Who Are Atheists & Why Is It Important to Christians? Atheists have commented to me that I don’t know or understand atheists when commenting in atheist groups on Facebook. However, the Bible teaches us to love and understand one another and atheists fall into that category.
This is my learned story.
Atheists and Christians have the similar issues and problems in life. How they get through them differs considerably with their beliefs or non-beliefs, but they have all the same emotional issues that go with life in general. Everything is the same with families (regular and dysfunctional), working, playing sports, fighting, grief, pain (emotional and physical) and anything else that involves life.
My question is very simple to atheists and Christians. How do you know who is an atheist or a Christian in a group if religion is not mentioned? You can’t.
So, why do atheists and Christians have so many problems communicating? Neither are truly listening to the other. Some hear and instantly react, and that reaction is usually not very good. While that reaction creates anger and at times hate, it also hides the real issues that could bring both sides together in understanding and friendship.
One of the biggest problems I have heard from atheists is the almost instant judgment is given to them by Christians for not believing. This is wrong, because Christians should know better, because we have learned that judging is not done by us but by God in the end. However, atheists are guilty of the same judgment, but without the reasoning to not be judgmental as Christians.
After a lot of on-line research, experience in atheist groups on Facebook and reading scripture, I have realized and understood some of the reasons behind many reactions. Here are the reasons:
Feeling Isolated: In communities where religion is central to social life, atheists can feel isolated or excluded. They may find it hard to connect with others who share their secular values, especially in regions with few openly atheist individuals or organizations. This lack of community support can contribute to feelings of loneliness. “Sadly, some Christian groups are closed doors, even to other Christians. I know and have experienced the same, but I would hope there might be some groups open to atheist, skeptic, gnostic and non-believers who would participate in an understanding and respectful conversation. I would also hope Christians would do the same. Personally, I would even start a group if the need was requested.”
Experiencing Workplace Bias: In workplaces where religion plays a role in culture or decision-making, atheists may face subtle (or overt) discrimination. For example, declining to participate in prayer circles or religious-themed events might alienate them from colleagues. In extreme cases, this bias can affect promotions or job security.” This is one subject I can’t comment about, since my days working had not involved any of the events mentioned, and I am not sure how prevalent this is in the workplace, especially today.”
Raising Children in a Religious World: Atheist parents face unique challenges in raising children without religion, especially when their kids are exposed to religious teachings at school or through peers. They often have to explain why their family’s beliefs differ while encouraging critical thinking, tolerance, and respect for others’ views. “I can understand how this can affect atheist families, but am not sure how I would deal with the issue. Sooner or later kids grow up, and start thinking for themselves. Keeping them isolated or indoctrinated in the atheist belief doesn’t stop their growing up process, it just creates current and future animosities, or even major confusion. I have experience in this area. Also, this would go against what atheists say about religion being forced or indoctrinated.”
Confronting Religious Privilege: Religious privilege is prevalent in many societies, where religious perspectives dominate legal systems, holidays, and public policies. Atheists often feel marginalized in such environments, especially when religious laws or norms directly conflict with their values or freedoms. “First of all, I wouldn’t title it “Religious Privilege.” It’s just that religion is widespread and worldwide. Privilege, in my thinking, indicates a special type of attitude, as with the rich and “privileged.” So, this subject really has no response other than to try to understand how an atheist feels, and question whether or not they celebrate those holidays. Also, it has to be difficult, especially when you have children to avoid holidays everyone knows and celebrates when visiting Christians.”
Responding to “What If You’re Wrong?”: Atheists frequently face the question, where believers ask, “What if you’re wrong, and God exists?” While this question may seem profound to some, atheists often find it oversimplifies their worldview and dismisses the intellectual journey that led to their disbelief. “This question is addressed by atheists and Christians; even to other Christians who might be understanding the Bible incorrectly. To me it seems to be a slightly guilt laden comment, and I understand how it can make someone feel as though they are incorrect in their thinking. But, at the same time, with a more liberal mind, it should conjure up more thinking and open-mindedness to giving the remark further thought and not dismissing it as an oversimplification.”
Dealing With Grief Without Religion: Without the promise of an afterlife or divine plan, atheists must confront loss and grief in unique ways. While they may find comfort in the memories of loved ones or the natural cycle of life, they often lack the communal rituals or religious narratives that many rely on during times of mourning. “This one is really difficult, even as a Christian, where you can be angry at God because of the death of a loved one. However, true Christians know the death affects many other people for many other reasons unknown to anyone, except God. Of course, Christians also understand that death is not the end, but a new beginning. I am not sure how I would address this with an atheist, other than being there for them and leaving out any religious meanings or Bible verses unless requested.”
