http://www.meaning-of-life.info/IsThereaGod.html
"Why are some people atheists, if a belief in God is so much a part of who we are?"
We are also God's true children, and an almost God-like ego is even more a part of who we are. We do not like being told what to do.
There are at least four common reasons to reject God:
First, some people argue that since the world is such a mess, there could not be a God who cares, which (to them) is no different than no God at all.
If this world were our whole existence, this would be a valid argument. So to an atheist, it makes good sense. But if we are eternal children of God, and are trying to live our lives in such a way as to gain infinite and eternal happiness, the travails of this world are essentially meaningless. All that matters is that we love and take good care of people less fortunate. Nothing ever prevents us from doing this.
Second, some others say that it would be too much of a coincidence if the religion they were born into were the one correct one, and since they can't know which is the one correct one, they will just ignore the whole thing.
If you think about it, there cannot be more than one Supreme Being, just by definition. So why are there so many different religions? It is because mankind has been spread out over an enormous world with virtually no contact with different groups, for so large a percentage of our history. But He gave each of us precisely the same conscience, so that we would be able to recognize the Truth when we heard it.
Religion is not exclusionary, nor is it a set of rigid rules. It is the realization that God loves us with a passion that is infinite, and the response that we make as loving children.
Is there one true religion? Of course, how could there not be? God by definition is perfect; he would not give us conflicting messages on how to lead our lives. But the vast majority of the world's religions are not wrong, they are merely incomplete. There is one God and one only, and He oversees them all and hears the prayers and the pleas of all. Your conscience is the voice of the One God within you. It directs you to be a good person, kind and caring. When you do that, no matter what religion you were raised in, you open yourself to the acceptance of God's loving grace. That grace is all you need for your faith and your salvation.
God is infinitely loving, and merciful, and kind, and fair, and compassionate. He will offer each and every one of His children sufficient grace for salvation. To the extent any church preaches that, it is right.
The only really wrong choice of churches is none at all.
Third, many people have so much arrogance and hubris that they have a difficult time acknowledging any authority higher than themselves.
These are the same people who have trouble with all authority, including parents, teachers and drill sergeants. They fight their way through life quite unhappily, and nothing will ever change them or convince them that they are not the center of the universe.
Fourth, still others are comfortable not having to bother to go to church every week and don't want to stay away from the temptations of the world.
They know that admitting there is a God who expects certain behavior from them would be inconvenient and not nearly as instantly gratifying, so they look the other way by demanding "proof" of His existence which they know fully well they are not going to get to their satisfaction.
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