What causes Atheism?

Ruskie4Rent

Was reading an American politically conservative website and saw this

* Moral depravity: The history of the atheist community and various studies regarding the atheist community point to moral depravity being a causal factor for atheism. In addition, there is the historical matter of deceit being used in a major way to propagate atheism from the time of Charles Darwin onward. Also, Bible exegesis points to the moral depravity of atheists. Moral depravity is certainly one of the prime causes of atheism.

* Rebellion: Atheism stems from a deliberate choice to ignore the reality of God's existence [1] (If there was a God, there wouldn't be so much suffering.)[2]

* Superficiality: Noted ex-atheist and psychologist Dr. Paul Vitz has stated that he had superficial reasons for becoming an atheist such as the desire to be accepted by his Stanford professors who were united in disbelief regarding God.[3]

* Error: Some argue that atheism partly stems from a failure to fairly and judiciously consider the facts [4]

* State churches: In regards to the causes of atheism, rates of atheism are much higher in countries with a state sanctioned religion (such as many European countries), and lower in states without a sanctioned religion (such as the United States). Some argue this is because state churches become bloated, corrupt, and/or out of touch with the religious intuitions of the population, while churches independent of the state are leaner and more adaptable. It is important to distinguish "state-sanctioned churches," where participation is voluntary, from "state-mandated churches" (such as Saudi Arabia) with much lower atheism rates because publicly admitted atheism is punishable by death. [5]

* Poor relationship with father: Some argue that a troubled/non-existent relationship with a father may influence one of the causes of atheism.[6] Dr. Paul Vitz wrote a book entitled Faith of the Fatherless in which he points out that after studying the lives of more than a dozen leading atheists he found that a large majority of them had a father who was present but weak, present but abusive, or absent.[7][8] Dr. Vitz also examined the lives of prominent theists who were contemporaneous to their atheist counterparts and from the same culture and in every instance these prominent theists had a good relationship with his father.[9] Dr. Vitz has also stated other common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.[10]

* Division in religion: According to Francis Bacon, atheism is caused by "divisions in religion, if they be many; for any one main division addeth zeal to both sides, but many divisions introduce atheism." [11]

* Learned times, peace, and prosperity: Francis Bacon argued that atheism was partly caused by "Learned times, specially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men’s minds to religion."[12] Jewish columnist Dennis Prager has stated that one of the causes of atheism is the "secular indoctrination of a generation." [13] Prager stated that "From elementary school through graduate school, only one way of looking at the world – the secular – is presented. The typical individual in the Western world receives as secular an indoctrination as the typical European received a religious one in the Middle Ages."[14] Atheists and secularists rarely point out that universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, and many others were founded by Christians.[15][16]

* Negative experiences with theists.
* Scientism: Science has in many ways become a new God. [17]

* Personal tragedy: For example, the death of a loved one (One's mother, father, husband or wife, etc.) can shake someone's religious belief severely, sometimes enough for them to lose it.

Found it to be a bit silly.

Just wondered what christians here thought might be the reason that atheists reject religion?

BrianCalgary

Far too many reasons to list as there are probably as many reasons as there are atheists.

Ruskie4Rent

BrianCalgary wrote: »

Far too many reasons to list as there are probably as many reasons as there are atheists.

Well are would any of the reasons quoted be in that list. I just found it shocking that someone could believe them and hoped someone here could provide better ones.

Zombrex

Ruskie4Rent wrote: »

Was reading an American politically conservative website and saw this

Found it to be a bit silly.

It is from Conservapedia, so that isn't wholly surprising

The left out "Because religion appear to be all very silly and highly unlikely"

robindch

Wicknight wrote: »

The left out "Because religion appear to be all very silly and highly unlikely"

...and "Well, I was walking down the street one day and I saw this bus..."

mewso

I evolved into an Atheist

Fanny Cradock

As Brian said, I would think that there are countless reasons why someone becomes and atheist (or anything, for that matter).

Taking a different angle, and in the broadest possible sense, I'm of the opinion that there are 3 main types of atheist. Those who object on intellectual grounds, those who object due to personal experience and those who simply decide that they are atheist without putting much thought into the matter. Christians could be similarly be pigeon-holed.

ntlbell

Ruskie4Rent wrote: »

Just wondered what christians here thought might be the reason that atheists reject religion?

I'd say it's something to do with them having a bit of common sense?

Splendour

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

As Brian said, I would think that there are countless reasons why someone becomes and atheist

Yes but in a nutshell all of those reasons come under one word-sin.

RustyNut

Education

jill_valentine

Well, I didn't have Chickenpox when I was young, so I had no immunity when I was older.

toiletduck

What causes Atheism?

Some kind of gypsy curse?

napapa

Ruskie4Rent wrote: »

Found it to be a bit silly.

OP i found it all a bit silly too, religion that is!

AtomicHorror

Why do none of the Christians here believe in Thor, Ra, Shiva and Zeus? As ol' Dawkins says, atheists only go one God further.

The Conservapedia spiel is pretty typical of the total garbage on that website. It's an hilarious website really. Don't like the world? Why consider the possibility that you're full of crap when you can just make your own world in which you are Always Right!

CDfm

musician wrote: »

I evolved into an Atheist

No -you evolve into a Athchoo in Pokemon

CDfm

toiletduck wrote: »

Some kind of gypsy curse?

Its probably a genetic abnormality thst causes it

PDN

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