Bible contradictions

[Toxick]

What about the guy who lives in a cave all his life - never heard of Jesus or God. Has no concept whatsoever. Is he going to heaven?

Depends.


Is he gay?

 

[Toxick]

I've asked this before, and still waiting to hear, If the errors are due to translation,

No, you're not still waiting to hear. I answered it before. I'll answer you again, but since you dismissed it before, you're probably going to dismiss it again.

and there are errors, how can you trust the trustworthiness of the Book if the translation isnt trustworthy?

On accounta the IDEAS are accurately conveyed even if BS semantic minutiae (i.e. tree vs. bush) is not.

 

[Toxick]

Valid point about defending beliefs. Surely people can defend their beliefs without defining other people in negative ways. As an example, why couldn't the individual Christian believe in heaven and hell only for himself, and treat the afterlife for everyone else as an unknown?

Because it doesn't work like that.

If 4+4 equals 8 for me, then unfortunately it's 8 for everyone... even if you really really really want it to be 9.


Now - Regardless of what the VLTIMATE TRVTH turns out to be, right now, I believe I am right. Ergo: I believe that those who disagree with me are wrong. Sorry, but the light is either on or off. You're either pregnant or not. You're either right or left, dead or alive, right or wrong.


If I believed that my beliefs were wrong - they would cease being my beliefs.


And if it turn out that I am wrong... well - que sera sera. But in the meantime I have the conviction to commit to what I believe, and to stand by it, instead of succumbing to a bunch of touchy-feely 'free to be you and me', we're all equally valid rhetoric.


Having said that - I don't think that it's cool to judge others, or to point to someone and say, "You're going to H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks!", and I don't do it. But I can still think that someone is wrong, while not being judgemental about it.

 

[Midnightrider]

Because it doesn't work like that.

If 4+4 equals 8 for me, then unfortunately it's 8 for everyone... even if you really really really want it to be 9.


Now - Regardless of what the VLTIMATE TRVTH turns out to be, right now, I believe I am right. Ergo: I believe that those who disagree with me are wrong. Sorry, but the light is either on or off. You're either pregnant or not. You're either right or left, dead or alive, right or wrong.


If I believed that my beliefs were wrong - they would cease being my beliefs.


And if it turn out that I am wrong... well - que sera sera. But in the meantime I have the conviction to commit to what I believe, and to stand by it, instead of succumbing to a bunch of touchy-feely 'free to be you and me', we're all equally valid rhetoric.


Having said that - I don't think that it's cool to judge others, or to point to someone and say, "You're going to H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks!", and I don't do it. But I can still think that someone is wrong, while not being judgemental about it.

how can you say "while not being judgemental" when you just judged that the person is wrong?

as to your 4+4 =8, That doesn't exactly work because 4+4=8 can be proven using various imperical techniques.
A more valid comparision would be X+Y= Z, all three are variables. So any answer we gave, no matter how strongly we held the belief that answer was correct, would only be a guess- just like religion.
I am not threatened by saying someone may have an equally valid guess based on their experiences, what they have been told, and the customs etc.

 

[Tonio]

If 4+4 equals 8 for me, then unfortunately it's 8 for everyone... even if you really really really want it to be 9.

Claims about the supernatural can't be compared to math equations. I can easily verify the result of your equation, but I cannot do the same with the supernatural. While I don't rule out the possibility of the supernatural, I simply have no evidence for it.

Now - Regardless of what the VLTIMATE TRVTH turns out to be, right now, I believe I am right. Ergo: I believe that those who disagree with me are wrong. Sorry, but the light is either on or off. You're either pregnant or not. You're either right or left, dead or alive, right or wrong.

In the strictly logical sense, your supposition is correct. In the practical sense, why should you care if someone disagrees with you about the supernatural, as long as neither of you uses your religious beliefs to harm others or define others? We don't know scientifically if there is a supernatural, so I can't see why people have such passionate disagreements about what it might be like.

But in the meantime I have the conviction to commit to what I believe, and to stand by it, instead of succumbing to a bunch of touchy-feely 'free to be you and me', we're all equally valid rhetoric.

