Block, SkipCaptcha, Automoderated users, edit, rollback
5,023
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
mLine 1:
Line 1: + − + + + + + + + − 2. Armies - The understanding that religion was never about morals, but about building armies of ignorant, blind followers and keeping them alive long enough to die on the battlefield for whatever cause du jour+ − 3. Burden of Proof - lies on the claimer, by default there is no God as there is no empirical evidence for a God+ − 4. Empirical evidence - the lack thereof+ + − 5. A deep understanding of how the brain works in that it's all conditioned from birth to calibrate itself for survival in it's environment, religion being a defense mechanism against the fact that humans all die+ − 6. Fully matured mind - failure to simply recall fairy tales from youth as truth, ability to remove social brainwashing embedded during childhood+ − 7. Discipline for the truth - accepting the truth no matter how harsh and painful+ − 8. Balance - living a balanced life of objective, provable truths creates a balanced perspective that does not side with traditional teams pitted against one another, but accepting of the actual truth of the only rules of the universe are physical and not magical+ − 9. Cosmology - deep understanding of how all matter exists and came to be with a God as being necessary - in infinity everything must happen if it's possible, therefore it did happen, and here we are - if there is a God, it's Infinity+ − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Reverted edits by Effthat (talk) to last revision by Conservative
[[Image:Stalin-140508 27880t.jpg|right|225px|thumb|In 1932, the brutal atheist dictator and [[militant atheism|militant atheist]] [[Joseph Stalin]] penned a repressive “Five Year Plan of Atheism”.<ref>[http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/was-stalin-an-atheist-is-atheism-or-communism-responsible-for-mass-murders/ Was Stalin an atheist? Is atheism or communism responsible for mass murders?]</ref> See also: [[State atheism]] and [[Atheism and mass murder]] ]]
There are a number of reasonable explanations for the '''causes of [[atheism]]''':
There are a number of reasonable explanations for the '''causes of [[atheism]]''':
1. Logic - religion is all about perception based on social conditioning, which explains why religions are geographical in their inception
1. '''Moral depravity:''' The history of the atheist community and various studies concerning the atheist community point to moral depravity [[Atheism and morality| being a causal factor]] for atheism.<ref>
*[http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469:the-causes-of-atheism&catid=96:bonus-content&Itemid=80 The causes of atheism]
*[http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5527 The Real Murderers: Atheism or Christianity?]
*[http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=2682730&page=2 Who Gives and Who Doesn't? - ABC News]
*[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3647/is_200310/ai_n9340592/ Religious faith and charitable giving, Policy Review , Oct-Dec 2003, p.2.]
*[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard Practical Outcomes Replace Biblical Principles As the Moral Standard]
*[http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/102-atheists-and-agnostics-take-aim-at-christians Atheists and Agnostics Take Aim at Christians]</ref>
See: [[Moral failures of the atheist population]] and [[Atheism and morality]]
In addition, there is the historical matter of deceit being used in a major way to propagate atheism from the time of [[Charles Darwin]] onward (see: [[Atheism and deception]]).
The [[Bible]] indicates that atheists are morally depraved. The psalmist [[David]] declared:
"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." — [[Psalms]] 14:1 ([[King James Bible|KJV]]). The prophet [[Jeremiah]] wrote: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" - Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)
[[Francis Thompson]] wrote: "Maybe the atheist cannot find [[God]] for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman."
Moral depravity is certainly one of the prime causes of atheism.
See also: [[Atheism and morality]] and [[Atheism and moral intelligence]] and [[Atheism and hedonism]] and [[Atheist hypocrisy]]
'''2.''' '''Hatred towards God.''' Angry and bitter and attacks on Christianity and Christians by atheists are most often due to hatred towards [[Jesus Christ]] and the Bible.<ref>[http://creation.com/chris-hitchens-dies Christopher Hitchens: Staring Death in the Face And the difference that Biblical Creation makes!]</ref><ref>[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/argument-atheism-immaturity The Argument for Atheism from Immaturity]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and hatred of God]]
'''3.''' '''Atheistic upbringing'''. However, according to recent research by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the [[United States]], a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was no specific religious attachment, later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095</ref><ref>http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey</ref> A notable example, of a person raised in a atheistic household who later became a [[Christian]] is William J. Murray. Mr. Murray was raised by [[Madalyn Murray O'Hair]] who founded the organization American Atheists.
