In response to Prax's thread on the Christian fear factor, I would like to post my own thread exploring the reasons why people accept atheism. All I want to say about the fear factor post is that although I believe its totally incorrect, I understand why such an argument is believed.
Here are my conclusions on why people have an unbelief in god.
First I want to mention the obvious ones real quick:
First, there are many perceived intellectual objections to christianity. The problem of evil, and the objections of many scientists, esp. concerning the science of evolution.
Second, there are emotional obstacles that sometimes obstruct the acceptance of christianity. Christian exclusivism, the doctrine of hell, and the hypocrisy of christians are emotional roadblocks to just about everyone. In fact, hypocrisy in the church probably repels people more than any other factor. Its sometimes said the biggest problem with christianity is christians!
Third, there are volitional reasons to reject christianity, namely, christian morality, which seems to restrict our choices in life. Since most of us don’t want to answer to anyone, yielding our freedom to an unseen god is not something we naturally want to do. (I'm going to talk a bit more about this).
But what are the real, underlying issues?
To keep god out of their lives. I don't what to stop there though. Why keep god out of your life? Well.....
First, by admitting god, atheists would be admitting that they are not the highest authority when it comes to truth. Currently, in this technologically advanced world, scientists are viewed by the public as the revered authority figures -- the new priests who make a better life possible and who comprise the sole source of objective truth. Allowing the possibility of god would be to relinquish their claim of superior authority.
Second, by admitting god, atheists would be admitting that they don’t have absolute authority when it comes to explaining causes. In other words, if god exists, they couldn’t explain every event as the result of predictable natural laws. Scientists don't want to lose control to the theologian.
Third, by admitting god, atheists/darwinian scientists would risk losing financial security and professional admiration. How so? Because there’s tremendous pressure in the academic community to publish something that supports evolution. Find something important, and you may find yourself on the cover of national geographic or the subject of a PBS special. Find nothing, and you may find yourself out of a job, out of grant money, or at least out of favor with your atheist colleagues. So there’s a money, job security, and prestige motive to advance the atheist worldview.
Finally, and by far the most significant, by admitting god, atheists would be admitting that they don’t have the authority to define right and wrong for themselves. By ruling out the supernatural, atheists can avoid the possibility that anything is morally prohibited. For if there is no God, everything is lawful.
Here are my conclusions on why people have an unbelief in god.
First I want to mention the obvious ones real quick:
First, there are many perceived intellectual objections to christianity. The problem of evil, and the objections of many scientists, esp. concerning the science of evolution.
Second, there are emotional obstacles that sometimes obstruct the acceptance of christianity. Christian exclusivism, the doctrine of hell, and the hypocrisy of christians are emotional roadblocks to just about everyone. In fact, hypocrisy in the church probably repels people more than any other factor. Its sometimes said the biggest problem with christianity is christians!
Third, there are volitional reasons to reject christianity, namely, christian morality, which seems to restrict our choices in life. Since most of us don’t want to answer to anyone, yielding our freedom to an unseen god is not something we naturally want to do. (I'm going to talk a bit more about this).
But what are the real, underlying issues?
To keep god out of their lives. I don't what to stop there though. Why keep god out of your life? Well.....
First, by admitting god, atheists would be admitting that they are not the highest authority when it comes to truth. Currently, in this technologically advanced world, scientists are viewed by the public as the revered authority figures -- the new priests who make a better life possible and who comprise the sole source of objective truth. Allowing the possibility of god would be to relinquish their claim of superior authority.
Second, by admitting god, atheists would be admitting that they don’t have absolute authority when it comes to explaining causes. In other words, if god exists, they couldn’t explain every event as the result of predictable natural laws. Scientists don't want to lose control to the theologian.
Third, by admitting god, atheists/darwinian scientists would risk losing financial security and professional admiration. How so? Because there’s tremendous pressure in the academic community to publish something that supports evolution. Find something important, and you may find yourself on the cover of national geographic or the subject of a PBS special. Find nothing, and you may find yourself out of a job, out of grant money, or at least out of favor with your atheist colleagues. So there’s a money, job security, and prestige motive to advance the atheist worldview.
Finally, and by far the most significant, by admitting god, atheists would be admitting that they don’t have the authority to define right and wrong for themselves. By ruling out the supernatural, atheists can avoid the possibility that anything is morally prohibited. For if there is no God, everything is lawful.
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