Challenging Public Religious Symbols: In societies where religious symbols dominate public spaces—like crosses in government buildings or religious mottos on currency—atheists often feel excluded. Speaking out against such practices can provoke a backlash, as they are often accused of being hostile to tradition or disrespectful to believers. “The only way I can address this is to that is to write that this country was founded on religion, even though some at that time were not religious. The religious symbols are there due to the churches and Catholicism that should not even have any symbols according the scriptures. Personally, being a Christian, I usually ignore any symbols except the small empty cross which I wear on my shirt and hat. It seems that speaking out against anything today will definitely create backlash of some type from any groups.”
Being Asked to Stay Silent: Atheists are frequently asked to “keep their beliefs to themselves,” especially when challenging religious norms or expressing their perspective. Ironically, this request often comes from those who openly share their religious views, creating a double standard that can feel unfair and silencing. “This comes from those high and mighty Christians and who should know that Jesus wants us to help anyone we encounter, with love and compassion; not judgment! The biggest issue with this is the clergy who like to decide what to say and chastise anyone who has a differing opinion regarding their learning. These so-called clergy should take a better look at Jesus to find a more common ground when speaking to someone who has questions or themselves should stay silent.”
Finding Purpose Without Religion: Atheists derive meaning from personal achievements, relationships, and contributing to the greater good. However, living in a society where purpose is at times tied to serving God can feel alienating. They must continually define and defend their secular sense of purpose in a world where religion often dictates life’s meaning. “But does it dictate or just advise of a way to live a more righteous life? Is living righteously really degrading to anyone? And, where is “purpose” tied to serving God?”
Yes, it is possible for an atheist to return to Christianity (if desired) after engaging in scientific knowledge about the Bible. Many former atheists have reconsidered their beliefs due to historical, philosophical, and scientific insights that align with Christian teachings.
I have dealt with questions, and have read many posts to come up with this list that answers atheists’ objections and responses to their questions.
Atheists often have objections to Christianity based on philosophical, scientific, historical, and ethical concerns. Understanding these objections can help Christians engage in meaningful discussions. Here are some common objections and ways to address them:
The Problem of Evil and Suffering
Objection: If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why does evil and suffering exist?
Response: Christianity teaches that free will allows humans to make choices, including harmful ones. Evil exists because of Satan, and you can look around the world today and see many examples. “Free-will gives all humans the opportunity to rid the world of evil, if it chooses. But, evil gives many people pleasure, such as greed, power, sex, violence and control on others, so without the majority of people trying to stop it, nothing changes. This video on our website may give you a little more enlightenment to the subject of evil and how the world will change in the future: Clay Christensen on “Religious Freedom” which you can view on our websites home page here: https://ourdividedworld,com or at Vimeo here: https://vimeo.com/440098126. Clay makes a surprising observation when speaking to a friend.”
As humans we have learned to forcefully eliminate personal suffering as much as possible, but for Christians, suffering can also lead to personal growth, and some believe God has a greater purpose beyond human understanding. So, for Christian’s suffering is not so much of a problem.”
Lack of Scientific Evidence for God
Objection: There is no empirical evidence proving God’s existence.
Response: While God cannot be tested like a scientific hypothesis, many argue that the fine-tuning of the universe, the complexity of life, and the origins of consciousness point to a designer. Nothing cannot create something, as many atheists contend. “Will there ever be scientific evidence an atheist will accept? It’s doubtful since they usually can’t accept the different forms of scientific proof about life.
Here is where I get annoyed with many atheists. The question to them about proof God doesn’t exist! They go around the question and say they did not “claim” the question. This is NOT about claiming anything. It is simply about answering it just as they, at times, berate Christians to do so. All that is needed to be done is to say “There is no proof that God doesn’t exist,” but I think that would cause them to think that maybe God does exist. Also, atheists never mention Satan in their rants about God. Does Satan exist to atheists?”
Contradictions in the Bible
Objection: The Bible contains inconsistencies and errors.
Response: Many alleged contradictions can be explained through historical context, translation differences, and literary styles. Scholars often study biblical texts to understand their deeper meanings. “And, today with so many different Bibles being produced, the publishers have decided to change verses to fit with societal changes, which goes against all biblical teachings and understandings of the Bible. I have even seen Bibles with tear out pages that could make you erroneously think that removing the pages would make your life and salvation better.”
Christianity’s Role in Historical Violence
Objection: Christianity has been used to justify wars, oppression, and discrimination.