10. Conversion - atheists would be the first to convert to a religion if any one of them were to ever be empirically proven correct. The rest would remain in denial
In addition, Christianity is experiencing rapid growth in atheistic [[communism|communist]] China and has experienced rapid growth in former communist countries. <ref>http://www.millennialstar.org/christianity-exploding-in-china/</ref><ref>http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/shows/cwn/2008/August/Christianity-Growing-in-China-/</ref><ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/international/europe/03romania.html</ref>
'''4.''' '''Poor relationship with father/mother/parents:'''
The ''Cambridge Companion to Atheism'' which was edited by the atheist [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[Michael Martin]] declared:
{{cquote|Continuity and discontinuity in any identity may be a function of interpersonal networks, especially involving intimate relations. Apostasy and conversion can both be seen as a rejection of parental identity and parental beliefs. It “might well be symptomatic of familial strain and dissociation... apostasy is to be viewed as a form of rebellion against parents” (Caplovitz and Sherrow, 1977:50).<ref>''The Cambridge Companion to Atheism'', edited by [[Michael Martin]], page 302, published in 2006</ref>}}
[[Image:DrVitz.jpg|thumbnail|225px|right|[[Ex-atheists|Ex-atheist]] [[Paul Vitz]] ]]
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> See also: [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]] and [[Irreligion and domestic violence]]
'''5.''' '''Pride/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..." —{{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> See also: [[Atheism and arrogance]]
'''6.''' '''Immaturity.'''<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/01/answering-atheists-question.html Answering an atheist's question]</ref><ref>[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/argument-atheism-immaturity The Argument for Atheism from Immaturity]</ref><ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref><ref>[http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations]</ref> In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household in the United States remain atheists as adults. <ref>[http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref> A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations.<ref>[http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations]</ref> See: [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]] and [[Atheism and immaturity]]
[[File:Larry Flynt Wheelchair.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|The [[pornography|pornographer]] [[Larry Flynt]] is an atheist.<ref>Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt and Ross</ref><ref>"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." ''[http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html Larry King Live]'', January 10, 1996</ref> See: [[Atheism and hedonism]] <br /><br />
<small>(photo obtained from [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Larry_Flynt_Wheelchair.jpg Wikimedia Commons], see: [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en license agreement])</small> ]]
[[Vox Day]] writes about immaturity being a causal factor for atheism: "the age at which most people become atheists indicates that it is almost never an intellectual decision, but an emotional one. (This is why most self-identified atheists are angry, bitter, and immature. The anger, bitterness, and immaturity are usually the cause of the atheism, they are not, as many Christians erroneously suppose, the effects).<ref>[Answering an atheist's question]</ref>
'''7.''' '''Anger and bitterness.'''<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/01/answering-atheists-question.html Answering an atheist's question]</ref> See: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Militant atheism]]
'''8.''' '''[[Hedonism]]'''.<ref>[http://creation.com/atheist-god-hate Why do atheists hate God?]</ref> The [[Saint Paul|Apostle Paul]] wrote that in the [[end times]], men would be lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
The infamous [[pornography|pornographers]] [[Hugh Hefner]] and [[Larry Flynt]] are both [[Atheism|atheists]].<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/02/23/10_celebs_you_didnt_know_were_atheists_partner/ 10 celebs you didn't know were atheists], ''Salon'' 2-23-2010</ref> <ref>Flynt writes, "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism": see the epilogue of Flynt and Ross</ref><ref>"I am not saying he don't believe in God. I am just saying I don't believe in God. That puts me at odds with him." ''[http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/11/falwell.v.flynt/lkl.00.html Larry King Live]'', January 10, 1996</ref> See: [[Atheism and hedonism]]
'''9.''' '''Naiveté/Gullibility''': Many atheists have embraced a number of far fetched, unworkable, and errant notions and ideologies such as [[communism]], [[Origin of Life|abiogenesis]], and [[evolution]] despite abundant evidence of their falsity. See: [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]] and [[Causes of evolutionary belief]] and [[Atheist cults]]