You've almost reached my point - your commitment to your own beliefs about the supernatural would be the same regardless of what others believe about the supernatural. Your commitment wouldn't waver just because your neighbor or your coworker converted to Buddhism or Jainism or whatever. So you wouldn't ask others to not have the same commitment to their own beliefs, just because they disagree with you, would you? As silly as you make "free to be you and me" to sound, the only alternative that I can see is to force or pressure people to follow certain religious doctrines.

Having said that - I don't think that it's cool to judge others, or to point to someone and say, "You're going to H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks!", and I don't do it. But I can still think that someone is wrong, while not being judgemental about it.

Did you know that Islam claims that people will end up in hell if they DO believe in the divinity of Jesus? It's almost like Christianity and Islam are like the combatants in that Star Trek episode where the two enemies have opposite sides of their faces in black and white.

When someone believes that I'm doomed to hell, I feel like I'm being pushed around, no matter what the other person's intentions. Granted, verbal pushing around is not nearly the same as physical pushing around. But both have the same outcome - if you let someone walk all over you once, they'll keep on doing it, and that will encourage others to walk all over you as well. As Republicans are fond of saying, that was Carter's problem with Iran and Clinton's problem with the terrorists - both of them permited the US to be bullied by fanatics with violent agendas.

 

[camily]

What about the guy who lives in a cave all his life - never heard of Jesus or God. Has no concept whatsoever. Is he going to heaven?

Jesus says He won't return until the last person has had the opportunity to hear of him. When the last person denies, or accepts him, it begins. The good stuff. I can't wait to see it!

 

[camily]

True...and he Bible is about talking stuff on faith..not actual, because like @nd said, it gets all taken out of context and wars begin.
There are 1000 ways to get from So. Maryland to Alaska...many roads, many means..but the destination is the same.
God is the same way..many beliefs, many versions on the Bible, but the destination is the same. Salvation and the Word.

The destination is the same if you believe that Jesus is the Savior and strive to conduct your life after His way. Not an easy task. No one will ever truely be like Jesus, but we should strive to be like Him.

 

[Toxick]

how can you say "while not being judgemental" when you just judged that the person is wrong?

If you think that disagreeing with someone is being judgemental then so be it.

as to your 4+4 =8, That doesn't exactly work because 4+4=8 can be proven using various imperical techniques. A more valid comparision would be X+Y= Z, all three are variables.

I realize that.

That wasn't the point.

If you prefer to use algebra over arithmetic, that's fine.

I am not threatened by saying someone may have an equally valid guess

My beliefs aren't founded on a guess.

I've explained how I came to my beliefs before. Blindfolded dart-throwing at a picture of religious icons wasn't part of the explanation.

 

[Tonio]

how can you say "while not being judgemental" when you just judged that the person is wrong?

In defense of Toxick, his statement wasn't judging the person but the person's beliefs.

I am not threatened by saying someone may have an equally valid guess based on their experiences, what they have been told, and the customs etc.

There is much more to the process than that, in my view. They're not "guesses." They are conclusions that people have reached in their spiritual journeys. It's possible for two mature and rational adults to have different sets of religious beliefs, perhaps because they've had different life experiences.

 

[ItalianScallion]

What about the guy who lives in a cave all his life - never heard of Jesus or God. Has no concept whatsoever. Is he going to heaven?

WX, that person doesn't exist. God doesn't need a Bible, a magazine, a radio or TV show or even us to make Himself known. God CAN be known through the creation also, so there is NO place in all the universe that one can go and be out of His presence. Through his Spirit He can even make a severely mentally handicapped person know about Him. I can't say what He would do in every case but there will be NO ONE sent to Hell unless THEY made the choice to reject God. The Bible speaks clearly about each of us being accountable for what we know. And when they stand in His judgment someday, no one can say that they didn't know about Him. (Romans 1) God's words, not mine. Good question my friend!

 

[2ndAmendment]

...

Did you know that Islam claims that people will end up in hell if they DO believe in the divinity of Jesus? It's almost like Christianity and Islam are like the combatants in that Star Trek episode where the two enemies have opposite sides of their faces in black and white....

They are. Islam believes Jesus is a great prophet but only a man.

Christians proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Son of man, God come in flesh. We believe that God showed His ultimate love for His creation in coming as the only sacrifice needed for the salvation of all mankind. We proclaim the gospel as directed by the Bible because the Bible tells us if we deny Jesus He will deny us.

