Atheists- a polite question???

Question

I met two people in my preaching work today who say they are atheists. One is from a country that is "atheist", so he just has that background.

The second one was religious long ago, but then after seeing the hypocrisy in many churches, he decided to give up on any belief in God.

Question to the atheists here, I'm just curious about whether any of you are like the second guy, whether

a) it's the hypocrisy in today's religions that made you believe what you believe, or

b) the hypocrisy just added on to what you believed already?

As this question is addressed to atheists, I'd really appreciate if all others kept their remarks polite.

Thanks.

I realise now that the word "believe" is not really the best here, I just had no better alternative.

I was preaching in a foreign language and the word I used was "believe" and they used it too, so I'm just carrying it on to here.

CC- I was the one preaching, not them

Answer 1

One thing I can say in favor of the Atheists, at least they have gotten out of Babylon the Great. Now they need to redirect their steps and find out how to go into the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Mt.7:13

www.watchtower.com

Answer 2

Atheist here and ex-christian.

The hypocrisy of religion isn't an argument against gods, it's actually more of an argument against organized religion. So, for my case, it's neither of the options you stated, my atheism has nothing to do with hypocrisy in religion or with people knocking at my door early morning in sunday.

I just have a lack of belief in gods, a lack of belief in any theistic conception of gods (that includes Yahveh, Vishnu, Zeus and the Mighty Thor) and that's it, it has nothing to do with religious people’s behavior. Even if religious people were perfectly good and moral that still wouldn't be an argument for god's existence. For example, some of the nicest people I've met believe in the power of amulets and well, the fact they are nice doesn't mean the amulets work, right?

So, I'd say there isn't a single objective evidence for the existence of theistic conceptions of gods and "believing" isn’t the best way to reach an objective truth about our universe, actually, believing can be a good excuse for some believers (I wouldn't say "all of them") to stop searching the truth about the mysteries of our universe, that’s when the word “god” becomes an euphemism for “ignorance”. So, since believing ain’t an answer and there isn’t evidence for god, then I’m an atheist. But as you can see, each atheist has their own reasons, some just find the idea of god's existence as solid as the tooth fairy's existence and others were just pissed at the church.

Bye,

Answer 3

Both A and B.

I was raised Catholic, and in the church we attended, a couple of the priests were known to molest some of the altar boys. I also got discouraged when I would ask questions about how a miraculous conception could happen , and also found that what I was being taught didn't feel right to me. I also have always had a keen interest in science.

I never really believed the theory about the 6,000 year old earth, and there was so much scientific evidence that was contrary to what religion taught me. So I decided that religion was not for me.

Answer 4

I would lie to you if i tell you that my not-believing position is based on the hypocrisy that i see in religions when i was a child, it's much more than that.

I don't believe in any god because my life don't depend on it, just like i don't believe that the gnomes cause the rain, because i know what is the cause of rain (keep in mind that some people really believe in that, and they feel it's something 'essencial')...
You see, i learn about life without any religious influence, that way i was able to know that what many religious people was saying was incorrect...
They tell you that all that things that you learn about life only can be reached believing in something spesific (of course: their beliefs), and you can't fee love in all its splendor if you don't believe what THEY BELIEVE.

Come on! i learn that when a was a child!
Even now, the people who is reading this must be thinking: "ok, but he really doesn't feel bla bla bla, and he can see bla ba bla, so he need the Grace of God"

This mentality has a name, and that would be: Ethnocentrism.

They just take the meaning of life, change it at their ouw taste and say it's an 'Absolute truth'.

That's unfortunate.
- - -
As i tell, i learn everything about life without any religious influence, and i don't have a lack of anything that other person (believer or not) could have. Neither love nor wisdom belong to them, they belong to the humanity.

Answer 5

Vot Anarж

Sorry for the response. Your question was directed at Atheists and I am a die-hard believer.

Perhaps you should see three other angles to the tale...

a) An Atheist is in search of the truth - and he asks questions to his own mind. I feel he is better off than those people who ask a priest what to do next. At least he is using the god-gifted faculty of intelligence. The priest is generally someone who failed everywhere else and then discovered success in clergydom.

b) An atheist is always open to being proved wrong. A christian is not.

c) Hypocrisy in religion is NOT a reason for people to disbelieve in God. Clash with science is. No religion can survive for eternity if it clashes with science.

.. do think about it. I write with no malice and exactly what I feel. Have you ever asked yourself, why do only Christian countries have atheism? Do you know any Buddhist or Hindu or Jew Atheists?

Answer 6

I'm like the second guy in that I used to be religious. I was raised in a Christian household.

I'm an atheist for many reasons, not just the hypocritical nature of churches. The fact that holy books are highly contradictive is one reason. The fact that even the possibility of a omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient being is illogical and even laughable is another.

I became an atheist when I was 13, that's when I had a realization of sorts.

Answer 7

a) The hypocrisy is it. But it's not "today's". It goes back a very long time.
b) As I believe I am nature and nurture, only, there was no adding on. I learned what justice is by example and reflection and saw the lack of justice in all religion. Infinite crimes and rewards for finite deeds. Justice is a tough idea to grasp. So is accountability.

Answer 8

I'm an ex-atheist and the church is the main reason it took me 25 years to find Christ and the hypocrisy within was a major factor that caused confusion for me & now I am 100% sold out to the Jesus of the Bible and yet the Church still is a major thorn in my side as they just do so much damage to the Name of My Saviour & in His name it's difficult to know how to witness to this world when there is no safe place for young converts as I would not trust a single Church in our area to raise them in the Word of God, the penticostal offering basket & Fat carismatic shepheards are today almost worse than the dead cold religon of the Dark ages!

Come lord Jesus Come!
The Church is in a mess & needs you.

Will Jesus find faith in the Earth when He returns.

Answer 9

Nothing wrong with the word BELIEVE.
I am a BELIEVER in God Almighty, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
I do not go to any place of worship like a church or a religion because exactly like you said, "Hypocrisy". There are many, many, many people that call themselves Christians and believer's of God the Father, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit. But in reality there are PAGANS, with pagan beliefs, pagan worships, and pagan activities. Because Christians do act like that, I will NOT yoke myself with any of today. Jesus said to "stay away from hypocrites", so I listen and I obey.

Answer 10

I grew up in a Religious Cult, the "Radio Church of God", later the "Worldwide Church of God", led by a man called Herbert W. Armstrong...
My "Mother", a real X-ian cult Fanatic, beat and tortured Me daily as a young child, (Beatings, Ice Baths, Deprivation of Food & Water), trying to force Me to accept Her "God" and Her "Christ" , but I would NOT, no matter what, and I NEVER "broke"; and I never will.
Ironically, all of that pain & torture served Me well later in Life, in My chosen profession, as I discovered that I was able to withstand both pain and stress much better than any ordinary Human.
They say "Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining", but still, even with the "advantages" given by pain & torture, I'd give it all back for a NORMAL Family and childhood.

Answer 11

My parents are christian of different denominations so I was raised with my mother's baptist beliefs. However, despite going to church every Sunday, going to Sunday School and having to participate in the church youth group I never had any belief, faith or whatnot in not only the deity but the religious books and dogma. I stopped going to church at the age of 15 and began exploring other religions and found over the years that I hold no belief in them nor their deities either. In retrospect, even though I was raised with religion I have just always been an atheist.