Response: While individuals have misused Christianity for personal, greed, hate or political gain, the core teachings of Jesus emphasize love, peace, and justice. “For example, the Crusades were carried out to gain wealth and power for the Catholic church, and there are many others recorded in history that were not religious. Of course, you can’t leave the evil doer Satan out of the conversation about evil, but many do.”
The Concept of Hell
Objection: A loving God wouldn’t condemn people to eternal suffering.
Response: Some Christian interpretations view hell as separation from God rather than literal torment. Others believe in redemption and grace. The overarching message of hell in the Bible is one of hope and redemption. “Hell is not portrayed as God’s ultimate desire for humanity; rather, it is the inevitable outcome for those who choose to reject His offer of forgiveness and transformation through Jesus Christ. Hell is there for Satan and his evil doers.”
The message of the Gospel consistently calls for repentance and faith—with the main message of turning away from sin that leads to a restored, eternal relationship with God. This dual focus on judgment and mercy challenges believers to live with the gravity of their choices of good or evil while embracing the hope of salvation.
The Reliability of Jesus’ Resurrection
Objection: There is no solid evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.
Response: Many historians acknowledge strong evidence for Jesus’ existence and crucifixion. The resurrection is supported by eyewitness accounts, early Christian writings, and the growth of Christianity despite persecution and death to believers.
The Exclusivity of Christianity
Objection: Christianity claims to be the only true religion, which seems unfair to those born into other faiths.
Response: God’s grace is available to all and that sincere seekers of truth will find Him. Some also emphasize that Christianity offers a relationship with God rather than just a religious system which really doesn’t in the Bible. “Also, Christianity is NOT exclusive but inclusive to all who choose it. Not a force choosing as many atheists claim, but one of freely wanting it.”
Many who leave Christianity have closely examined the Bible and found passages that seem contradictory or at odds with modern historical and scientific knowledge. They may feel that the text makes claims that stretch credibility when not considered in their original context. “But there is also a lot of historical data and science found in the pages f scripture, and I have found many atheists won’t accept scientific evidences found in the Bible. Only those who don’t want to accept the Bible will choose to ignore those findings.”
Scientific Conflict: As individuals are exposed to modern scientific theories—such as cosmology, evolution, and even neuroscience—they sometimes experience a tension between empirical evidence and traditional miraculous claims. This intellectual impasse often leads them to question the validity of religious explanations. “However, it should also lead them to question the exactness of the science they rely on.”
Moral and Ethical Concerns
Problematic Doctrines and Teachings
Critics often point to biblical passages or doctrines that, when isolated or taken literally, appear to endorse ideas that conflict with contemporary moral values—such as harsh treatments of certain groups or historical violence. These issues raise doubts about the overall moral authority of the faith. “However, when read in context it will cast a better light on the reasons and explanations for what happened. Taking scripture in certain verses never really gives a full picture of events.”
Hypocrisy and Moral Inconsistency: Observing what they see as a gap between the professed ideals of Christianity and the behavior of its adherents (especially when leaders or institutions fall short) can be disheartening. This perceived hypocrisy undermines the moral credibility of the faith for many. “I will agree that hypocrisy is at times rampant in the Christian community, but that should not be a reason to reject it or its moral credibility. For many, faith is based on one’s own belief, not that of Christian hypocrites who will have their own upheaval in time. I have dealt with many Christian hypocrites and found that it only strengthens my faith and belief even more. This attitude is connected to Satan who is looking for the fall of man.”
Personal Trauma and Negative Experiences
Church Experiences: For some, negative experiences within religious communities—a judgmental atmosphere, spiritual abuse, or a feeling of exclusion—play a major role. Personal trauma could include experiences of abuse or manipulation that leave individuals disenchanted with organized religion. “Personal church trauma is understandable for a person to leave the church, but I personally, find it should not affect others who have faith or those considering being part of the Christian religion. Many churches and Christians are good and many of the issues of trauma fall on the Catholic religion, as we have seen in many years past. Of course, hurtful churches or people should be avoided by both the atheists and Christian.”
The involvement of churches in political matters—especially if they are seen as advancing agendas not aligned with an individual’s values—can create disillusionment. “When church institutions appear more concerned with power, money, or control than with teaching love and compassion, commitment can wane. I personally, have experienced the uncaring and money grabbing (in tithing sense) of many churches, as well as not teaching what is really written in the Bible.”