That said, if you and I were talking IRL, and you said, "I don't want to hear anything about Jesus." I would respect your wishes. I probably would walk away and leave you to whomever else you wished to speak with because is would obviously not be me. But this is a forum. I post; I proclaim. I have no control over who reads what I post.

If you are offended by what I or other Christians post, then the only solution I can propose is for you not to read what we post. I don't say that to be flip or mean; it is just absolute logic. You know if the stove is hot and it burns your hand when you touch it and you don't want to be burned; don't touch the stove. If what you read from Christians offends you, don't read what they post. Scripture is offensive to those that don't believe. Jesus even said He did not come to bring peace. He said a persons enemies would be their own family; i.e., when a family member is a Christian and the rest are not, the gates of hell fly open.

A Christian perspective on your being offended by scripture is that you are being convicted by the Holy Spirit. You may believe otherwise, but I am telling you what the Christian perspective is. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit convicts and satan condemns. Christians say there is hope in Jesus for eternal life. Satan says you can never get to heaven because you are not good enough, or, even more slyly, convinces you that God, satan, heaven, and hell are not real so there is no need to worry about the afterlife.

Sorry. For me, if this life is all there is, humans are a sorry lot for sure and Christians are the sorriest. Paul said it long before this post.

 

[camily]

They are. Islam believes Jesus is a great prophet but only a man.

Christians proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Son of man, God come in flesh. We believe that God showed His ultimate love for His creation in coming as the only sacrifice needed for the salvation of all mankind. We proclaim the gospel as directed by the Bible because the Bible tells us if we deny Jesus He will deny us.

That said, if you and I were talking IRL, and you said, "I don't want to hear anything about Jesus." I would respect your wishes. I probably would walk away and leave you to whomever else you wished to speak with because is would obviously not be me. But this is a forum. I post; I proclaim. I have no control over who reads what I post.

If you are offended by what I or other Christians post, then the only solution I can propose is for you not to read what we post. I don't say that to be flip or mean; it is just absolute logic. You know if the stove is hot and it burns your hand when you touch it and you don't want to be burned; don't touch the stove. If what you read from Christians offends you, don't read what they post. Scripture is offensive to those that don't believe. Jesus even said He did not come to bring peace. He said a persons enemies would be their own family; i.e., when a family member is a Christian and the rest are not, the gates of hell fly open.

A Christian perspective on your being offended by scripture is that you are being convicted by the Holy Spirit. You may believe otherwise, but I am telling you what the Christian perspective is. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit convicts and satan condemns. Christians say there is hope in Jesus for eternal life. Satan says you can never get to heaven because you are not good enough, or, even more slyly, convinces you that God, satan, heaven, and hell are not real so there is no need to worry about the afterlife.

Sorry. For me, if this life is all there is, humans are a sorry lot for sure and Christians are the sorriest. Paul said it long before this post.

Yes, and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. They (Muslims) believe that is worshipping multiple gods and believe we are sacreligous (sp?) by taking communion because we say "This is ths body of Christ, eat it.." And "this is the blood of christ, drink it and..." during communion and feel it is wrong to think we are eating and drinking another human. Therefore Canibalism. This is far from the truth.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Yes, and blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable. They (Muslims) believe that is worshipping multiple gods and believe we are sacreligous (sp?) by taking communion because we say "This is ths body of Christ, eat it.." And "this is the blood of christ, drink it and..." during communion and feel it is wrong to think we are eating and drinking another human. Therefore Canibalism. This is far from the truth.

Yes, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the only unforgivable sin.

Muslims don't grasp that God is God and can manifest Himself as Father, Holy Spirit, or Jesus as man, but God is still one God. They, as many, try to impose human limits on the limitless God.

Catholics believe in the Transubstantiation, that the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus. Catholics did not always believe that; that belief was made doctrine in the year 1215 at the Fourth Lateran Council. Most other Christian faiths do not believe that nor do I, so no cannibalism for them or me; it is just bread and wine.

My personal belief is that Jesus meant to remember Him every time we take anything to eat of drink; bread and wine were two of the things the people of Jesus' time on earth ate or drank most often.

 

[Tonio]

They are. Islam believes Jesus is a great prophet but only a man.

Hypothetical question - what if Christianity and Islam simply fought it out amongst each other and left the rest of the world out of it?

That said, if you and I were talking IRL, and you said, "I don't want to hear anything about Jesus." I would respect your wishes. I probably would walk away and leave you to whomever else you wished to speak with because is would obviously not be me.

