Why do some people view atheism as the result of a childhood trauma?

Question

What's the connection?

Answer 1

Other than it being something that some believers like to tell each other, much of it is a result of Hollywood. Think about every single movie you've ever seen that had an atheist character in it. The "atheist" always became atheist as a result of a trauma. (Three recent examples are: "The Reaping"--lost husband and daughter, "Signs"--lost wife, and "1408"--lost daughter.) A lot of these movies will then have a "God is victorious" ending where the atheist "regains" their "faith".

Answer 2

Because they feel that atheists have a problem, that must have occurred at birth. There is no connection. I would feel that most atheists have question, studied, asked, investigated religion and the question of God, and they feel that they don't believe it and don't want anything to do with that subject.

I am not an atheist, but I do not belong to an organized religion. Like Atheists and the religious sector, I have made a choice, I have used my free will. I don't think anyone else is wrong and I am right, I just feel that for me, what I have chosen to be, is the right choice, for me.
It is the same as saying that Gay people have a chose. They don't know what they are talking about and they don;t give everybody the right to choose for themselves.

Answer 3

There are a million and one reasons why people become certain things. Who's to say that in some cases, it isn't true?

Neither you nor I have met every atheist that ever lived; and with that said, how can you then preclude it as the reason in some cases?

I know in my own family's case my mother's atheism does come from being quite angry with God, though it does not date back to childhood... (and yes, she can truly be said to "lack belief" since she refuses now even to acknowledge there even is a God as a result.)

That demonstrates to me that, far from the myth that atheists like to cultivate in their minds that they cultivated their outlook in a lab coat, emotion can be just as involved in the decision for them as it is for anyone.

As for the whole "trauma of being educated with facts, science and critical thinking" song and dance alluded to above - please; the unearned superiority complex should go. I find at R&S I'm constantly correcting the bad anthropology and paleobiology of many of the atheist contributors.... while somewhat more scientifically literate than some of my creationist brethren, that's still not saying much.

Answer 4

Almost never do I engage in this debate but I will enter this comment and leave as I will not Bandy words with the Pseudo atheists as a matter of personal policy.

A true A-theist has very little interest in religion as to even inquire of such a matter. They would never conceive to post a question such as that on a public forum so as to rally public support or interest from other like minded ones.
The Pseudo Atheistic Humanistic/Secularist Coreligionist movement of which you are an active part is a very profound religious movement that seeks it's own religious and politically motivated agenda. It's individual members are most definitely Pathologically motivated with distinct and profound symptomatically behavioral conduct being routinely manifested and displayed.
These are rooted in various individual origins clearly as unique as the individual involved but to the number can be identified and indicated with either a trauma Dissociative or Anti Social Narcissism Paranoid Personality Disorder in which the individual seeks the constant assertion that Society, Religion is "Out to get them as a nonbeliever and oppressing them in every venue of life" therefore "We must stand up and oppose organized religion"
In reality it is an outward demonstration of the superiority of the individuals intelectual capacity. It has very little to do with religion but the central focus on the individual is using religion as a viable sociological excuse and platform from which to demonstrate that superiority.
The trauma may have been undue oppression and or abuse of physical or sexual nature in tender years.

Answer 5

Because it would shake their Faith to admit that the most common cause for Atheism, at least in the US, is reading the Bible.

This is the reason for the Krictyan Kroosaide Agenst Letressey and why the Church kept discouraged reading for so long. It's why the Guttenberg Bible sparked a Revolution.

Even today Fundamentalists rely on spoonfeeding their congregations carefully selected texts and ignoring the parts of the New Testament they don't like

Answer 6

If atheism is a result of a childhood trauma then please explain this to me.

I was a victim of what is today now known as childhood physical abuse. Yet I believe in God. Oh boy, do I ever believe in God. But do I hate the Lame-***, Selfish, Cruel, MoFo??? Let me count the ways!!!

Answer 7

Because it saves them from having to consider that the atheists might actually have a good case, or set of reasons?

"Oh, they're traumatised" works as a nice
"get out of jail free" card.

A similar one insists that anyone leaving Christianity for atheism "can never have been a proper Christian."

(I became a Christian as an adult, not due to family influence either way. I ceased to be one about fifteen years later, again under no particular influence except my own thoughts and conscience.)

Answer 8

All atheist are the result of being indoctrinated since their childhood with atheistic lies through the various medias, public schools, colleges, parks and museums. The businessmen who have sponsored all of these these kinds of activities in the USA have blatantly altered American history and lied about the Constitution, claiming that separation of church and state includes removing Christianity from being the basis of American laws and social structure. The fact that these have to remove Christianity is proof that Christianity was at the center of American law and social structure, which means that their claims about separtation of church and state are all lies. I would like to add if you would take the time to read the Congressional record or even look at how the government buildings in Washington were decorated with Christian beliefs you would know that these businessmen are liars, who are changing the social behavior in America so as to cause the American people to accept their immoral businesses including pornography, alcohol, gambling and advertising so that they can make windfall profits. However, these businessmen and women have become Satan's children and have to be subjected to civilized law again by what ever means it takes.

Answer 9

I have never heard the two equated in that way..I do recall one post, that asked if the Atheist's "answers"..that were very RUDE..were caused by childhood trauma. I think she just meant those particularly rude people not Atheists in general.

Answer 10

Ignorance and the lack of understanding, I've been in church myself and the things that i have seen you are talking a mass case of trauma!