There was a survey done a year or two ago that showed something like 25% of avowed athiests believe in God. Figure that one out!
Wow! Who'd a thunk it.
The media loves to run stories that denigrate real religious faith and the role it plays in society.
The atheist who feels it his duty to rage against religious faith and religious institutions. This is the Richard Dawkins, Madalyn O'Hair, ACLU variety and although I suspect they are the smallest in number, they are the noisy minority that give the rest of us a bad name.
The atheist who openly admits his atheism, is willing to defend it in public, yet who respects other's faith and acknowledges a role for faith in public life. This is where I am and it's where I've been for the last half a century.
The atheist who feels it necessary to conceal his unbelief for family, social, or professional reasons. The woman to whom I've been happily married for the last thirty years is one of these....she sat in church for two decades and mouthed the phrases which she did not believe. I suspect that many like her are to be found in every church, synagogue, and maybe even a mosque or two. They are in my opinion the largest group of atheists by far.
Christmas in Japan, esp. Tokyo is absolutely crazy. The Japanese love Christmas.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvwGMIlZR6U
Even atheists like receiving presents.
Why?
Maybe it is to see the rise/birth of the Sun three days after it dies on the solstice!
Believers In Jesus Christ are Saved. All others finding excuses not to believe, are lost.
The reason a lot of atheists embrace religion is because religion has become or is a part of this world.
If i was the leader of a church i would not be too proud if the only times an atheist came to my church was on a so called holiday like Christmas or Easter Sunday, both of which are said to have pagan origins.
Matt 10:37
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
matt 12
46
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
The only way we can know Jesus is to read about him in the Gospels, the only way we can know the truth is to read his words which is the Gospel.
My intent is not to bash Christmas or Easter or Halloween, it is just as a reminder that the meaning of Christian to so many people is far from what it was in the beginning.
Jesus and his apostles were not moral policemen, nor were they a bunch of mister cleans. true believers were those who would and did die for their faith in Jesus period.