Is Orthodoxy the quickest path to atheism?

The Conductor said:

Sorry for the ambiguous grammar. It's not focusing on sanctification that can drive people away.

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ah, si si. still, is there any way you could give an example (like in general)?

Just in general, we talk so much about justification that sanctification sort of gets the short end of the stick sometimes. Sometimes people get so focused on salvation by grace alone and faith alone that they forget that God expects them to do things. One of my professors once made a Facebook post about Jesus' sermon on the mount and people started calling him 'legalistic' and a 'salvation by works type'. It's not always that bad, but that sort of demonstrates how bad it can get.

The Conductor said:

Just in general, we talk so much about justification that sanctification sort of gets the short end of the stick sometimes. Sometimes people get so focused on salvation by grace alone and faith alone that they forget that God expects them to do things. One of my professors once made a Facebook post about Jesus' sermon on the mount and people started calling him 'legalistic' and a 'salvation by works type'. It's not always that bad, but that sort of demonstrates how bad it can get.

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ah gotcha

Even if Orthodoxy did lead people to Atheism, it wouldn't particularly bother me. Let's just assume for a moment that Orthodoxy is the only religion that is acceptable to God and Atheism is a rejection of the existence of a deity. Now, you could take the easy way out and choose another religion (such as the Protestant heresy) but for most people, that isn't good enough. For me, it really is between Orthodoxy and Atheism.

I live in a Muslim country, and thankfully in the past few years, I have spent so much time studying various religions of the world. Within my family, I have no doubts that I am the most knowledgeable about various religions. The ones I am most well versed on are Islam (most Shia, but some Sunni as well), Hinduism, Baha'i, Sikhism, Judaism, and various forms of Christianity (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Mormonism, and several varieties of Protestantism -- definitely not all of them of course). I have knowledge of others as well, but these are the main ones I can safely say I have a high level of knowledge about. Now, to get onto my point. I have no doubts that if a God exists, Orthodoxy is his religion. My family is Protestant Christian. I grew up in various Christian churches (mostly meeting in peoples houses because there aren't too many Churches here -- but a lot more are being built thanks to the fall of Saddam and the introduction of democracy) and I spent 4 and a half years as a Muslim. Throughout all of this, I was searching for God. I have finally found him. I could write entire books on the reasons I reject the other religions I have studied, but it's not particularly important.

Orthodoxy is the true representation of the New Testament Church. And thanks to Biblical archaeology, we can be sure that the New Testament is preserved as it was written. So unless the Church Fathers were liars and fabricators, we can be sure that what is written in the New Testament is true. Therefore, we can conclude that the Orthodox Church, as it is known today, is the Church that Christ founded nearly 2,000 years ago. Now, let's assume for a minute that any converts to Orthodoxy (as well as many people that were raised Orthodox, however not all of them) are aware of this. They know that Orthodoxy is the true representation of Christ's Church. They also know that Christ claimed to be the Messiah and the Son of God. So unless they decide to completely reject Jesus and go to some other religion that doesn't accept Jesus but still believes in God (Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc.), the choice is simple. Orthodoxy or Atheism. If God exists, Orthodoxy is his religion. If God does not exist, then Atheists are correct in rejecting him.

The reason that I would not be bothered if Orthodoxy led people to Atheism is because at the very least, it makes a person think. If somebody knew the truth and through personal study and dedication decided that he does not believe that a deity exists, I would have a much higher level of respect for that person than somebody that accepts or rejects anything without truly understanding both sides. To me, Atheism and other religions are all the same. They are (respectfully) in the hellfire. To say that Orthodoxy leads to Atheism would be like saying that Orthodoxy can lead to anything since all it takes is for somebody to convert to another religion.

Atheism is just simply is, existing without the belief in god or Gods. But when you think about you have the Enlightenment factor that eventually leads people seek answers in religion.

Orthodoxy can be so totalizing, I can see atheism as a possible outcome to someone who has problems just accepting the authority of the Church. It tends to be "all or nothing" in its approach, and make sweeping claims about the nature of reality, a grand metanarrative that sometimes over-reaches.

I now prefer liberal Old Catholicism and Anglicanism. We have some things that are dogmatic (the Nicene Creed, the Apostles Creed), but a great deal is left to individual conscience. In the end, it is about following Jesus as our conscience allows, and I greatly prefer that to some idea of some institution being his infallible mediator. That can end in its own sort of idolatry. We are all beggars before God, even the Church... and I find that perspective lacking in Orthodoxy

FireDragon76 said:

Orthodoxy can be so totalizing, I can see atheism as a possible outcome to someone who has problems just accepting the authority of the Church. It tends to be "all or nothing" in its approach, and make sweeping claims about the nature of reality, a grand metanarrative that sometimes over-reaches.

I now prefer liberal Old Catholicism and Anglicanism. We have some things that are dogmatic (the Nicene Creed, the Apostles Creed), but a great deal is left to individual conscience. In the end, it is about following Jesus as our conscience allows, and I greatly prefer that to some idea of some institution being his infallible mediator. That can end in its own sort of idolatry. We are all beggars before God, even the Church... and I find that perspective lacking in Orthodoxy

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I tend to think the church is clear regarding the doctrine of salvation within the faith. I also think it is understanding of the mystery of how God will extend mercy to many virtuous individuals outside its earthly communion (along the line of the Beatitudes for ex.) but is somewhat vague in its overall articulation of this concept to not confuse Orthodoxy with non orthodox concepts.

Is Orthodoxy the quickest path to atheism? Sounds fun. In Eastern Europe we had quite an opposite way so from atheism to Orthodoxy.And number of churches built is still increasing...

Odd question.

The Unorthodox Orthodox said:

Orthodoxy is hardly the quickest path to atheism.
Take Russia for example. So many years of anti-religious propaganda, persecutions and executions failed to break the Russian People's faith and, up to this day, Russia is one of the most religious countries of Europe!

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I can't say that though... Almost 1/3 of churches of Russian patriarchy are in Ukraine with semi-legal status of imitated autonomy. New looks but old methods.

God bless.

Intriguing...

Gxg (G²);64623492 said:

Intriguing...

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More like more thread necromancy

RobNJ said:

More like more thread necromancy

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Not certain what you mean - I was agreeing with another at how odd it is to think Orthodoxy is what leads to atheism.

The majority of atheists and agnostic people I know or have met come from an Evangelical Protestant background -- I would think that it would be that church/those churches that put one on a "quick path to atheism."

As for Orthodoxy, the times that I have questioned Christianity -- Orthodoxy has strengthened my faith, never the opposite.