Protestantism leads to atheism

[Adamski]

I strongly believe the Protestant rebellion of 1517 and the current Protestant churches have created atheism, by accident because if one denies the real presence in the Eucharist and other miracles such as incuruptable saints the next step eventually is to deny the existence of the resurrection and then Gods existence it self

 

[Quetzal]

I strongly believe the Protestant rebellion of 1517 and the current Protestant churches have created atheism, by accident because if one denies the real presence in the Eucharist and other miracles such as incuruptable saints the next step eventually is to deny the existence of the resurrection and then Gods existence it self

That is quite a stretch. If anything, Protestant traditions allow a separate path to God that some might not have had otherwise.

 

[Augustus]

There might be some degree of truth in that, and atheism does seem to be more widespread in Protestant areas (although there could be other reasons for that also).

Protestantism seems pretty unique as it focuses on belief rather than ritual. This weakens people's ties to the faith making it easier to jettison.

 

[metis]

I honestly don't think there's an atheism/Protestantism connection, but the movement definitely has severely splintered Christianity into myriads of pieces, thus defying the church as being "one body", as Paul said it must be.

 

[metis]

There might be some degree of truth in that, and atheism does seem to be more widespread in Protestant areas (although there could be other reasons for that also).

Protestantism seems pretty unique as it focuses on belief rather than ritual. This weakens people's ties to the faith making it easier to jettison.

Good points, imo.

 

[Kuzcotopia]

I strongly believe the Protestant rebellion of 1517 and the current Protestant churches have created atheism, by accident because if one denies the real presence in the Eucharist and other miracles such as incuruptable saints the next step eventually is to deny the existence of the resurrection and then Gods existence it self

For atheists, this is a practical problem. Evangelical Christianity puts their weight into politics more.

They publically vilify minorities and women's rights in the name of this religion, and people start to question the morality of that.

Atheists are born, and we push back.

 

[Kirran]

Well I am not sure your reasoning holds - there are many areas of the world where the entire population, or virtually, denies the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist but do not have prevalent atheism. This includes the Middle East, South Asia and almost all of Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

[Kuzcotopia]

Also, if this were true to would stand to reason that there would have been atheists for centuries.

Access to the internet as a public space for debate and information gets people past their indoctrination faster.

Don't blame protestants, blame social media.

 

[Brickjectivity]

There are atheists who used to be Roman Catholic. There are atheists who convert to protestant Christianity.

 

[Laika]

I strongly believe the Protestant rebellion of 1517 and the current Protestant churches have created atheism, by accident because if one denies the real presence in the Eucharist and other miracles such as incuruptable saints the next step eventually is to deny the existence of the resurrection and then Gods existence it self

There is an intellectual evolution from protestant christianity to liberal secularism but its to do with giving individuals the ability to interpret the bible and then using methods other than revelation to verify biblical accounts. So individual interpretation can then use other methods to verify theological cliams by looking at scientific evidence for evolution or historical methodology for assessing reliability of texts and bring them into question. This is a basis for a "lack of belief" in which someone asserts that certian ideas are not evidence for god (as they may have been used in the past) and instead say there is no (reliable) evidence therefore there is no rational reason to believe in god.

 

[Kirran]

I think there's certainly sense in viewing the emergence of Western liberal secular ideology as an outgrowth of currents within European Christianity (which crossed into Judaism, also).

 

[metis]

I think there's certainly sense in viewing the emergence of Western liberal secular ideology as an outgrowth of currents within European Christianity (which crossed into Judaism, also).

Yep, as atheism and agnosticism is quite high in the Jewish community, and I'm in the latter camp with my "I don't know" approach. .

 

[Kirran]

Yep, as atheism and agnosticism is quite high in the Jewish community, and I'm in the latter camp with my "I don't know" approach. .

I was talking about the Haskalah, but that all applies. You heathen.

I have seen that over 2 million American Jews are Christians!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I strongly believe the Protestant rebellion of 1517 and the current Protestant churches have created atheism, by accident because if one denies the real presence in the Eucharist and other miracles such as incuruptable saints the next step eventually is to deny the existence of the resurrection and then Gods existence it self

Even if this were true, why would it be a bad thing? I don't see how a religion dependent on ignorance and blind adherence to superstition would be a good thing for people, or what a god would desire for its loved creations.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

There might be some degree of truth in that, and atheism does seem to be more widespread in Protestant areas (although there could be other reasons for that also).

Protestantism seems pretty unique as it focuses on belief rather than ritual. This weakens people's ties to the faith making it easier to jettison.

It also holds to the idea that there should be no mediator between God and the believer, encouraging people to discern the truth for themselves.

IMO, getting people to think for themselves is a good way to encourage atheism.

Edit: another way Protestantism helped make the transition easier: one of its fundamental tenants is that if you disagree with the established church, you should dissent.

 

[Theweirdtophat]

I thought the split of 1054 divided Christianity first. There were just Christians and then there were Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians and this happened way before Protestants came around

 

[Kirran]

I thought the split of 1054 divided Christianity first. There were just Christians and then there were Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians and this happened way before Protestants came around

Oh no, they'd had plenty of schisms before that!

 

[metis]

I was talking about the Haskalah, but that all applies. You heathen.

I have seen that over 2 million American Jews are Christians!

I can believe it.

 

[IndigoStorm]

The Protestant or any other rebellion have nothing at all to do with atheism ...

You only have to read the first few verses of Genesis to know without a shadow of doubt that a god doesn't exist and never has existed.

 

[Kirran]

I can believe it.

I am glad. Because it would have been true regardless