'''10.''' '''Irrational thinking''': As noted earlier, a comprehensive study by Baylor University found that the irreligious and the members of more liberal Protestant denominations, tend to be much more likely to believe in the paranormal and in [[pseudoscience]] than evangelical Christians.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref> Also, as noted above, a 1980 study published in the magazine ''Skeptical Inquirer'' found irreligious college students to be by far the most likely to embrace paranormal beliefs, while born again Christian college students were found to be the least likely.<ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122178219865054585.html</ref> See: [[Atheism and irrationality]]
'''11.''' '''Superficiality:''' Noted [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] and psychologist Dr. [[Paul Vitz]] has stated that he had superficial reasons for becoming an atheist such as the desire to be accepted by his [[Stanford University]] professors who were united in disbelief regarding God.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref>
[[File:Evolution.jpg|alt=evolution darwin theory|right|thumb|235px|Late in [[Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin's]] life, Darwin told the Duke of Argyll that he frequently had overwhelming thoughts that the natural world was the [[Intelligent design|result of design]].<ref>http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/notes.html</ref> In a letter to [[Asa Gray]], Darwin confided: "...I am quite conscious that my speculations run quite beyond the bounds of true [[science]]."<ref>http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/entry-2109</ref> See: [[Irreligion and superstition]] and [http://conservapedia.com/Charles_Darwin#Religious_Views_of_Charles_Darwin Religious views of Charles Darwin] ]]
'''12.''' '''Error:''' Some argue that atheism partly stems from a failure to fairly and judiciously consider the facts <ref>"A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. There are traps everywhere--'Bibles laid open, millions of surprises,' as Herbert says, 'fine nets and stratagems.' God is, if I may say it, very unscrupulous." -- C.S. Lewis, ''Surprised by Joy''.</ref>
'''13.''' '''State churches:''' In regards to the causes of atheism, rates of atheism are much higher in countries with a state sanctioned religion (such as many European countries), and lower in states without a sanctioned religion (such as the United States). Some argue this is because state churches become bloated, corrupt, and/or out of touch with the religious intuitions of the population, while churches independent of the state are leaner and more adaptable. It is important to distinguish "state-sanctioned churches," where participation is voluntary, from "state-mandated churches" (such as Saudi Arabia) with much lower atheism rates because publicly admitted atheism is punishable by death. <ref>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118434936941966055.html?mod=googlenews_wsj</ref>
'''14.''' '''Decline of family in a culture''' - Mary Eberstadt, a research fellow at [[Stanford University]]’s [[Hoover Institution]], found the decline of [[family values]] leads to a rise in secularization.<ref>[http://www.rightwingnews.com/interviews/an-interview-with-mary-eberstadt-on-her-new-book-how-the-west-really-lost-god-a-new-theory-of-secularization/ An Interview With Mary Eberstadt On Her New Book “How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of Secularization]</ref>
'''15.''' '''[[Socialism]]''' <ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/does-atheism-thrive-on-economic.html Does atheism thrive on economic prosperity? Does religion prosper when people are desperate and ignorant?]</ref> and [[communism|communist]]/leftist governments. See also: [[Atheism and politics]]
According to the [[University of Cambridge]], historically, the "most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the [[Marxism-Leninism|Marxist-Leninists]] to power."<ref name="Marxism-Leninsim">{{cite web|url = http://www.investigatingatheism.info/marxism.html|title =Marxism|publisher = [[University of Cambridge]]|quote=The most notable spread of atheism was achieved through the success of the 1917 Russian Revolution, which brought the Marxist-Leninists to power. For the first time in history, atheism thus became the official ideology of a state.|year=2008|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref> Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg, a Soviet physicist, wrote that the "[[Bolshevik]] communists were not merely atheists but, according to [[Lenin]]'s terminology, [[militant atheist]]s."<ref name="Lenin & militant atheism">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=ufC9Ar8iuDcC&pg=PA161&dq=The+Bolshevik+communists+were+not+merely+atheists+but,+according+to+Lenin%27s+terminology,+militant+atheists.