Why do teenagers and young adults hate Christianity ?

[Hans Blaster]

I guess we're cut from a similar cloth, Hans.

Are you largely strange quarks too?

 

[Hans Blaster]

Why does anyone hate Christianity? What saith the scriptures?

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Romans 1:19-21 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.​

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Reading that passage (and the rest of the chapter) for the first time several years ago was the closest I ever came to truly hating your religion and feeling hated by it.

 

[bèlla]

At times they have posted something so derogatory about others, on occasions about my family members and my personal friends that I have stopped reading their posts. If I continued to read them then at some point I'd find it difficult not to load for bear and respond with both barrels. Then I'd get into trouble with the mods.

Believe it not their comeuppance is evident though you may not recognize it. Oftentimes challenges are a manifestation of cause and effect or reaping what one sows. Spiritual laws hold true for everyone including christians.

What I do find a little frustrating however is the implication that I haven't studied religion to any great extent. That I haven't considered whether it's true. That I am being almost flippant in my unbelief.

Some of the responses in this thread are over the top. You've exhibited great patience and tolerance. No one knows your heart but the Lord nor can they unpack the depth of your exploration in a few paragraphs.

~bella

 

[dlamberth]

All you atheists and non-Christians on this site already know the evidence.

That would point to me, for sure.

The youth though, what evidence are they seeing? Actions reflect what's in one's heart.
Reflect the actions the youth are seeing coming from your religion.
That will be their evidence.

 

[Hans Blaster]

The age of the earth does not make Christianity true or false.

I didn't say anything about the age of the Earth. From the earliest that I knew the age of the Earth it was 4.5 billion years, just as it is today. The age of the Earth had exactly zero to do with my exit from the Church.

The resurrection of Christ does.

And I don't believe that it happened. (It's kind of critical.)

 

[Robban]

The age of the earth does not make Christianity true or false. The resurrection of Christ does.

View attachment 354363

Daniel 12:2

 

[Robban]

Daniel 12:2

 

[Larniavc]

Most atheists do not have good reasons for their unbelief.

You need to share your mind reading powers with the world.

 

[Larniavc]

It still comes down to A-B-C-D no matter what approach is used:

Admit you are a sinner
Believe that Christ died for your sake
Confess to Him your sin
Decide to follow Christ in Spirit and Truth

Repentance IMO, is an ongoing thing in the life of a believer. There are instances of some who are immediately delivered from sinful behavior, for others it may be a process over time. The "rules" (law) has been fulfilled through Christ's obedience - we need to follow Him.

My point is that for a young person who does not already believe in God it sounds like nonsense.

People just don’t believe metaphysical sin is real.

 

[dzheremi]

It highlights the problem that is raised in the OP.

There are a few people on this forum - Christians, who I get along with very well. They seem genuinely nice people. If they lived locally to me I'm sure I'd make the effort to look them up personally. And there are some...well, let's just say that I have taken steps to avoid reading what they write because they are not nice people. At times they have posted something so derogatory about others, on occasions about my family members and my personal friends that I have stopped reading their posts. If I continued to read them then at some point I'd find it difficult not to load for bear and respond with both barrels. Then I'd get into trouble with the mods.

What they might say about me is the proverbial water off the proverbial back of the proverbial duck. I've been around the block a few times and being called 'deplorable' for example is not going to raise my hackles. It barely raises a quizzical eyebrow.

What I do find a little frustrating however is the implication that I haven't studied religion to any great extent. That I haven't considered whether it's true. That I am being almost flippant in my unbelief. Whereas I have spent quite a few decades, from my early thirties onwards (i.e. half a lifetime) constantly checking my position against all arguments that might show that I'm wrong. And I'm not talking about whether Adam ate an apple or Noah built a boat, I'm talking theology. For those who have come to a different position than mine, I respect their faith. Whatever religion they might be.

Short story. My wife and I wanted to get our son into the local Catholic school. Purely on the basis that it was by far the best in the area. But they only took 10% of boys who weren't from a Catholic family. My wife was going to put Anglican on the application even though she's never been to a service in over 50 years. I was going to put n/a, as honest as I could really be. It was touch and go. So, without telling me, she went to the local Catholic church one Sunday and spoke to the priest after the service. She told him she wanted to become Catholic.

He sat her down and asked why. What had happened in her life that she now felt drawn to the church. And she's at least honest. She said 'because I want to get my son into the Catholic school'. He obviously explained to her that that was not a good reason to take up the faith.

When she told me some time later I was as angry with her as I had ever been. She was treating people's faith as if it was simply a membership deal. That you could sign up and use the credits you got to benefit your family. We didn't talk for a couple of days. But I did try to explain to her that you cannot treat people's beliefs so lightly. That she was showing a great deal of disrespect, not just to Catholics, but to everyone who had faith.

She actually knew all this. She's a smart woman. But her desire to get the best for our boy overrode her common sense. And hey, he got into the school anyway.

So the point of that? Well, I'd like a little respect for my beliefs as well, if that's not too much trouble.

