Changes

*'''Moral depravity:''' The history of the atheist community and various studies concerning the atheist community point to  [http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism#Reasonable_Explanations_for_Atheism 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, [http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism#Reasonable_Explanations_for_Atheism [[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  [http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism#Reasonable_Explanations_for_Atheism 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, [http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheism#Reasonable_Explanations_for_Atheism [[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 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 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 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>

* '''Rebellion:'''  Atheism stems from a deliberate 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> [[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>

* '''Rebellion:'''  Atheism stems from a deliberate 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> [[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>