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1oFUUdj6PIiK0QGvq4CAAw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=The%20Bolshevik%20communists%20were%20not%20merely%20atheists%20but%2C%20according%20to%20Lenin's%20terminology%2C%20militant%20atheists.&f=false|title =On Superconductivity and Superfluidity: A Scientific Autobiography |author=Vitalij Lazarʹevič Ginzburg|publisher = Springer Science+Business Media|year=2009|quote=The Bolshevik communists were not merely atheists but, according to Lenin's terminology, militant atheists.|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref> However, prior to this, the [[Reign of Terror]] of the [[French Revolution]] established an [[atheist state]], with the official ideology being the [[Cult of Reason]]; during this time thousands of believers were suppressed and executed by the [[guillotine]].<ref name="Guillotine">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=bf3m7IVAa9gC&pg=PA461&dq=France+atheism+guillotine++Christians+executed&hl=en&sa=X&ei=l4lUUaTRBufG0QGe0IHACA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=France%20atheism%20guillotine%20%20Christians%20executed&f=false|title =Christianity|author=James Adair|publisher = JBE Online Books|year=2007|quote=Although the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes toAlthough the Civil Constitution called for religious liberty, which was extended to Jews as well as Christians, many revolutionaries pushed for the establishment of a new state religion, either the Cult of Reason (atheists) or the Cult of the Supreme Being (Deists). Changes to the calendar eliminated references to Christian holidays, and even the ancient seven-day week, and a ist of officially recognized saints included such famous thinkers such as Socrates, Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, and Jean-Jacques Rosseau. A period of political persecution, often with religious overtones, broke out, known as the Reign of Teror. Thousands of people were executed by the guillotine, including many of the original leaders of the French Revolution.|page=461|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="France">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=9WkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =Memoirs of the reign of George III. to the session of parliament ending A.D. 1793, Volume 5|page=105|author=William Belsham|publisher = G.G. & J. Robinson|year=1801|quote=Reign of this portentous period, it has been eloquently tenor, and energetically observed, " that the reign of atheism in France was avowed the reign of terror. In the full madness of their career, in the highest climax of their horrors, they shut up the temples of God, abolished His worship, and proclaimed death to be an eternal sleep:-in the very centre of Christendom, Revelation underwent a total eclipse, while atheism, performing on a darkened theatre its strange and fearful tragedy, confounded the first elements of society, blended every age, rank, and sex ,indiscriminate proscription and massacre, and convulsed all Europe to its centre, that the imperishable memorial of these events might teach the last generations of mankind to consider religion as the pillar of society, the parent of social order, and the safe-guard of nations." It is wonderful that, amid the horrors of this dismal period, while "the death dance of democratic revolution" was still in rapid movement, among the tears of affliction, and the cries of despair, "the masque, the song, the theatric scene, the buffoon laughter, went on as regularly as in the gay hour of festive peace."|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref><ref name="Reign of Terror">{{cite web|url = http://books.google.com/books?id=Tt5rqiCP1p8C&pg=PA57&dq=Reign+of+Terror+atheism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=HoRUUcD0NeXX0gGNo4HIDQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Reign%20of%20Terror%20atheism&f=false|title =Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West|author=William Kilpatrick|publisher = Ignatius Press|year=2012|quote=Actually, it's helpful to think in terms of two Enlightenments: the Enlightenment that cut itself off from God. The former led to the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the abolition of slavery, and the civil rights movement. The latter led to the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the suppression of church by state, and the godless philosophies of Marx and Nietzsche and their offspring-National Socialism and communism. More recently the abandonment of God has led to the regime of cultural relativism that regards rights as arbitrary constructions. It's this second Enlightenment tradition that Cardinal Ratzinger referred to when he wrote, "The radical detachment of the Enlightenment philosophy from its roots ultimately leads it to dispense with man." Actually this transition happened no "ultimately" but almost immediately. The first instance occurred when Enlightenment worship of abstract "reason" and "liberty" degenearated quickly into the mass murders committed during the antireligious Reign of Terror in France. "Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name", said Madam Rolande as she faced the statue of Liberty in the Place de la Revolution movements before her death at the guillotine. She was one of the early victims of a succession of secular systems based on rootless notions of "liberty", "equality", and "reason". As many historians have pointed out, the atheist regimes of modern times are guilty of far more crimes than any committed in the name of religion. Communist governments alone were guilty of more than one hundred million murders, most of them committed against their own people.|accessdate = 2011–03–15}}</ref>