That's commendable respect for the fact that people sincerely hold their beliefs and view them as very important to their sense of self and how the world works (or ought to work), even when you yourself don't. I think that's something everyone can and should be managing to put forth in basically all situations, barring of course those beliefs that are simply about hurting people ("slaughter all the unbelievers" type stuff). The trouble we seem to get into -- and not just here on CF -- is when people confuse that kind of respect with the idea of respecting the content of another's beliefs, as though in order to do the former you must do the latter. I don't think so. This is something that became something of a refrain in my interactions with Mormons on the now-closed "Debate Other Religions" subforum here on CF, as they often did not see how I could say that I support their right to preach, teach, and believe whatever they want, but at the same time I'm not going to give their ideas about, e.g., the linguistic histories of the Americas or the ancient Near East the hearing they'd like me to when I know better (as I have a master's degree in linguistics with a concentration on minority languages of the Middle East and its various diasporas, so when they claim as a matter of faith that the 'Nephites' not only existed, but spoke and/or wrote a language called 'Reformed Egyptian' that no disinterested linguist has encountered a single shred of evidence for, I can say with as much confidence as anyone can that no they did not).

With that experience behind me, I guess you could say I have a bit of an intellectual soft spot for how considerate atheists and agnostics here on CF and elsewhere might feel even though I'm not one, as I can't imagine that the roots of your reactions to the rather obnoxious attempts at proselytization by making you feel bad or stupid as we have seen in this thread and others are rooted in anything but what you've actually experienced here. It's like, "Wait a minute...you don't know what I know or don't know about all the things your belief broaches, but I'm just supposed to submit to being insulted in the most rude ways anyway because you're X and I'm Y, so obviously I must be wicked and horrible? Well that doesn't seem right."

 

[RoBo1988]

My point is that for a young person who does not already believe in God it sounds like nonsense.

People just don’t believe metaphysical sin is real.

Matthew 13:58

There's a point where it comes down to the individual, and where they have placed their faith.

 

[Bradskii]

The trouble we seem to get into -- and not just here on CF -- is when people confuse that kind of respect with the idea of respecting the content of another's beliefs, as though in order to do the former you must do the latter.

I agree. I didn't want to cloud the water by differentiating faith with the contents of the belief. But as we know there is a huge number of varieties of that content within Christianity. And even within denominations. I have problems with any type of fundamentalism but I would have that problem even if I were a Christian (or Muslim or Hindu or Jewish). I'd argue against (what I describe as) fundamental beliefs, but it wouldn't be the faith that I'd be arguing against.

Just because somebody rejects evolution doesn't mean that the Christian religion itself is wrong or that God doesn't exist. And just because I argue that evolution has and is obviously happening or the world is patently not 6,000 years old doesn't mean I'm arguing against the existence of God or claiming that Jesus didn't rise from the dead. Just as Christians who are the same side of the scientific divide as me are not denying God or the Resurrection.

 

[Larniavc]

Matthew 13:58

There's a point where it comes down to the individual, and where they have placed their faith.

Why would a young person have faith in something they don’t believe in? I think the idea here is that unless you already believe there is no reason (from the perspective of the young person) begin believing.

And as your scripture points out God is not in the habit of substantiating his existence to unbelievers.

 

[stevevw]

Is Christianity out of touch or are these people simply evil and expressing there Hatred Of Christ ?

I think its cultural. In the past society was more Godly. Social norms were based on Christian values. The gospel was preached more and people generally believed in God.

But in the last few decades God has been completely removed from the public square and replaced by other ideas like humanism and various human ideas about nature and reality.

I also thing running in tandem with the removal of God science and technology has increased giving people a sense of secuirty and independence. Young people have grown up in this environment. God is rarely spoken about and when it is its usually with skeptism and even ridecule like only out of touch people believe in such myths.

But at the same time I think the human need for belief has developed into alternative meanings and morality which have become a substitute. So its not exactly that young people don't have belief but rather have new and different human made beliefs.

Its usually self referential beliefs about feelings and experiences, appealing to humanisms I think. Certainly not a God above people who we should submit our wills to. The social justice warriors ensured that young people know they are the gods of their own lives even over their parents.

But then parents also play a part where they cotton wooled their kids from the realities of life in trying to cushion them from every discomfort in life.

As a result young people are completly confused, bewildered and suffering all sorts of mental health problems. But then so is society more generally.

Basically I think theres a lot more white noise happening today that distracts young people away from the bible and God. The more the world becomes enticing and godlike with science and tech the more people believe that humans are gods and they don't need any God.

 

[LoveofTruth]

We don't need to shout 'SINNER!'

Just remember though these verses,

Luke 24: 47. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

And ask, “repentance from what?”

2 Corinthians 12: 21. And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.”

John 16: 8. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

Acts 24: 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

Acts 2: 23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

And this has always been God’s way

Isaiah 58: 1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

 

[2PhiloVoid]

It highlights the problem that is raised in the OP.

