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There are a number of reasonable  explanations for the '''causes of [[atheism]]''':

There are a number of reasonable  explanations for the '''causes of [[atheism]]''':

*'''Moral depravity:''' The history of the atheist community and various studies concerning the atheist community point to  [[Atheism and morality|moral depravity being a causal factor for atheism.]] In addition, there is the historical matter of [[Atheism and deception|deceit being used in a major way to propagate atheism from the time of Charles Darwin onward.]]  Also, [[Atheism and moral depravity|Bible exegesis points to the moral depravity of atheists.]] Moral depravity is certainly one of the prime causes of atheism.  [[Francis Thompson]] wrote: "Maybe the atheist cannot find [[God]] for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman." (see also: [[Atheism and morality]] )

*'''Moral depravity:''' The history of the atheist community and various studies concerning the atheist community point to  [[Atheism and morality|moral depravity being a causal factor for atheism.]]<ref>

*[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> In addition, there is the historical matter of [[Atheism and deception|deceit being used in a major way to propagate atheism from the time of Charles Darwin onward.]]  Also, [[Atheism and moral depravity|Bible exegesis points to the moral depravity of atheists.]] Moral depravity is certainly one of the prime causes of atheism.  [[Francis Thompson]] wrote: "Maybe the atheist cannot find [[God]] for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman." (see also: [[Atheism and morality]] )

* '''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.  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>

* '''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.  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>