I appreciate you saying that. Part of my point is that when someone has an agenda for me that conflicts with what I want for myself, I don't trust that person to walk away and leave me alone. It has nothing to do with that person. It has to do with me wanting to feel secure in my own boundaries.

If you are offended by what I or other Christians post, then the only solution I can propose is for you not to read what we post. I don't say that to be flip or mean; it is just absolute logic. You know if the stove is hot and it burns your hand when you touch it and you don't want to be burned; don't touch the stove. If what you read from Christians offends you, don't read what they post.

I think you're missing my point. Don't you take it personally that Muslims believe you will burn in hell? Don't you object to them attempting to define you in a hateful way? Certainly you are entitled to refuse to be defined by their beliefs about you. Wouldn't the Golden Rule apply to beliefs about other people - don't believe anything about someone that you wouldn't want others believing about you?

A Christian perspective on your being offended by scripture is that you are being convicted by the Holy Spirit. You may believe otherwise, but I am telling you what the Christian perspective is.

I oppose the idea that any religion should have any perspective on people outside of the religion. I'm saying that if someone believes in a judging God, then the person should claim to know only how that God judges himself or herself.

Look, I know that I can't change other people's opinions. But please know that when other people have negative opinions of me, I hate it with every fiber of my being, because I feel like there are attempts to control me even when that isn't the others' intention. If I lived my life according to how other people see me and what they want from me, I will lose my identity and simply be a dishrag.

For me, if this life is all there is, humans are a sorry lot for sure and Christians are the sorriest.

I think it doesn't have to be that way. If there is no afterlife, certainly we can create our own meaning during the time we have. The achievements of Galileo and Dr. Salk and Shakespeare would still have value whether or not there is an afterlife.

 

[2ndAmendment]

Hypothetical question - what if Christianity and Islam simply fought it out amongst each other and left the rest of the world out of it?

Because Christians are right and everyone else is wrong. To believe otherwise would be denying what is in the Bible. We are to proclaim the gospel in all the earth not just the Muslim areas.

I appreciate you saying that. Part of my point is that when someone has an agenda for me that conflicts with what I want for myself, I don't trust that person to walk away and leave me alone. It has nothing to do with that person. It has to do with me wanting to feel secure in my own boundaries.

As you have posted before, you have those kind of issues and you seem to be a bit more sensitive in that area than most.

I think you're missing my point. Don't you take it personally that Muslims believe you will burn in hell? Don't you object to them attempting to define you in a hateful way? Certainly you are entitled to refuse to be defined by their beliefs about you. Wouldn't the Golden Rule apply to beliefs about other people - don't believe anything about someone that you wouldn't want others believing about you?

Nope. I have faith in Jesus as my savior and Lord. I know they are wrong. I don't define myself by what those that do not know me think. Ignore this if you wish, but I think you are too sensitive about what others think of you.

I oppose the idea that any religion should have any perspective on people outside of the religion. I'm saying that if someone believes in a judging God, then the person should claim to know only how that God judges himself or herself.

That is your opinion. I oppose the idea that your opinion should have any affect on whether I proclaim the gospel or not.

Look, I know that I can't change other people's opinions. But please know that when other people have negative opinions of me, I hate it with every fiber of my being, because I feel like there are attempts to control me even when that isn't the others' intention. If I lived my life according to how other people see me and what they want from me, I will lose my identity and simply be a dishrag.

Again. I think you are too sensitive in this area of your life. If you don't agree that unrepentant sinners are going to hell, then don't and don't worry about it. Go on with your life and ignore what Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, and all the other religions think about you. If it is all just imaginary, then why are you concerned about what they think?

I think it doesn't have to be that way. If there is no afterlife, certainly we can create our own meaning during the time we have. The achievement sof Galileo and Dr. Salk and Shakespeare would still have value whether or not there is an afterlife.

But there is an afterlife. You don't believe so. That is fine. Go on with your belief, but don't expect me or other Christians to quit proclaiming the gospel and heaven and hell just because you don't agree.

 

[Toxick]

In the strictly logical sense, your supposition is correct. In the practical sense, why should you care if someone disagrees with you about the supernatural, as long as neither of you uses your religious beliefs to harm others or define others?

