Skeptic asks, why do people who abandon religion embrace superstition?

_{Denyse O'Leary

May 29, 2018

Culture, Intelligent Design, Religion, Science}

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Astrology Signs Chart From Denyse O’Leary at MercatorNet:

Belief in God is declining and belief in ghosts and witches is rising.

… It is a robust, longstanding phenomenon that liberals/progressives (especially millennials), including the “sciencey” ones, show more interest in occult ideas than others do. Is that counterintuitive, as many imply, or are we missing something? Vyse offers an interesting take:
…

So here’s the religion angle: It’s clearly not science that holds superstition in check in Western society. It’s traditional Western religion, which insists on transparent truths (truths that all may know) and forbids attempts at occult, secret truths. Vyse notes that traditionally religious people would be much less likely to resort to the occult following an electoral disaster. In a universe that is in fact run by transparent rather than occult forces, that enables them to adjust to adverse events, whatever they may believe about currently cool science issues like Darwinism or climate change. More.

See also: And now for something completely different… Darwinian PZ Myers laments the sad state of atheism today

Comments

AK,
Then why am I not given tax free status?
If you're implying that individual Christians get one, your observational skills are lacking. Churches are tax exempt, and there are some Atheist churches, so there you go. Taxes have nothing to do with the issue.bb_{May 29, 2018
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Then why am I not given tax free status?
You don't have a job or provide anything useful, so they figure it's irrelevant. ;) Andrewasauber_{May 29, 2018
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Nonlin,
Atheism is a religion.
Then why am I not given tax free status?Allan Keith_{May 29, 2018
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Allan Keith, Atheism is a religion. Theism or a-theism is not what defines a religion - see Buddhism, Jainism, etc. Religion is just the sum of axiomatic beliefs one holds. And you do hold axiomatic beliefs.Nonlin.org_{May 29, 2018
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I was not raised in any faith and I have never had any strong belief in any higher being
AK, I'll take your word for it, but I suspect that you have traded for strong beliefs in lesser beings. Andrewasauber_{May 29, 2018
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Allan Keith at 5: Using your own terminology, people who “believe in religion” are in major trouble. A religious zealot named Saul persecute the people of The Way in the first century of this age. In the name of religion Christ Jesus was crucified. All humans beings believe in something. Atheists strongly believe that there’s no God. Darwinists believe in fairytale just so stories. The only belief that matters at the end of the day is the genuine saving faith in the redemptive death and resurrection of our Lord. The rest is worthless. P. VerspiPaoloV_{May 29, 2018
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Hi Andrew, what I mean is whether people who have been agnostic or atheist for as long as they can remember, are more likely to believe in ghosts and witches, or whether this is more prevalent for people who were strongly religious and then lost their faith. In short, replacing their faith with something else. For example, I was not raised in any faith and I have never had any strong belief in any higher being, although I cannot rule it out. As well, I don't believe in ghosts, witches, non-dying souls or astrology. Paranormal activity I am open to but, so far, none of the evidence for it is compelling. But, obviously, I can only speak for myself.Allan Keith_{May 29, 2018
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people who never believed in religion
AK, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by this, but there is no human person of rational age who does not have religious beliefs. Andrewasauber_{May 29, 2018
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It would be interesting to see people who never believed in religion have a higher incidence of believing in ghosts and witches. Is it possible that people who believe in religion, or who ceased to believe in religion, have some inner need to believe in the supernatural?Allan Keith_{May 29, 2018
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No excuse. Romans 1:19-20 (ESV) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. MacArthur Study Bible (NKJV): God has sovereignly planted evidence of His existence in the very nature of man by reason and moral law (1:20, 21, 28, 32; 2:15). invisible attributes. This refers specifically to the two mentioned in this verse. by the things that are made. The creation delivers a clear, unmistakable message about God’s person Reformation Study Bible provided by Ligonier Ministries: what can be known about God. Paul stresses the reality and universality of divine revelation, which is perpetual (“since the creation,” v. 20) and perspicuous (“clearly perceived,” v. 20). Divine invisibility, eternity, and power are all expressed in and through the created order (see “General Revelation” at Ps. 19:1). The invisible God is revealed through the visible medium of creation. This revelation is manifest; it is not obscured but clearly seen. See theological note “Mankind’s Guilty Knowledge of God.”PaoloV_{May 29, 2018
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This is a follow up to the information provided @1: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/think-it-not-strange-fiery-trials-and-the-testimony-of-christPaoloV_{May 29, 2018
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True knowledge 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, MacArthur Study Bible (NKJV): arguments. Thoughts, ideas, speculations, reasoning, philosophies, and false religions are the ideological forts in which men barricade themselves against God and the gospel Reformation Study Bible provided by Ligonier Ministries: every lofty opinion. False wisdom and sophisticated arguments were some of the weapons used by the servants of Satan in their attack against Paul. The apostle had earlier stressed the difference between the wisdom of the world and the spiritual wisdom of the cross, and he warned the Corinthians against being deluded by the wisdom of the world (1 Cor. 1:18–2:16). Now Paul sees that his opponents have made such inroads with their false wisdom that he must oppose it again in the strongest terms and, at the same time, regain the loyalty and obedience of the Corinthians. every thought captive. If every thought, then the whole person—our every idea, motive, desire, and decision—belongs to Christ.PaoloV_{May 29, 2018
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Perhaps this article clarifies the situation? https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/may/nominals-to-nones-3-key-takeaways-from-pews-religious-lands.htmlPaoloV_{May 29, 2018
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