https://thehumanist.com/magazine/winter-2024/commentary/herbs-corner-what-is-wrong-with-atheists
When we atheists talk about religion, especially with Christians, we usually give good arguments about why Christian God beliefs can’t be true. We quote various biblical passages that make no sense to us, and explain how science contradicts many portions of the Bible. Our arguments rarely work with biblical literalists, because they don’t accept the science we show them. Most Christians don’t know the Bible very well and don’t care about the passages we quote.
We tend to assume that belief is why people choose a religion or church. But people choose a church for a variety of reasons. Some because they are connected with the people in the church and enjoy their company. Some because they like the preacher and his sermons, which often don’t say much about God—certainly not the passages we like to quote. When people are part of a social group they feel better about themselves and more alive. Traditions and rituals can provide much joy for churchgoers. They might identify that joy and aliveness with something supernatural, or just something greater than themselves.
It’s difficult for us to sidestep the problem of belief in Christianity, but for a lot of Christians faith might be more about what motivates them, rather than positions we think Christians must hold. You might hear about a joyful Christian worldview that God is good and loves me, that our world is good, and that things will be good even if they don’t seem good now. Given the stress and challenges of life, many seek comfort in traditional, familiar religious activity because that's their reference point.
When we atheists talk about religion, especially with Christians, we usually give good arguments about why Christian God beliefs can’t be true. We quote various biblical passages that make no sense to us, and explain how science contradicts many portions of the Bible. Our arguments rarely work with biblical literalists, because they don’t accept the science we show them. Most Christians don’t know the Bible very well and don’t care about the passages we quote.
We tend to assume that belief is why people choose a religion or church. But people choose a church for a variety of reasons. Some because they are connected with the people in the church and enjoy their company. Some because they like the preacher and his sermons, which often don’t say much about God—certainly not the passages we like to quote. When people are part of a social group they feel better about themselves and more alive. Traditions and rituals can provide much joy for churchgoers. They might identify that joy and aliveness with something supernatural, or just something greater than themselves.
It’s difficult for us to sidestep the problem of belief in Christianity, but for a lot of Christians faith might be more about what motivates them, rather than positions we think Christians must hold. You might hear about a joyful Christian worldview that God is good and loves me, that our world is good, and that things will be good even if they don’t seem good now. Given the stress and challenges of life, many seek comfort in traditional, familiar religious activity because that's their reference point.