There are many of us that find the Church’s teachings as very important that do not spend time questioning if atheist will or should go to heaven.
And yet, here you are in this thread shouting loudly how little you care about the subject.
Two part answer:
Part of the problem stems from the definition of atheism. Atheists, themselves, will claim that they are not rejecting God anymore than we are rejecting Zeus. Atheists usually describe themselves in terms that we would call agnostic: they reject that which is not proven to their satisfaction.
Then your hand shouldn’t be raised, because atheism is hostile to God, not indifferent to or minimizing of God. People “not attending Church” is not, in itself, evident of disbelief, let alone of any need for any of us to “defend ourselves” or “argue against” atheists, per se. They aren’t, despite your claims, “deliberately leading society away.” They are living an alternative lifestyle.
“Hostile to God”. Let’s examine that phrase for a moment.
I agree, atheist are not hostile to God. My spouse is a scientist so I know a couple of atheist, who are not agnostic. They believe all creation has a scientific explanation even though they cannot yet explain everything. They do not believe in any “higher power” so they are not hostile to something they don’t believe exists.
I agree with you both!
Then you have a different definition of “hostile” than some of us do. To me, “hostile to God” means actively opposing. Most atheists I know are no more hostile to God than I am hostile to vampires. There’s no reason to be hostile toward something you believe does not exist.
BS. Please provide a documented quote, otherwise apologize for spreading falsehood.
Indeed. I should have said (and meant): hostile to the idea of, concept of, God.
HD, this is most often a phase – unless the student has been raised in an atheistic environment from Day One. The number of “previous” believers, as well as future believers, who were college atheists is legion. Part of this goes right along with the cognitive development of this age group, which is to question everything, including (often) the most fundamental truths in which one was raised.
I think that is part of it. But I think there is something different going on. Something sinister. And I think it is more than just the normal natural questioning of life. I think it is being taught, believed, and worshiped.
Your observations are consistent with mine. I really have to shake my head at those who try to minimize the decline of the Church and the growth of atheism in its various forms. A lot of people prefer to bury their heads in the sand rather than confront difficult challenges. We’ll just have to go forward without their help.
I disagree with some of this as well. College can be and is usually a time like you describe. But it is also when I FOUND my faith, it is when we ask seminarians to discern. It is when we discern our vocations. It forms us. Are we different than we were in college. Sure. But the path we started down in college tends to be the path we stay on later. ( for the most part) I know there are some people who major in constitutional law who go on to be a poet but for the most part who we are in college is who we will build ourselves up to be.
In Any Discussion on Atheism, They have to believe in something .otherwise they Deny Their Own Existence, many talks have always come back to Creation, and why, Because the Universe has its order ,including the timing of Planets revolving around its Sun. It becomes clear to say why things are in order than to explain why they could not have been put in order by a Creator. They will loose their talk on Atheism Immediately. Having been with Scientists who try to take out the Creator equation, even they now look to the Bible for Answers and finding them ,it is All there to see, the world is Round, health ,everything which, old found out or more recent is All in the Bible, Amazing …not really God Created the Whole Universe and Everything in it, as Humans we cannot comprehend such truth until we understand how God reveals Himself in his word. The More we read his word and How he reveals himself the more we understand, God makes it Plain, Man Complicates and puts up his own ideas on how to Worship, normally for mans own Glory, Not Gods.
I agree with Elizabeth. I have many older siblings and have finished college myself and I have found that college is usually time to let go and experiment, unfortunately more with sex, drugs, and alcohol. Although, I never got into those things in college, I know many people who did but they stopped that stuff when they got married. It did not set them on a path. Even those who go to Catholic colleges party just as much as others and unless people are there for a theology degree not many are looking deep into there faith at college, some not many.
You see it has a decline in the Church, some of us see it has a change. Do you really think the Church you want would be anything similar to the Churches that came about 2000 years ago, no. The people back then would probably be horrified at what you see as a “good” church. We are not burying our head in the sand just because we don’t agree with you.
It is off the subject a ways but I still think college is a major player in what shapes our lives. Not just a time to drink and party. Most people I know met their spouse in college. And work in the field of study they chose. Experimentation? Or steps on a larger path?
