how will making people go to church make them resent religion?
930507
Church is exceedingly boring to people who don't share that Church's system of beliefs. Also, since churches tend to judge others and try to stuff their religion and beliefs down other people's throats, outsiders and "unbelievers" can feel judged and put off very quickly.
557622
Because religion is a big social club and subsequently its members are subject to the mental conditioning of their leaders.  If leaders preach hate, their followers will become hateful.  Within a congregation people are given the right to be prejudiced against other groups who are not "saved".  Members are also lulled into thinking that their sins are forgiven, so a license to do evil is handed out to all who solidly believe.  We are all prejudice in the privacy of our homes, even if we do not admit it.  Religion just brings it out of people.
206061
People push it on you because they believe strongly, that they have found the only path to heaven. They are just trying to bring you into the faith because they care about you and want you to go to heaven too. The unfortunate thing is most people don't know how to go about "selling" their faith to others, and sadly, end up offending more than they convert. It is not intentional, it is an unfortunate by product of their good intentions. I am sorry that this friend has made you feel like your faith is a lie, or rather that he is calling it that. Thank you however, for keeping an open mind about the whole thing. Christianity can be a bit messed up at times. Most Christian faiths think that any other Christian faith that isn't theirs is going to hell too, so don't feel too bad. The way I look at it, if you are right with God, that is all that really matters.
447913
I've often asked the same question. I suppose religion feeds our sense of spirituality and gives us "answers" to what happens to us after we die. But I think religion has caused, and will continue to cause, wars and other trouble. People should try setting aside their differences in religion and just work together. Besides, I think that religion is personal. It's what you personally believe. And atheists don't cause hatred, the term simply means they do not believe in any god whatsoever, that when you die, that's it. And I dislike those who always try to convert others. Just let people make up their own idea.
921787
Depends.  A lot of people are raised to be of a certain faith.  These people often don't question what they are taught.  In that way, it isn't a real choice because they just believe what their parents/church told them to believe.  However, it becomes a choice if the individual thinks about what they believe - accept or reject certain aspects of different religions and make a decision to follow or not.
425649
If the Church won't go to minister, bring the ministry to the Church.  Your example to them just might provoke them to good works.\n\nDo something fun.  Maybe invite a born-again motorcycle club to bring coffee and donuts and minister to the congregation after service.
874110
People manipulate religion to what they want it to mean
196919
In my experience, religion sets most people off for many reasons.  \nFirst, faith is a set of deeply held, deeply felt belief.  They are so ingrained in the psyche and life of those who defend them.  That is the short answer for those who have faith.  \nFor the others, people hate it when someone of faith think they know better than them.  \nThey are offended because religious views conflict strongly with their own.  \nPeople hate it when they are told they are wrong.  \nThey feel guilty for their lifestyles or life hoices and they lash out at those who confront them about these choices.  \nNo one likes to be told they are going to hell.  \nPeople don't like to be 'judged' whether they are or not.  They tend to think that ey are being judged when told that they are disagreed with.  \nNobody wants religion crammed down their throats...whether it is being done or not.  I've found that defense of a belief causes people to feel this way, even if the argument is started by them in the first place.  I also find that many people resort to personal attacks at that point.\nPeople think that religion is to restrictive.  This is very true if a person is living in a way that is in conflict with the religious views.\nI don't know how to put this one really.  eople are selfish.  They want what they want and they want the freedom to do it without anyone saying it is wrong.  Social issues like abortion, homosexuality, pre-marital sex, drugs, etc. are the key points of dispute.  Obviously, the first 2 have the greatest emotional issues today.\nThe discrepencies in various faiths alscause many problems.  ie. the shiite and sunni muslims, the Catholic and mainstream Christian churches.\n\nIt is amazing how much the spiritual love, that many believers purport to have, go flying out the window and change to hatred and personal attacks when a issue of import to that person comes up.  It is sad to say this, as it shows that religious view in a negative way.\n\nThere are many others, but, I hope these ideas are helpful and/or different.
772102
too many children are made to go to church, and never really know why, it is just something the their parents do, going to church and being religious, however does not make you a christian.\nand these as thy grow up thing that they are Christians, but have never felt the presence of God, so they turn away and do not believe.
1137420
it attracts a certain amount of stupidity.\nsome people want to be atheist just to piss off the monotheists, or because they think its the easy way out.\ni hate being lumped in with them.\natheism is difficult in that i don't have the second chance of heaven if i mess up my life here. there's also no one watching over me, no one who's my built in invisible friend. \nif i have a moral dilemma i can't just go ask my priest for guidance, or look into the bible for answers, i have to reason them out myself. \nmany people for those reasons choose a monotheistic religion (it doesn't matter which one). \nbut i like mine. even though its hard, i'm not up in the middle of the night worrying about satan. i don't have to listen to someone who i know in my heart isn't honest and doesn't want the best for me. i don't have to conform. i can make my own personal morality.
444927
If the religion you are in is not based on promises that you can give to people who ASK for help, then it is useless. If you are a Christian and you have to judge someone who isn't, you are a Spaz and need to get a life. If you are condemning behaviour and the person didn't exactly ask you for you opinion you are disrespectful. As far as converting, that should be somebody's choice if they want to change to a religion.  I say all this because the above behaviour is not what God's wants Christians to do, I know this because I am one.
1077999
i think it would be much worse coz there will be no guidance on how people should behave... we will be like those caveman years again always killing each other... religion today is much more like business but the true essence of religion is how to make people better
1101270
"Non-religious" people come in at about fourteen percent, and maybe higher, since not all religious people attend church for religious reasons.\nAnd, of course, since they are a hated minority, some will lie to pollsters about their atheism or agnosticism.
552506
who is it that hates you? \n\nand any time ppl get into religion and what's true or not, someone is going to get angry. you believe in your religion and nothings going to change that. most religious ppl dont even have it within them to question what they've been taught. if you're so staunch in what you've learned, why do you expect anyone else would change their minds either? they believe what they've been taught just as strongly as you believe what you've been taught.
199151
Several factors may affect someone being receptive to God. \n\n- The environment in which they were raised. A person might have been born in a Christian family and so chances they will also become a Christian. Or a person could have been raised in a non believing family and chances are they will be non believers. \n\n- A person may have had a bad experience and blame that on God and so reject Him. He may have prayed for something and when the prayer went unanswered he concluded there is no God. \n\n- A person may have a scientific mind and think that God is just a myth. Although there really is no reason science and Christianity don't go hand in hand. Many scientists are Christians.\n\n- A person may have seen bad behavior from Christians and say I want no part of that.\n\n- A person may have never been exposed to God or faith. \n\nUltimately faith is a gift from God. Nobody comes to God unless God calls them. God gives people the ability to respond. God opens the eyes of the believer. God makes the hearer receptive to His call.
775847
but but ... you list social woes while most religious folks clutch onto religion as a personal life raft.  whatever heinous actions are made in the name of their religion matters not.  it's the personal comfort they get from believing they're safe from their deity's wrath and the feeling of being special and a part of something bigger than themselves that cements their dependence on their religion. besides, the woes of the world created by religion are always blamed on an Evil One and evil doers.
655946
I would never go to church again. Nothing is as boring as sitting down to listen to a lecture on a subject that I dont care about, droning out some old hymns, putting money in the offering plate, and shaking hands with the elderly. In fact, i might give up sex if it would keep me out of church forever.