Why is religiosity decreasing in the world?

[Melanie31]

Unfortunately, atheism is on the rise. I think the world becomes a worse place as atheism increases. I don't believe that an atheist can be a good person. Because someone who doesn't believe in God doesn't think about doing good. What do you think?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I think you’ve lost the plot a little on what it means to be and do good as a person. I’m sure your church makes it clear that atheists go against the will of god, that they’re not to be trusted and that they follow a path you shouldn’t be going down. That’s what a lot of churches, including mine, told me when I was a kid. Atheism is bad/evil/sign of someone who hates god and loved satan, etc.


In reality, if someone does good deeds without believing in God, one argument you could easily make is that they’re a better person than someone who does believe. They don’t do good things in the name of their god, or out of fear of punishment if they don’t, they do good for the sake of doing good. They’re good because they enjoy being good, being liked, and having connections come from that goodness. If you have to be threatened with eternal damnation to keep you from doing something bad as a consequence, are you actually a good person or just a predator burying their instincts because you know you’ll be hated for it?


Religious beliefs don’t make someone necessarily good or bad. Some of the worst people I’ve known were devout christians, and some of the biggest champions for religious rights are members of the Satanic Temple, and some of the kindest people I’ve ever known were atheist and said nothing happens when you die, you just cease to be. That cessation is a terrifying thought at times, but that didn’t stop them from helping me or someone else when we needed it. I know the church likes to say specific narratives, and a lot of them have lost the plot on what Christ was truly saying to the point where Christianity as an institution has become a beacon for hypocrisy more so than love and forgiveness as their doctrine says. It’s why I left the church at 16, and left christianity at 19 after I realized how little I trusted in Jehovah over myself or other people. I’m sure your church would see me as some kind of heathen, warped by dark forces on the internet but I think good people do good things because being good is very nice to experience. You don’t need to have God attached to your actions to call them good.

[Tamera952]

Well said, 100%

[Siri137]

Spot on! The crazy catfish doesn't know what he's going on about when he says that atheists can't be good.

[Tamera952]

Woah, are you misguided and I’ll informed or what? I’m hoping you’re kidding about saying Atheists can’t be good people, because that’s absurd of course — why would someone who doesn't think there’s a god, like myself, not be a good person? It’s not a question of morality. I treat others like I would like to be treated, and mostly abide by the law, & even help strangers. LOL — Of course Atheists think about doing good - you think just the ones drinking the koolaid, buying into the collective fairy tail, the obvious grift and racket that religion is, are the only ones capable of good intentions? — are you out of your mind?
Atheism on the rise, hopefully signals that we as a species are shedding the ignorance and superstitions that are (& were) holding us back as a species. Religion has a BAD TRACK RECORD of dividing, being used to control others, and being used to justify unspeakable horrors, for thousands of years. Moving past that is GOOD THING. We’re better off without that stupid shit.

[Tamera952]

*ill-informed (I meant) …. not “I’ll informed”

[Siri137]

Exactly!

[NamerOfStars]

That it's ridiculous to assume an atheist can't be a good person. Morality only requires God insofar as existence itself does (and given the total lack of evidence of nonexistence as the default state, even that's pretty questionable). As humans, we are endowed with sense, reason, and intellect; what's so special about morality that we wouldn't be able to figure it out, like we did fire and swimming and ice cream?

Nor, for that matter, are atheists without religion- remember, it's not the lack of belief in a god, but belief in the lack of a god. It's as much a matter of faith as any other.

[Lliam]

So a person can't have ethics and morals unless they follow one of these religions?
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/List-of-Some-of-the-Religions-Sects-Denominations-New-Religious-Movements-and-Beliefs_tbl1_348070049

I haven't seen evidence that religious people are more likely to be ethical or moral than non-religious people.