Unmet Spiritual Needs: When religious practices or community life do not lead to a genuine, sustaining personal transformation or comfort, individuals may become disillusioned. If prayer and rituals feel empty or fail to provide solace in times of hardship, the promise of transformative grace may seem unfulfilled. “This is a reason of true faith and belief. Christians are also disillusioned because their faith was not strong enough or their prayers were for greed or desire – like winning the lottery for example. If unanswered prayers are the answer for leaving the Christian religion you probably didn’t really want to be part of it anyway.”
Changing Social Norms: As societies become more pluralistic and secular, individuals frequently compare the inclusive social values they experience in their broader communities with the more insular or dogmatic teachings encountered within some church environments. “The Bibles teachings have not changed since it’s inception and changing it to fill societal norms has no place it it’s teachings. Those who want it changed are not really believers.”
Institutional and Political Disillusionment
Historical Grievances: The legacy of abuse, injustice, or moral failures associated with some religious institutions strengthens the perception that the church has not always lived up to its own ideals. For many, these historical issues outweigh the spiritual or moral benefits they once associated with the faith. But these abuses do not line up with the biblical scriptures that churches have abused to fit their own agendas.
Desire for a More Flexible or Inclusive Spiritual Framework
Rigidity and Dogmatism: A number of individuals find that the strict, literal interpretation of biblical texts does not leave room for nuance, personal growth, or adaptation to new ideas. If the faith is perceived as inflexible or dogmatic, it can become less attractive compared to more fluid or inclusive approaches to spirituality. “However, the Bible gives us a lot of flexibility in how we live our lives through scripture. This is not a forced decision but one of love, compassion and understanding.”
Search for Personal Autonomy: The struggle for personal intellectual and spiritual autonomy sometimes leads people to reject systems where beliefs are seen as handed down or unchallengeable. They may prefer a framework where questioning is encouraged rather than punished. But questioning is encouraged in the Bible, although there are those who prefer to tear down that issue and make it fit their own non-scriptural agenda and call it “punishment.”
Common misconceptions about atheists and why they don’t quite capture the reality:
Atheists have no values or moral compass: A frequent myth is that without belief in a divine lawgiver, atheists must therefore be amoral or unethical. In truth, many atheists derive their ethical principles from secular humanism, reason, empathy, and societal well-being. Moral values can be deeply held without being rooted in religious doctrine, and atheists often contribute thoughtfully to ethical debates and community initiatives.
Atheism is itself a religion: Another common misconception is that atheism is a belief system or even a religion. However, atheism is defined by the absence of belief in deities—it lacks the dogma, rituals, and institutional structures characteristic of religions. While some atheists may adopt philosophies like secular humanism, atheism on its own does not prescribe a set of beliefs or practices.
Atheists are cynics, nihilists, or perpetually unhappy: There is a stereotype that rejecting religious belief leads to a bleak, purposeless view of life. In contrast, many atheists find profound meaning in personal relationships, creative pursuits, scientific inquiry, and the beauty of the natural world. They often advocate for a life enriched by human connection and personal growth rather than one defined by despair.
Atheists are anti-religious and hostile toward religious folks: While some atheists are critical of organized religion, the idea that all atheists harbor hostility toward religious individuals is an oversimplification. Many atheists support freedom of belief and respect the rights of others to follow their spiritual paths. Their skepticism, and at times hate and anger, is usually directed toward unsubstantiated claims, and unfortunately at the believers themselves.
Atheists believe science can explain everything: It’s a misconception that atheists hold science as a one-stop explanation for all aspects of life, ignoring its philosophical or subjective limits. Most atheists appreciate that while science is a powerful tool for understanding the natural world, questions about meaning, purpose, and morality can extend beyond what empirical investigation can fully encompass.
These misconceptions often stem from a misunderstanding or oversimplification of what atheism represents. In reality, atheism is simply a position on the existence of deities—a starting point from which a diverse array of personal, philosophical, and ethical viewpoints can develop.
Also, misunderstandings occur when atheists and Christians come together in social media groups when the response of either group is not understood, or there are those who absolutely hate the other side and will use derogatory or hateful words in their responses.
Hopefully this will help atheists and Christians better understand each other, and be able to open a useful dialog.
If you have any questions, comments or remarks about this article, please email me at: john@ourdividedworld.com and I will answer as quickly as possible. Thanks for reading and commenting.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
Galatians 5:13
H John & Jean
Our Divided World Ministry
john@ourdividedworld.com
jean@ourdividedworld.com
https://ourdividedworld.com
- Who Are Atheists?
- Revealed: The Book of James Part 2
- Revealed: The Book Of James Part 1
- Exposed: The Atheist vs Christians FB Group
- Is Jesus Prophesied In The Old Testament?
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.
Ephesians 1:18
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