The atheism in [[communism|communist]] regimes has been and continues to be [[militant atheism]] and various acts of repression including the razing of thousands of religious buildings and the killing, imprisoning, and oppression of religious leaders and believers.<ref>
*[http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/28/china.church.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T2 Underground Christians fear China crackdown]
*[http://books.google.com/books?visbn=0300103220&id=ChRk43tVxTwC&pg=PA165&lpg=PA165&ots=ICIxg28Jud&dq=a+century+of+violence+in+soviet+russia+the+Russian+Orthodox+clergy&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=C9k9Hr7Vn222WCHf_1iSJOHVsgo#v=onepage&q=&f=false A Century of Violence in Soviet Russia]
*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/frroman1.aspx On Compromise in the Hierarchy During the Communist Yoke]
*[http://www.nysun.com/article/23082?page_no=1 Korean Reds Targeting Christians]
*[http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/5/7/120250.shtml North Korean and Chinese Atrocities Against Christians Worsen]
*[http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35818 China sends Bible owners to labor camp]
*[http://theworldnow.wordpress.com/tag/around-the-world/asia/china/ China: Christians Tortured While Under Arrest]</ref>
Currently, Communist [[China]], the world's largest country in terms of adherents to atheism, is seeing an explosive growth of Christianity. See: [[Global Christianity]] and [[Global atheism]] and [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]
'''16.''' '''Self-deception'''<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism Atheism - Satanic deception and self-deception]</ref>
'''17.''' '''[[Satan|Satanic]] deception''' <ref>[http://creation.com/atheism Atheism - Satanic deception and self-deception]</ref> (''see also'': [[Atheism and satanic deception]] )
'''18.''' '''Division in religion''': According to Sir [[Francis Bacon]], atheism is caused by "divisions in religion, if they be many; for any one main division addeth zeal to both sides, but many divisions introduce atheism."<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/3/1/16.html Francis Bacon, Of atheism - essay]</ref>
[[Image:Jhcfju6.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[C. S. Lewis]], photographed in 1947.]]
'''19.''' '''Ignorance.'''
The [[ex-atheists|ex-atheist]] [[C.S. Lewis]] wrote: "In reading [[G.K. Chesterton|Chesterton]], as in reading [[George MacDonald|MacDonald]], I did not know what I was letting myself in for. A young man who wishes to remain a sound Atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. There are traps everywhere--"Bibles laid open, millions of surprises," as Herbert says, "fine nets and stratgems." Sir Francis Bacon wrote: "A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion." See also: [[Christian apologetics]]
Individuals such as Calvin Smith of [[Creation Ministries International]] have reported leaving atheism after finding out the falsehood of evolutionary pseudoscience and the evidence for [[Bible|biblical]] [[creation]].<ref>[http://creation.com/calvin-smith Calvin Smith - short bio]</ref>
The ex-atheist [[Lee Strobel]] in his book "The Case for Christ" indicates how he used his journalist skills and legal training to discover the truth of the [[resurrection of Jesus Christ]]. See also: [[Christian legal apologetics]]
For more information see: [[Atheism and education]]
'''20.''' '''Indoctrination and ease of life''': Francis Bacon argued that atheism was partly caused by:"Learned times, specially with peace and prosperity; for troubles and adversities do more bow men’s minds to religion."<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/3/1/16.html Francis Bacon, Of atheism - essay]</ref> See also: [[Atheist indoctrination]] and [[Atheism and economics]]