[Chazmatazz269]

It’s not like religious folk have a glorious history of doing good either though, right? Second only to land and resources, religion is at the root of more conflict throughout history than anything else. Killing in the name of your god is still murder, and it’s still wrong. Stealing from the poor to give to the rich in the name of god is still stealing and it’s still wrong. Raping children in the name of god is still horrific and it’s still wrong.
I’m no atheist. Most of them are about as bright as a bag of hair. But suggesting that you’re in some way morally superior to another person because you believe in the same god as the people who conducted the Crusades and the Salem witch trials is absolutely off the charts bananas. People of “god” haven’t done any more or less terrible things than people without religion. They just think they have a better excuse.

[Siri137]

What do I think? Oh dear oh dear. Where do I even begin with this abject nonsense? Atheists generally are the most ethical people around, and do you know why that's the case? No, of course you don't, so I'll tell you. It's because they do what is right simply because it's the right thing to do, and NOT because they believe if they don't they'll be punished for all eternity in some sort of afterlife. Religious people like you do what you do because you fear eternal torment; in other words, your motives are not pure. You want to avoid the wrath of an angry, deranged god, and so you think that by doing what some archaic scripture recommends, you'll be "saved", but no, it doesn't work that way. God, if such exists, would see through such attempts to swindle one's way into heaven.

[MittParekh15]

Honestly there has been a lot of advancement in the field of science. Most of the human are now running behind Money and they forget ethics and at times worshipping the God.

They believe money is everything, unfortunately this is creating imbalance in people life.

[Tamera952]

Huh? Want to stay on topic next time buddy?

[DrPepper12]

Athiests can't be moral, ethical and good. Why? Why? Why?

I rape, kill, pillage, plunder as much as I want as an atheist!!! And I want to do NONE of those things. I DO volunteer, coach, donate and lead a life of service. Most athiest are more ethical and communitarian than religious people. Religion is a concept for anxiety ridden kids afraid of the dark. It's a CANCER on humanity. Grow up.

[Kaneki05]

Christians stopped killing atheists and other religions therefore Christianity is dying. Islam however is growing because terrorists are still killing people based on beliefs.
If you align that with good then I don't need to state what that obviously say's about you and the irony of thinking of a atheist can't be a good person.

[strateguy632]

in your dreams! count all the deaths of muslims killing each other, from arab spring until now, the numbers decrease... can you believe iran or saudi arabia that everyone in their country is a muslim?
meanwhile in africa and asia... not children of christian parents in Europe... christianity is spreading as more and more join. not dying but increasing.

[Kaneki05]

All ya need to do is search is Islam growing. It's really not hard. Go on see that I am right.

[jshm2]

There is no factual evidence of such.

People not identifying with a faith does not mean they are "atheist" as a result.

Most are just agnostic, or don't want to say to whoever took the survey, is all. Never take poll surveys as fact, as you'd be surprised at the mental gymnastics some use.

[hahahmm]

Because it's an excuse to reduce the number of people who believe in God. Eventually it will go the other way and all of the people claiming not to believe in anything will happily worship the antichrist, enemy of God. We are rapidly approaching the end game. You will see.

[Siri137]

Yeah, what rubbish.

[Tamera952]

That is classic slippery slope — uh oh, if we don’t believe in your fairy tail, we’re all doomed and we will automatically switch deities for ‘god’s’ counterweight, the DEVIL.
You sound like it’s 1347 or something.

[hahahmm]

@Tamera952 There's already prominent atheist who say it was a mistake to deny the existence of God & they want to be more open minded & scientific to allow that there could be intelligence behind nature. This also fits into observations that we appear to be living in a simulation. They are setting this up now. But, you're obviously free to believe what you wish.

[Tamera952]

Ok, so some prominent atheists are quasi agnostic then? That’s cool, I can get down with that — I kinda also can make room for the possibility of an intelligence behind the nature - I mean, I’m open to it. If such a being exists, I just highly doubt it’s the same one described by the Judeo Christian narrative.
And I agree, it’s very interesting indeed about the possibility of living in a simulation. I’ve seen some very interesting documentaries about that.

