I’ve seen two of our members turn to Christianity and would like to explore some reasons why. I can think of two reasons. Feel free to add your own two cents.

Firstly, when a person thinks atheism is a vacation away from moral behavior, they become susceptible to the fear and guilt that the church employs to entice them. It’s easier to convince them that they are sinners, and there’s an angry god cracking his knuckles on the other side of the grave.

The truth is, atheists have a better reason to act morally than theists do. An atheist refrains from creating negative energy in the universe where he has to live for the same reason that he ref rains from urinating in the pool where he has to swim.

contrary to the lie we’re bought for centuries, there are no moral absolutes in the Bible. I challenge anyone to show me a moral issue on which the Bible takes an unequivocal stance. Don’t just angrily insist that there is one—show and prove. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, but god got angry at the Israelites for having mercy on the people he told them to kill. The Bible says thou shalt not commit adultery, yet, when Abraham lied to the king about his wife Sarah, god didn’t punish Abraham. He punished the king.

Secondly, pure materialistic atheism doesn’t satisfy our emotional needs. It’s not cowardice to not throw ourselves into the cold of outer space without a space suit. We’re humans, and, like it or not, our emotions govern our actions. Any school of thought that doesn’t acknowledge this will leave us with an underlying sense of dissatisfaction that drives us toward theism. After all, who would you be drawn to, people who say they can cure you (however unlikely) or people who ridicule you for having the disease?

For instance, I had a neighbor who was dying of cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. To what purpose would I jam the red pill down his throat and force him to face the fact that the rabbit hole is only six feet deep? Nor did I remind him that his god hadn’t deliver him from his addiction to nicotine and alcohol, so why trust him now? Sure, his belief was a crutch. But I’m not one to take away someone’s crutch unless I’m sure they can stand on their own (DISCLAIMER if you come to a forum for atheists , you’re on your own. Nobody forced you to come here, so deal with whatever we say.)

I'll add a third.

People report having had divine experiences.  Brush ins with the gods.  I can see how this would compel them to whatever religion occupied pride of place in their society.  If a person has that experience in Des Moine, they'll likely attribute it to a protestant god.  In Tijuana, a catholic god.  In Tehran, an islamic god.  In Varanasi, a hindu god.

Quote:contrary to the lie we’re bought for centuries, there are no moral absolutes in the Bible. I challenge anyone to show me a moral issue on which the Bible takes an unequivocal stance.

Actually, there are plenty of moral absolutes in the Bible.  'Thou shalt not kill', for example, was understood to mean 'Thou shalt no do murder' (unjustified killing, as opposed to killing in war, or for self-defense).

As for all the other commandments and moral strictures in the Bible, if they come from God, they are - by definition - moral absolutes.  The fact that people break these rules and get away with it doesn't change their absolute status.

Boru

Some people turn theist in times of desperation.

I sometimes hide under a blanket when I'm scared.

I have a very religious family  and work daily with people who are actively dying. I have never been asked to take away any ones belefs.

(April 6, 2019 at 10:53 am)Rhondazvous Wrote: I’ve seen two of our members turn to Christianity and would like to explore some reasons why. I can think of two reasons.

Did you ask those people what their reasons were? 

That might tell us more than imagining.

(April 6, 2019 at 9:34 pm)chimp3 Wrote: I have a very religious family  and work daily with people who are actively dying. I have never been asked to take away any ones belefs.

I too have worked with people who are actively dying and have been asked by the patient what my views are.
I always respond that I am agnostic so as not to take away their hope and at the same time, technically, not tell lies.
Now I come across disabled people with low IQ's that want to talk about god and I find myself actively encouraging their beliefs so as not harm the world view that they seem to rely on.
Eg, 'I miss mummy but I'll see her again in heaven, won't I?', to which I have to agree with them.

(April 6, 2019 at 4:17 pm)IWNKYAAIMI Wrote: I sometimes hide under a blanket when I'm scared.

Yeah, that's thwarted me several times when I've snuck into peoples' houses at night to kill them.

If your home is invaded by a serial killer/monster/evil cult then hide under the blanket. They may know you're there but they can't get you!

(April 6, 2019 at 11:05 am)Gae Bolga Wrote: I'll add a third.

People report having had divine experiences.  Brush ins with the gods.  I can see how this would compel them to whatever religion occupied pride of place in their society.  If a person has that experience in Des Moine, they'll likely attribute it to a protestant god.  In Tijuana, a catholic god.  In Tehran, an islamic god.  In Varanasi, a hindu god.

That is understandable when one considers human emotions. I've had what some might call divine experiences. Phenomena that I couldn't dismiss as coin incidence or hallucination. No agent, divine or otherwise came forward to claim responsibility, so I didn't feel called to take action.

I think it was Nietzsche who said there is no proof. only interpretation.