There are a few people on this forum - Christians, who I get along with very well. They seem genuinely nice people. If they lived locally to me I'm sure I'd make the effort to look them up personally. And there are some...well, let's just say that I have taken steps to avoid reading what they write because they are not nice people. At times they have posted something so derogatory about others, on occasions about my family members and my personal friends that I have stopped reading their posts. If I continued to read them then at some point I'd find it difficult not to load for bear and respond with both barrels. Then I'd get into trouble with the mods.

What they might say about me is the proverbial water off the proverbial back of the proverbial duck. I've been around the block a few times and being called 'deplorable' for example is not going to raise my hackles. It barely raises a quizzical eyebrow.

What I do find a little frustrating however is the implication that I haven't studied religion to any great extent. That I haven't considered whether it's true. That I am being almost flippant in my unbelief. Whereas I have spent quite a few decades, from my early thirties onwards (i.e. half a lifetime) constantly checking my position against all arguments that might show that I'm wrong. And I'm not talking about whether Adam ate an apple or Noah built a boat, I'm talking theology. For those who have come to a different position than mine, I respect their faith. Whatever religion they might be.

Short story. My wife and I wanted to get our son into the local Catholic school. Purely on the basis that it was by far the best in the area. But they only took 10% of boys who weren't from a Catholic family. My wife was going to put Anglican on the application even though she's never been to a service in over 50 years. I was going to put n/a, as honest as I could really be. It was touch and go. So, without telling me, she went to the local Catholic church one Sunday and spoke to the priest after the service. She told him she wanted to become Catholic.

He sat her down and asked why. What had happened in her life that she now felt drawn to the church. And she's at least honest. She said 'because I want to get my son into the Catholic school'. He obviously explained to her that that was not a good reason to take up the faith.

When she told me some time later I was as angry with her as I had ever been. She was treating people's faith as if it was simply a membership deal. That you could sign up and use the credits you got to benefit your family. We didn't talk for a couple of days. But I did try to explain to her that you cannot treat people's beliefs so lightly. That she was showing a great deal of disrespect, not just to Catholics, but to everyone who had faith.

She actually knew all this. She's a smart woman. But her desire to get the best for our boy overrode her common sense. And hey, he got into the school anyway.

So the point of that? Well, I'd like a little respect for my beliefs as well, if that's not too much trouble.

.... I've always wondered what having respect for my beliefs would feel like. The thing is, Bradskii, long before you showed up on CF, I used to be a regular contender with atheists here in the now closed debating sections. It was more than once that my interlocutors, being the atheists and ex-christians that they vehemently were, told me that "respect" for my ideas was exactly what they weren't willing to offer and dole out.

On my side of things, I've ALWAYS been more than willing to academically engage and discuss another person's beliefs and/or viewpoints without all of the ideological pretension or blustering that so often ensues. But even now in the 2020's, from what I'm seeing among a number of young ex-Christians today, politics takes front and center stage, along with a more or less Marxist style framework and mindset that subscribes to bluster ... and expressing disrespect of not only anyone else's views, but of the very idea of having to evaluate truth and reality.

So, if you, like myself, being that we're a little older, would like to have respect offered for "your" beliefs, and if respect essentially equates to acknowledging some valid points you may have AND being essentially cordial about it, I can do that.

But if atheists and ex-Christians want to engage me----whether here on CF or in public life----and their sole purpose is to deconstruct (sic) the Christian faith in an amateurish or all too typically biased manner, then as a philosopher, rather than as a simplistic apologist, I might refrain from a certain measure of being cordial. And if I do refrain, I'm only reflecting a certain measure of what my interlocutors are already refraining from.

 

[Bradskii]

.... I've always wondered what having respect for my beliefs would feel like. The thing is, Bradskii, long before you showed up on CF, I used to be a regular contender with atheists here in the now closed debating sections. It was more than once that my interlocutors, being the atheists and ex-christians that they vehemently were, told me that "respect" for my ideas was exactly what they weren't willing to offer and doll out.

I don't speak for others.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I don't speak for others.

With that being the case, please let me know if you ever feel disrespected by me and I'll try to be more mindful of your request to think better of your views.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

I And I don't believe that it happened. (It's kind of critical.)

I think there may be some "Christians" who see it as a mythic representation of the possibilist of human transformation. That is to say, no limit to those possibilities.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Why would a young person have faith in something they don’t believe in? I think the idea here is that unless you already believe there is no reason (from the perspective of the young person) begin believing.

And as your scripture points out God is not in the habit of substantiating his existence to unbelievers.

For those of us in the U.S., it's a more common occurrence here to see younger people espouse disbelief in Christianity and leave behind what they had previously believed. Unlike in Europe or other modern states, unbelief and atheism in the U.S.A. isn't necessarily the beginning point or cultural benchmark for developing a viewpoint.

So, this is why you hear so many American Christians decry the sudden "onslaught" of disbelief. I understand how a person in the U.K. might not empathize with the American viewpoint since acculturation ratios among demographics is a little different, at least since before the time of the two world wars.