Changes

A troubled/non-existent relationship with a father can influence a person to become an atheist.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth12.html</ref>  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.<ref>Vitz, Paul, [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt The Psychology of Atheism], September 24, 1997 (lecture notes taken by an audience member).</ref><ref>Anders, Kerby, [http://www.probe.org/content/view/36/91/ Atheists and Their Fathers]  (Probe Ministries)</ref>  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.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref> Dr. Vitz has also stated other common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref>

A troubled/non-existent relationship with a father can influence a person to become an atheist.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth12.html</ref>  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.<ref>Vitz, Paul, [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt The Psychology of Atheism], September 24, 1997 (lecture notes taken by an audience member).</ref><ref>Anders, Kerby, [http://www.probe.org/content/view/36/91/ Atheists and Their Fathers]  (Probe Ministries)</ref>  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.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref> Dr. Vitz has also stated other common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref>

The book ''Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences'' by John J. Pasquini, Th.D. indicates that many of the prominent atheists (and prominent [[practical atheism|practical atheists]]) who had dysfunctional/absent fathers that he lists in his book also had dysfunctional/absent mothers.<ref>Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences by John J. Pasquini, 2014, University Press of America, page 3</ref>

The book ''Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences'' by John J. Pasquini, Th.D. indicates that many of the prominent atheists (and prominent [[practical atheism|practical atheists]]) who had dysfunctional/absent fathers that he lists in his book also had dysfunctional/absent mothers.<ref>Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences by John J. Pasquini, 2014, University Press of America, page 3</ref> See also: [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]]

'''5.''' '''Rebellion:'''  Atheism stems from a choice to ignore the reality of God's existence <ref>"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." &mdash;{{Bible ref|Romans|1|19-20|version=NKJV}}</ref><ref>[http://www.atheism-analyzed.net/Atheist%20Talking%20Points%20Rebellion.htm Atheist talking points]</ref> [[Dinesh D'Souza]] declared: "Look at [[Satan]]'s reason for rebelling against God. It's not that he doesn't recognize that God is greater than he is. He does. It's just that he doesn't want to play by anybody else's rules. This idea that it is better to reign in [[hell]] than to serve in [[heaven]] is Satan's motto, and it turns out that this is also the motto of contemporary atheists such as [[Christopher Hitchens]]." <ref>[http://www.salvomag.com/new/articles/salvo7/7segelstein.php Salvomag.com The Apologist, An Interview with Dinesh D'Souza, Author of What's So Great About Christianity by Marcia Segelstein]</ref>

'''5.''' '''Rebellion:'''  Atheism stems from a choice to ignore the reality of God's existence <ref>"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." &mdash;{{Bible ref|Romans|1|19-20|version=NKJV}}</ref><ref>[http://www.atheism-analyzed.net/Atheist%20Talking%20Points%20Rebellion.htm Atheist talking points]</ref> [[Dinesh D'Souza]] declared: "Look at [[Satan]]'s reason for rebelling against God. It's not that he doesn't recognize that God is greater than he is. He does. It's just that he doesn't want to play by anybody else's rules. This idea that it is better to reign in [[hell]] than to serve in [[heaven]] is Satan's motto, and it turns out that this is also the motto of contemporary atheists such as [[Christopher Hitchens]]." <ref>[http://www.salvomag.com/new/articles/salvo7/7segelstein.php Salvomag.com The Apologist, An Interview with Dinesh D'Souza, Author of What's So Great About Christianity by Marcia Segelstein]</ref>