For the remainder of the discussion, I'm going to simply assume that whatever you say, "as long as it's not used to harm others" is an understood point. You don't have to keep reiterating that point - I get it. I, too, am opposed to the use of violence to win converts or using religion to justify violence.

so I can't see why people have such passionate disagreements about what it might be like.

They just do. It's been as much a part of the human condition as sex and the quest for power since the dawn of time.

So you wouldn't ask others to not have the same commitment to their own beliefs, just because they disagree with you, would you?

I don't ask others to do so. I don't preach to people who don't ask for it, and I don't try to win converts.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but thus far in this conversation your beef has not strictly with proselytizing... your beef is with the very fact that I think others beliefs are flat out wrong, and I harbor an unwillingness to admit that they might be, in some way, correct.

It is this point with you that I'm disputing.

As silly as you make "free to be you and me" to sound, the only alternative that I can see is to force or pressure people to follow certain religious doctrines.

I've never forced anyone to believe anything, nor do I believe in doing so.


Lets break it down into simple terms:


Logically speaking:
I believe that A==B
Since B != C, I strictly and unconditionally believe that A != C

In ALL CASES A != C

I do not think that A == C for Billybob, because that's his journey, and that's valid for him.

If I believe that A != C and Billybob believes that A == C then I believe that Billybob is WRONG, and I see no reason to sugar-coat it.


Does this mean I want to kill Billybob?

No!


I don't even want to cause him stress. However if he were to enter a discussion with me, he's going to know how I feel about the subject. If he doesn't like it, he's perfectly free to tell me to piss off, or ignore me.


As are you.
And I wouldn't think any less of you for it.

Did you know that Islam claims that people will end up in hell if they DO believe in the divinity of Jesus?

I am aware of that.

Unlike you, this does not cause me to lose any sleep at night. Because I believe they are wrong.

I don't even feel the need to argue with them about this point. I simply ignore it, and avoid discussions where it will undoubtedly come up.

Unless I'm feeling debate-y.

It's almost like Christianity and Islam are like the combatants in that Star Trek episode where the two enemies have opposite sides of their faces in black and white.

Good episode.

Shades of gray are wonderful, and I believe that not everything is black and white. However I acknowledge and accept the existence of pure black and pure white.



And of course it seems that 'round here it's less like Christianity vs. Islam, and more like Atheism vs. Christianity.

When someone believes that I'm doomed to hell, I feel like I'm being pushed around, no matter what the other person's intentions.

And this is what I don't get about you, and why you keep torturing yourself by chiming into the Religion Forum...

Why does it bother you? If I were to believe that you're on the highway to hell and you don't even believe in hell, it should be of NO CONSEQUENCE to you at all.


If a wiccan were to put a hex on me, I would laugh it off, if I even gave it that much thought.

When I was an atheist, and a Christian zealot would tell me that I was going to hell, I paid it the same amount of attention. Which was less than bare acknowledgment.

If you believe that something is wrong, then axioms based on that belief should make no never mind to you.

 

[Midnightrider]

There is much more to the process than that, in my view. They're not "guesses." They are conclusions that people have reached in their spiritual journeys. It's possible for two mature and rational adults to have different sets of religious beliefs, perhaps because they've had different life experiences.

You know, in reality it is more chance than anything else. I mean had 2ndA been born in afgahnistan instead he would probably be one of the most devout and radical muslims out there. And if toxic was born in indian he would probably be hindu. However, we really are taking our best guess at it, since there isn't imperical evidence in any direction and we only have documents we must take on faith, and stories and anecdotes from others to help us decide. We may chosse our own path, but for the most part the major influences of religion are based on who you grow up around.

No matter how strongly you feel about your faith, the fact of the matter is no one knows, no one has known, and you have based your faith on a combination of feelings, social experiences and pressures, and hopefully logic.

 

[Toxick]

And if toxic was born in indian he would probably be hindu.

Think again.


My birthplace has nothing to do with it.

I was an atheist for a good portion of my life. I came to Christianity though other means. You keep saying that my choice is based on a guess.

It's not.

 

[Tonio]

For the remainder of the discussion, I'm going to simply assume that whatever you say, "as long as it's not used to harm others" is an understood point. You don't have to keep reiterating that point - I get it. I, too, am opposed to the use of violence to win converts or using religion to justify violence.

Thanks. I had simply wanted that to be clear.