In addition, [[Judaism|Jewish]] columnist [[Dennis Prager]] has stated that a causal factor of atheism is the "secular indoctrination of a generation."<ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=43734</ref> Prager stated that "From elementary school through graduate school, only one way of looking at the world – the secular – is presented. The typical individual in the [[Western World|Western world]] receives as secular an indoctrination as the typical European received a religious one in the [[Middle Ages]]." <ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=4373</ref> In 2013, an study found that academia was less likely to hire evangelical Christians due to discriminatory attitudes.<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/rachelalexander/2013/06/10/suspicions-confirmed-academia-shutting-out-conservative-professors-n1616406/page/full Suspicions Confirmed: Academia Shutting Out Conservative Professors]</ref>
[[Dinesh D'Souza]] has pointed out that atheists have focused considerable efforts on the public schools in order to indoctrinate young people into atheistic beliefs.<ref>[http://townhall.com/columnists/dineshdsouza/2007/10/22/the_atheist_indoctrination_project/page/full The atheist indoctrination project]</ref> In addition, in communist countries (such as the former Soviet Union) atheistic indoctrination occurred in the educational system through such venues as schools, atheist museums, and clubs (see also: [[Militant atheism]]).<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=BGJtDwJ7aPwC&pg=PA325&lpg=PA325&dq=atheistic+upbringing+and+atheism&source=bl&ots=eQlq1dZfMj&sig=Xm__18YZpV5L0O8VVzgAc9YiSCc&hl=en&ei=yOy1S76CGcWAlAedg5FR&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBIQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=atheistic%20upbringing%20and%20atheism&f=false Marxist-Leninist 'Scientific Atheism' and the Study of Religion and Atheism By James Thrower, page 325]</ref><ref>[http://www.lituanus.org/1963/63_1_01.htm Communism's Struggle with Religion in Lithuania]</ref> Atheists and secularists rarely point out that universities such as [[Harvard]], [[Princeton]], [[Oxford]], [[Cambridge]], and many others were founded by Christians.<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n3/harvard-yale-princeton-oxford-once-christian</ref><ref>http://www.tysknews.com/Depts/Educate/history_part3.htm</ref>
See also: [http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/does-atheism-thrive-on-economic.html Does atheism thrive on economic prosperity and religion prosper when people are desperate and ignorant?]
'''21.''' '''Negative experiences with [[theism|theists]]'''
'''22.''' '''[[Materialism|Materialist]] [[pseudoscience]].''' (See: [[Evolution]] and [[Origin of Life|Abiogenesis]]). Countries with higher rates of [[Darwinism]] also have higher rates of atheism.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Atheist populations in various countries]</ref><ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Belief in evolution in various countries]</ref> Biblical creationists, such as advocates of the [[Question evolution! campaign]], assert that evolutionism is an ideological "air supply of atheism" and that reducing Darwinism will reduce the prevalence of atheism. <ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2011/12/cutting-off-air-supply-of-atheism.html Cutting off the air supply of atheism]</ref>
'''23.''' '''[[Scientism]]:''' ''Science has in many ways become a new god''.<ref>[http://creation.com/the-religion-of-scientism-m-shallis The religion of scientism]</ref><ref>[http://www.saintsandsceptics.org/dawkins-dilbert-and-the-illogical-scientists/ Dawkins, Dilbert and the Illogical Scientists]</ref><ref>[http://www.religiontoday.com/news/exposing-the-religion-of-scientism-11598780.html Exposing the religion of scientism]</ref> Scientism is self-refuting. [[William Lane Craig]] wrote: "Scientism tells us that we should not believe any proposition that cannot be scientifically proven. But what about that very proposition itself? It cannot itself be scientifically proven."<ref>[http://www.reasonablefaith.org/is-scientism-self-refuting Is scientism self-refuting?]</ref> See also: [[Atheism and naturalistic intelligence]]
'''24.''' Pursuit of prestige within secular circles.<ref>Amongst the most elite in terms of prestige within the scientific community – the Nobel Laureates and the U. S. Academy of Sciences – the percent of atheists is the highest, around 93%. Part of this is due to discrimination against [[Creation science|creation scientists]]. See: [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]]. In addition, there is discrimination against religious conservatives in academia (see: [[Atheist indoctrination]]). Biet-Hallahmi, author of ''Atheism, A Psychological Profile'', in ''The Cambridge Companion to Atheism'', wrote, “…what these individuals [the most elite] had, in addition to their creativity and high intelligence, was a strong wish to create distance between themselves and their parents.” Dr. [[Paul Vitz]], author of'' Faith of Fatherless'', indicated that one of the common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant. See also: [[Atheism and arrogance]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]]</ref>
'''25.''' '''Intellectual cowardice.''' See: [[Atheism and cowardice]]
'''26.''' In cultures not receptive to atheism, atheists appear to be more likely to be social outcasts (see: [[Atheism and social outcasts]]).
