The problem is that, churches have a tendency to preach ritual instead of preaching message. They tell people to 'pray everyday' and 'go to church every Sunday' and things like 'crossing yourself in front of a church' etc., etc.
What ultimately occurs is people begin to associate doing these things with having faith. When one begins to falter in this series of rituals and ceremonies, they grow fearful that their faith is waning and that they are losing touch with God.
This can have a number of different results:
-the faithful grows paranoid and extremely ritualistic, adhering him or herself to the ceremonies and doctrines of the church fervently. What is produced is usually a Fundamentalist-esque character who sucks up whatever the church tells them and then spreads it in a way they believe to be "helpful"(but is really harmful.)
-the faithful continues to falter in ritual and ceremony, ultimately abandoning these processes completely and falling into supposedly 'sinful' behaviors. When church admonishment occurs, the individual breaks all ties with the church and, since they have been taught that 'church' is synonymous with 'God', believe themselves to be seperated from God. Thus, we have an Atheist.
What ultimately occurs is people begin to associate doing these things with having faith. When one begins to falter in this series of rituals and ceremonies, they grow fearful that their faith is waning and that they are losing touch with God.
This can have a number of different results:
-the faithful grows paranoid and extremely ritualistic, adhering him or herself to the ceremonies and doctrines of the church fervently. What is produced is usually a Fundamentalist-esque character who sucks up whatever the church tells them and then spreads it in a way they believe to be "helpful"(but is really harmful.)
-the faithful continues to falter in ritual and ceremony, ultimately abandoning these processes completely and falling into supposedly 'sinful' behaviors. When church admonishment occurs, the individual breaks all ties with the church and, since they have been taught that 'church' is synonymous with 'God', believe themselves to be seperated from God. Thus, we have an Atheist.
