Why Do You Christians Say Atheists Choose To Not Believe In God?

Question

I don't know why Christians think that an atheist like me actually chooses to not believe in God.

Actually being a Christian or an atheist is not a choice my friends; it's your conscience that makes you what you are.

Did you think that one day i was sitting on my couch and thought to myself "ok now there are two choices; to believe or not believe in God. Hmmm...let me choose..ahh! I choose to be an athesit!"

That is hilarious!

No one chooses to be a Christian or Atheist, rather it is because of what you feel is right and authentic.

If believing in God would bring me to heaven and spare me from hell then why wouldn't I want to believe?

It is just that I don't! Very simple, I can't lie to myself.
There is no way I can make sense out off Christianity,
hence never capable of believing. I don't choose, but I just feel it.

This probably contradicts your Bible teachings, but hey, what doesn't?

Hopefully you got my idea and please comment with validity.

Answer 1

It most certainly is a choice.

I can choose to follow Islam or I can choose to follow Christianity. But whether I believe it or not is a different thing, and your concious is influenced by other people in your life, the media, etc. so yes....it is a choice.

Answer 2

When it comes to atheism, some atheists choose; some are responding to the pain of the loss of a loved one for which God did not intervene; some are "brainwashed" through an educational system antagonistic towards Christianity; while others are honestly deceived. What becomes a choice is when they are shown that God does, indeed, exist, then reject it - THAT is a choice. Here in R & S, everybody knows about the existence of God. Christians, Muslims and Jews alike continue to answer questions, and the atheists continue to reject God. I'll give you one example out of MANY: One girl here in R & S challenged the Christians to show some kind of evidence for the existence of God. I did so. I presented the challenge that Jesus gave that if you honestly and truly want to know if God had sent him (implying the existence of said God), then "obey these commands, and you shall know (one way OR the other)." It's a simple test, and it is totally objective. Jesus never said anything at all about believing or having faith. Obey his commands as found in the Sermon on the Mount, and if God doesn't reveal His existence, then you know. But on the other hand, if God DOES (and He has in MANY instances), then you have a moral obligation to follow Jesus, period. This woman continues to ask mocking and scoffing questions, but she hasn't once admitted to taking the challenge Jesus gave us. I mean, that's absolutely hypocritical to be given a "litmus paper" test, ignore the test, and then continue as though the test proved negative! THAT is a choice. At the point in which a person rejects objective evidence, then that person has committed moral and spiritual suicide. And if that person continues to actively mock others who DO believe, I am of the opinion that it is also "intellectual suicide" as well. This is a choice to ignore and reject evidence, or the opportunity to gain that evidence! Now then, if these atheistic mockers and scoffers never came into R & S in the first place, and never received answers, then it could be possibly said in some instances that it was not a choice to be an atheist, as I mentioned in the first paragraph. But now you are all without excuse because you have been given sufficient evidence for any HONEST seeker. It is only the dishonest who rejects Truth. The ball is in your court. NOW it IS your choice.

Answer 3

If you were going down the road of life, and you come to a fork in that road, one fork said belief, and the other said non belief. which one do you go down? It is all based on the decisions that you have already made in life. Whether to read the Bible, whether to go to church, or maybe you listen to other people, or you did not like the way that some Christians that you know has acted. But what ever the reason, there had to come a point in your life where you knew you believed or didn't believe. But to get to that point, you had to choose which fork of the road to take when you got there. The question had to have entered your mind at some point as to what you believe. And then decide that it was illogical to believe. So your feelings that God does not exist, is based on your feelings instead of seeking God through faith. And that is why it is a choice. You chose to believe your feelings. Faith is a choice, so if you don't believe that God exist, you have chosen to not have faith, and chose to believe in your feelings instead. It is all choice.

Answer 4

well according to warriorpooflinger, im gay. and jus 2 let u know, ur gay for having that stupid name. jus fyi, im not really gay. anyway, im a firm Christian believer but im not going to shove you into a pit and say u HAV 2 believe in God like most people do. did you know that every time scientists try to disprove Christianity and the Bible, they end up proving it's true and becoming Christians themselves? i know it's hard 2 understand cuz sometimes i don't get it either. but i mean look around, could a world this amazing jus pop up out of nowhere? think about the complex system of your body, it's something only a true genius can create and thats what God is. pls don't disregard this comment jus because it sounds wierd. i think u should go talk to a pastor of a Babtist church. talking to a religious leader can b very helpful sometimes.

Answer 5

It is the nature of man to rebel against authority. God must be revealed to your heart not your mind. As for being spared from hell, as an atheist you do not believe there is a hell to be spared from so why would that concept compel you. It is not the fear of God that draws me but the love of God that compels me. You are right about one thing, your statement does contradict scripture.


Deuteronomy 30:19 (New King James Version)

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;


Joshua 24:15 (New King James Version)

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Proverbs 1:28-30 (New King James Version)

28 “ Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.

Answer 6

I have seen many post similiar to this on different forums and such. Everyone has a choice to be christian, aheist, or whatever. You make your choices, no one makes them for you. You choose what your breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be, dont you? Its just a choice. You choose not to beleive in God and the christianity point of view because u cant make sence of it, not bc u dont feel it. So, you choose to be atheist. Ok, fine by me. Thats your choice. Just like my choice is christianity. Life is full of choices and this is just one of em you made.

Answer 7

I know, we can't just choose between either one. I think it is like homosexuality isn't a choice. You know how people always say if homosexuality is a choice then isn't heterosexuality a choice? If it is then you could choose to be homosexual. It's the same thing. Christians can't just all of a sudden say I'm and atheist and mean it and atheists can't just say they are Christian and mean it. But religious people seem to think it is that easy for atheists.

Answer 8

This whole idea of "choosing beliefs" is interesting. I tend to agree with you that we don't choose our beliefs.

But that raises another difficulty. If our beliefs are not under the control of the will, then they must be the effects of causes we had no control over. But effects follow necessarily from their causes.

A rational reason is not the same thing as a cause. A person may be caused to believe something whether there were good reasons for it or not. If our beliefs happen independently from grounds, then how can any of us, whether theist or atheist, claim that any of our beliefs are rational?

Answer 9

So it is the conscience that determines belief or nonbelief. Conscience requires conviction of truth and you do not possess that conviction, or perhaps your view is that conviction of truth requires you to deny? You were told that God exists and you exercised your free will in faith or lack of faith. It is as God has said.
Faith is nothing more than acceptance of the truthfulness of God. He makes claims you either accept or deny as trustworthy. You do not have that faith. I do.
You have just said that through your own conscience you do not believe in God.

Answer 10

I think in many cases people become involved in some sinful behaviour that is enjoyable so they then look for an excuse such as they hypocracy in believers or hiding behind the veil of science(which is woefully inadequate about theology or origins).