[strateguy632]

because "no rules" is tempting no limits just swinger style!

2, ceremony? too lazy easier without religion. not because any proof to attract followers.

3, oh and the peer pressure they do call christians "delusional hypocrits" so people are scared of the name calling. they do not think about einstein darwing the founder of real evolution and hawkings all believed god is real and were geniuses not delusionsl.

[desidoll]

I think because people want freedom to live their life but religions make them feel guilty of it so they left. I have met many good atheists. Not all of them are bad, while not all theists are good people.

[handsomelad70]

Religion is about 95% guilt.

[strateguy632]

@handsomelad70 i agree if rephrased version "95% of religions are all about guilt."

[Tamera952]

@handsomelad70 100%

[Tamera952]

@strateguy632 100%

[HighValue]

Because religions often have a moral code, and more and more people are becoming evil. They don't want to be held accountable for their actions/immorality. Most Democrats are not religious and they are the most evil people in American society today. There is one group of religious people that are often quite evil though, and I am sure it is obvious what group that is to any truthful and logical people.

[RebelinSteel]

Well let’s think of all the deaths around the world due to religion. As long as you agree to that specific branch of religion you are okay, however dare to believe slightly differently you end up with a war.

[strateguy632]

i am sorry you do not have the freedom to say which of the religions... but add the word a "a religion" not grouping rreligion.

[RebelinSteel]

@strateguy632 aztecs, Mayan, pre Christian such as Celtic, it’s a long fucking list you fuckwit
I do have the freedom so go jog on.

[Pohjolan]

People are better informed nowadays and the various discrepancies in religious texts are more easily highlighted.

I don't believe that an atheist can be a good person. Because someone who doesn't believe in God doesn't think about doing good.

Do you consider yourself a good person? Because if you are a monotheist then you are also a atheist to all gods but one.

Atheists just add +1 to the list.

[katiesmuff]

I totally disagree with your assessment of an atheist as I have meant many over the years and most are very good people who are willing at any moment to jump in and help when needed.

[slatyb]

I think it's fortunate -- atheists don't start wars or attack their neighbors for believing differently. It's a fact that the happiest countries (Scandinavia) are the least religious.

[Bilboes]

Oh well.. At least atheists don't touch little kids like priests do..

(Maybe that's the reason..)

[strateguy632]

true stalin did not touch kids he just killed many...

[Bilboes]

@strateguy632 Lol, that makes no sense at all.. Stalin's childhood was traumatic because of his father's beatings. This traumatic childhood left huge scars on his mentality. The reason he killed millions of people is because he was paranoid and not a mentally stable person. Atheism has nothing to do with this situation.

But hey, I don't understand why you're trying to compare a cruel dictator to priests who have the habit of touching children. Gotta love the "whataboutism"

[EmmaMary]

FORUM WARNING

Guy in Disguise.

[handsomelad70]

Too many "religious" folk don't walk their talk, and many especially young people are catching on to their hypocrisy.

[strateguy632]

if hypocrisy is so important to you consider this: cancel culture canceled roseann bar for her tweets and lost her job but not cancelling biden for saying racist "you ain't black". liberals are the worst hypocrits.

[handsomelad70]

@strateguy632 Except conservatives, though there are PLENTY of hypocritical leftists, and I say this as a leftist lad.

[KostasKouvalis]

I think people have started to realize that they pray their god or gods, and they don't listen. And also, a lot of priests, imams, rabais, whatever Buddhists have, don't practice what they preach.

[OddBeMe]

More information we have access to is directly connected to the rise of unaffiliated. “Atheism” has its stigma so always look for unaffiliated or not applicable stats.

Also look at how many non believers are in jail. Compared to believers.

[ProbablyClueless]

Actually, I've read that spirituality and religious attendance has been on the rise since the pandemic.