Why do you think people turn out atheist?

Question

My parents were catholic and forced me to go to church every sunday morning. I had to go to bible school too. I hated it. Church was boring and bible school took time I would have rather used playing with friends.

I don't remember ever believing in God when I was younger. Maybe I did, but don't remember.

The reason I don't believe now is because 1) there is no proof that any god exists and 2) all the evil that has been done (and continues to be done) in the name of religion, and 3) science is the best tool to explain reality.

Could it be that the resentment I felt with being forced to go to church started a chain of events that caused me to become atheist?

I have a friend of a friend whose parents were extremely religious. When they found out he was atheist, they kicked him out at age 18 and wanted nothing to do with him. He had to work and pay for college all by himself.

Answer 1

I see, the Old "I am an Atheist because my parents forced me to go to church." guilt trip, Well its a cop out! You choose not to believe because you don't want to believe.

Answer 2

I had exactly the same experience, and "came out" to my parents as atheist sometime in high school when I refused to go to religious ed anymore, and I was not confirmed. I became atheist during puberty, when I started to think for myself. I too am bitter my parents forced it on me, and therefore have a negative view of religion to being with, but I also have no doubt that Atheism is still the most honest and intellectual conclusion nevertheless.

Any reasonable, intelligent person will reach the conclusion of atheism or agnosticism by simply being completely honest with themselves and evaluating the evidence. Evidence being - none. Therefore, there is nothing more, or at least no human has the ability to know the ultimate truth, therefore no one knows, and no one should be judged, condemned, or discriminated due to what they think about the origin of the universe (meanwhile science uses actual physical evidence to actually discover the origin of the universe, objectively).

Too bad so many people think they know and try to force their conclusions upon others, which is the worst aspect of religion.

Answer 3

My personal theory is that they have opened their eyes to the fact that organized religion is more than 70% bogus (and that the majority of religious people are hypocrites), but they have not found anything to replace it with, so they turn to science. My personal beliefs lean far away from organized religion, all the way to the mystical or meta-physical (ie. New Age). I got my first introduction to this philosophy at the age of 14, and I was sold on it immediately. A legitimate science called Quantum Physics has pretty much proven meta-physics.

We New Agers are just as passionate about our beliefs as anyone else is, but we also believe that each person has to find his or her own spiritual path, and that no path is wrong for the person who chooses it. That means that there is no such thing as "only one right way" and no one goes to hell just for not believing a certain way. In other words, all paths are valid, and that includes not believing in God at all. *sm*

Answer 4

Logic.
The Bible does not prove there is a Supreme being. It says there is but there is no proof of it. Just because a books says it is something doesn't make it true.

I was in the same boat as you growing up. I never liked going to church. Not because it was boring but I never felt comfortable there. The stories never made sense to me and when I questioned them I never got a straight answer other then "the Bible tells me so".

One person said you were already an Atheist when you started to hate church. I think I was born to follow logical reasoning rather then supernatural faith. Its not like I never tried to follow the so called word of god. I just thought it was BS and I couldn't handle people telling me it was true when it made no sense to me.

Science doesn't always make sense but it makes more sense then some big guy in the sky and then blaming all bad things on Satan. Heaven and Hell has a logical explanation for its creation. Some of you people should research it.

Answer 5

God calls many but few are chosen to learn the truth!

It is hard to pray and love something that is nowhere to be found, it's a normal reaction. You share the sediments of many others that have left the myth of religion, Congratulations.

Answer 6

The bible says that in the last days such will be the spread of evil that many will give up their faith. That answers that part of it.
When you see a painting, a building, you know that there is a painter and a builder, likewise, when you see creation, you know there is a creator.
You are basing your faith on how you feel; if you feel pleasure you believe. But if things are not pleasant, you choose unbelief. But to do that, your faith has nothing to stand on; the devil can toss you to and fro based on your circumstances.
There are Pharisees in our society just as there have always been. The bible says they do not enter life nor do they allow others to. The Pharisees were not Jesus' people when He walked the earth and they still aren't.
It is unfortunate what happened to your friend. God still loves him, so the parents should also. However, God will use circumstances to speak to us. So he may have to walk this particular road in order to find his way to God.
We are being spiritually selfish when we only seek thrills in life. Prayer is sometimes an effort so we don't do it. We cheat ourselves out of the most intimate pleasant relationship we can possibly have when we refuse to pray.
And if you are born again, have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, if He lives in your heart, you will want to pray to Him. You will love Him. You will come to know Him. You will want to pray and want to be saved.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life."

Answer 7

ok my opinion just mine is that people over look think to much every one has doubts aot of times even mother Tereasa im not telling you god excist and push it down your throat thats also why people become atheist i hate that to much of something will turn you off and also im so pose to be catholic but i dnt go to church cuz catholic church has to many hypocrites first there like were all gods children then next a non be leaver kill him or a gay guy kill hum just my opinion
ps i dont really care abut this crap atheist or not whatever it dosnt matter but i needed 5 minutes to kill and to work on grammar

Answer 8

We are all born with no beliefs. God and religion are learned behavior. You kind of show that when you say you don't remember having any beliefs as a kid. Unless you have very religio wacko parents, no very young kids have any ideas about gods. They learn about Santa and the tooth fairy first.

Answer 9

That is the only way christianity is still around, the parents force the children to believe their religion, and until the cycle breaks, it will keep going.. You should be proud to be an athiest. It is the fear those christians try to force but if you resist..

Answer 10

Yes I do think so.

I also think that many fundamentalist/literalist churches have become training grounds for atheists. They demand that children accept things that are preposterous.

Sadly, many children are only taught fear, which putts up a wall and keeps them from experiencing God's love.

Just remember these teachings are human interpretation. They do not define God.

Answer 11

I never believed either, but being in a Methodist church wasn't that bad, just silly.

My mother is well aware four of her six children are atheist and she's not worried. She just wants us to be good people and good citizens, that's all.