== Errant notion that atheism is the result of higher intelligence ==
''See also:'' [[Atheism and intelligence]] and [[Atheism and education]] and [[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
A common errant notions among atheists is the mistaken belief that atheism is the result of higher intelligence. This belief often the result of excessive pride, the foolish nature of atheists [[Atheism and deception|and self-deception]]. For more information, please see: [[Atheism and intelligence]].
Also, due the lack of evidence for atheism and the [[Christian apologetics|great amount of evidence]] for Christianity, atheism is not a respectable intellectual position. For example, God's [[creation]] plainly points to the existence of God <ref>[http://creation.com/creation-answers Creation vs. evolution]</ref> (see also: [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]).
==See Also==
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
*[[Christian apologetics|Evidence for Christianity]]
*[[Rebuttals to atheist arguments]]
Other articles relating to atheism:
*[[Atheism and deception]]
*[[Atheism and satanic deception]]
*[[Atheist hypocrisy]]
*[[Atheist mindset]]
*[[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA]]
*[[Atheism and bestiality]]
*[[Atheist factions]]
*[[Evolution]]
*[[Atheism and Mass Murder]]
*[[Atheism and Debate]]
*[[Atheism and charity]]
*[[There Are No Atheists In Foxholes]]
== Books on the causes of atheism ==
''See also:'' [[Books on the causes of atheism]]
*''Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences'' by John J. Pasquini, Th.D, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Published: April 15, 2014, ISBN-10: 0761863311; ISBN-13: 978-0761863311[http://books.google.com/books/about/Atheist_Persona.html?id=TaTsnQEACAAJ]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=IeUIAAAACAAJ ''Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of Atheism''] by [[Paul Vitz]] (Spence Publishing Company, 1999)
*''Immorality and pride, the great causes of atheism a sermon preach'd at the cathedral-church of St. Paul, January the 8th 1697/8 : the first of the lecture for that year, founded by the Honourable [[Robert Boyle]], Esq.'' / by John Harris, Publisher: BiblioBazaar, 2011 ISBN 1240832273, 9781240832279 [http://books.google.com/books/about/Immorality_and_Pride_the_Great_Causes_of.html?id=RxpNYgEACAAJ]
* ''[http://www.voxday.net/mart/TIA_free.pdf The Irrational atheist]: Dissecting the Unholy Trinity of Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens by [[Vox Day]], Benbella Books, Dallas, TX, 2008'' , ISBN-10: 1933771364; ISBN-13: 978-1933771366
==External Links==
*[http://www.apologetics.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469:the-causes-of-atheism&catid=96:bonus-content&Itemid=80 The causes of atheism] by James Spiegel
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/03/why-is-evolution-is-pushed-in-america.html Why is evolution pushed by dogmatic evolutionists?]
*[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/07/does-atheism-thrive-on-economic.html Does atheism thrive on economic prosperity and religion prosper when people are desperate and ignorant?]
*[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/11/mailvox-its-not-about-interlocutor.html Vox Day on why some people choose to be atheists]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imuaiRO5mSQ Christians Give more to Charity than Atheists] by Dr. [[William Lane Craig]] - [[YouTube]] video
*[http://veritas.org/media/talks/344 Psychology of Atheism - Audio File]
== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}
[[Category:Atheism]]