas without causing problems. Theists reveal this in the way that their notion that what they want to be true, is true. In saying they don't want to be related to apes, for example. Well, I don't want the people I love to die, but they're still going to. People come on here and say 'I personally believe that god is like this and that' - all very well, but doesn't it amount to 'I think reality is this way because I choose to think it is'?

I chose long ago that I'd choose to study reality, try to figure out truth, whether that was something that was going to make me happy or unhappy.

I wish if nothing else, they understood that they had a duty of care to their fellow men (and women) and stopped thinking of it in terms of being good because God told them to - its insulting to human dignity. We don't need magical beings to make us civilised. Every one of them asking 'why should an atheist be moral' is revealing themselves to be blind and ignorant. They insult themselves and all of humanity.