The Reasons why "Just Following Jesus" Doesn't work

[Chad32]

Yahweh does a really bad job of convincing unbelievers to join his circle. Outside of violence. Hence all the violence in the old testament. So unless you're lucky enough to be born in it, you're unlikely to join, and unless you were threatened enough growing up, you're probably going to leave after giving it a skeptical read. You can use god to give you all the peace you want. That's not the side of christianity I have a problem with. It's the pastors who talk about killing all gay people, or the parents who want to avoid unwanted pregnancies and premarital sex, yet don't use the proven solutions that reduce such things, because it isn't abstinence only. Also can't forget the parents who let their children die of neglect because they believe in just faith healing.

We know these things are wrong because of objective data. This is why history is so important. We can look at societies and policies over the course of a century or more, and tell which countries have the best when it comes to stability, healthcare, and equality. Unbridled capitalism and theocracy isn't it.

How can you account for objective data? Since you have already stated that societies have subjective morals then there are no objective right and wrong, which means there is no true right and wrong. Since you believe that there is no Creator who gave us worth and meaning then your world view can't account for any true worth or mean. I don' know if you like him or not but Richard Dawkins has already said "The universe ... no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference.” So if you are going to be consistent with your world view then you shouldn't get mad at any injustice.

There are objective things in this world. Morality just isn't one of them. We have data on how societies do in the long term, especially as time moves on and we can see the histories of countries around the world. We can find out what works, and what doesn't.

Worth and meaning is a personal question. I give myself worth and meaning. You do too. You just decided to let a religion give you your worth and meaning.

You seem to be equating atheism with nihilism. I'm not a nihilist who thinks there's no point in anything. I have my own idea about it. It's subjective, but I try to derive it through objective means.

I can't speak for what Dawkins means, and haven't read his books.