I think it’s sad that the evils of Mormonism caused these two to become atheists. I truly hope that they can somehow find a way to discover God and a Christian life.
Well...I just recently came across a quote from an early church father who referenced a heretic as an atheist.
Did the heretic believe in a god? (Yes)
So why did this early church father reference the heretic as an atheist?
Because the heretic did not know the true God.
You see, this early church father wasn't satisfied with "theism" being defined as only an abstract acknowledgment that "Yes, a generic god exists out there somewhere." To this early church father, if the heretic didn't know -- didn't relate to the true God -- he was no different than an out-and-out atheist.
I outlined big distinctives between the God of the Bible and the Mormon god (see posts #89, #94, #96). Do Christians believe in that Mormon god described in those three posts? (No) Are Christians then, in effect, "atheists" if that "theism" is defined by Mormon beliefs? (Yes)
The reverse is also true: Do Mormons rule out a God-the-Father who "is spirit" (John 4:24) and is not a man-become-god? (Yes, they rule that out) Are they therefore "atheists" toward that defined theistic divinity? (Yes; in effect, they are!)
Mormonism, therefore, is already in effect "atheistic" toward the God of the Bible. It has redefined God that greatly!