They just do. It's been as much a part of the human condition as sex and the quest for power since the dawn of time.

Maybe I don't understand it because I regard other people's personal lives as irrelevant to me. I feel the same way about the gay marriage issue - it's not going to change my life if gay people get married.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but thus far in this conversation your beef has not strictly with proselytizing... your beef is with the very fact that I think others beliefs are flat out wrong, and I harbor an unwillingness to admit that they might be, in some way, correct.

That's not quite true. I don't really care if people think my beliefs are wrong, although I don't understand what relevance my beliefs have to their personal lives.

Instead, my beef is with the idea of eternal damnation in both Christianity and Islam. According to these religions, it is acceptable that someone deliberately inflict everlasting torments on someone else who has the "wrong" beliefs. It is wrong for anyone to deliberately inflict suffering on another human being. And before anyone uses the "who are you to judge God" argument, the problem with that argument is that it doesn't allow for the possiblity that both the Bible and the Qu'ran may be wrong about God and hell.

Plus, when someone claims to know what God wants for me, I feel like I'm being controlled. Whether I believe in God or hell is not the point. The point is that both of these have enormous cultural significance that even people who aren't Christian or Muslim are influenced by these. So we grow up having these vulnerable spots in our psyche that others can use to manipulate us. Since everything that God does is defined to be good and just, it ultimately defines people who don't accept these beliefs as inherently evil.

However if he were to enter a discussion with me, he's going to know how I feel about the subject. If he doesn't like it, he's perfectly free to tell me to piss off, or ignore me.

Exactly. What I've been saying is that there's a HUGE difference between saying that someone is wrong about the supernatural, and saying that someone will suffer for eternity because they're wrong. And to your credit, I haven't heard you proclaim the latter. I don't feel pushed around by the former belief, but I definitely feel pushed around by the latter belief.

And of course it seems that 'round here it's less like Christianity vs. Islam, and more like Atheism vs. Christianity.

As I've said before, there is a vocal minority of militant atheists who seem to be driven batty by theism. They falsely claim that all religious people treat science and naturalism as enemies. On other boards, I've found myself criticized by the vocal militant minorities among both Christianity and atheism for defending the idea of individual freedom of conscience.

Why does it bother you? If I were to believe that you're on the highway to hell and you don't even believe in hell, it should be of NO CONSEQUENCE to you at all.

I wish it wasn't, but I can't help taking it personally and feeling controlled and manipulated, because the believer is saying it's acceptable for me to undergo suffering simply because of my beliefs. That's the universal meaning of hell in our culture, regardless whether one believes in hell. Typically I pay no mind to Fred Phelps and his whoring for attention because his antics don't involve people close to me, even though I condemn his actions as a matter of principle. I would probably feel differently if I had a child who died in combat or was murdered at Virginia Tech - I can imagine myself flying into a mindless rage and beating Phelps to a bloody pulp, and I'm ashamed of myself that I would even imagine myself doing that.

 

[2ndAmendment]

You know, in reality it is more chance than anything else. I mean had 2ndA been born in afgahnistan instead he would probably be one of the most devout and radical muslims out there. And if toxic was born in indian he would probably be hindu. However, we really are taking our best guess at it, since there isn't imperical evidence in any direction and we only have documents we must take on faith, and stories and anecdotes from others to help us decide. We may chosse our own path, but for the most part the major influences of religion are based on who you grow up around.

No matter how strongly you feel about your faith, the fact of the matter is no one knows, no one has known, and you have based your faith on a combination of feelings, social experiences and pressures, and hopefully logic.

I disagree that where a person is born has anything to do with their faith. While related, it is the faith a person is raised in that predominates in their life. An Indian child, not American aborigine, grows up in a Hindu family, they will likely be Hindu, but if the family is atheist, they likely will be atheist. Likewise Christian, Tao, Islam, or any other faith. But Christians are specifically instructed to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel; so we do. We act on our faith. If we do not acto on our faith, then as James wrote, our faith is dead.

I went through my atheist period in college. As I learned more, I realized that science did not have the answers and the answers they proclaimed changed from time to time and certainly conflict at times. Evolution (which is just the theory of spontaneous generation expressed in other terms) and the work of Pasteur conflict. I reexamined the Bible and it makes far more sense to me. Not only that, but I have personal experience with God. I hear His voice and I try to obey.