What is Christian atheism?

Answer

Christian atheism, also known as non-realistic Christianity, is an unconventional form of quasi-spiritual philosophy that retains the forms and practices of Christianity while rejecting the existence of God. Christian atheists aim to “de-mythologize” Christianity by eliminating all belief in the supernatural while preserving liturgies and communal worship experiences to fulfill humanity’s socialization needs and convey profound ideas.

The origins of Christian atheism can be traced back to the 1960s “Death of God” movement, which posited that God did exist at one point but subsequently died. Advocates of the “Death of God” concept argued that when God took on human form and died on the cross, God ceased to exist as a separate entity from the universe. This viewpoint was championed by Thomas Altizer, an early proponent of Christian atheism. Contemporary followers of Christian atheism generally adhere to a more literal form of atheism, rejecting the notion that God has ever existed. Notably, in Christian atheism, Jesus is not considered divine.

Christian atheism, akin to many esoteric spiritual philosophies, can be challenging to summarize concisely. There exist various interpretations with no single definition that encompasses them all. In essence, Christian atheism is a spiritual approach that draws on the teachings and life of Jesus while denying the existence of a concrete deity. Consequently, Christian atheism focuses entirely on worldly matters and justifications. It views religion as a human construct, with God being perceived as a projection of the human mind. Belief in an afterlife is deemed incompatible within the framework of Christian atheism. Essentially, Christian atheism asserts that Christianity, like all religions, is essentially a “noble falsehood,” a narrative that simplifies life’s complexities and provides a sense of control.

While intriguing in theory, Christian atheism essentially aligns with atheism in practice. Christian atheism is a form of non-

Religious, non-spiritual, and non-Christian worldview that borrows biblical terminology and ideas without actually believing in them. Non-realistic Christianity is not truly Christianity at all.

What is concerning is the surprising number of people who identify as orthodox Christians yet hold beliefs similar to Christian atheism. It is easy to find clergy who do not believe that Jesus was actually God. Many churches teach that Jesus was merely a good example. Some churchgoers participate in religious practice while openly doubting that God exists. It seems that Christian atheism is not an uncommon approach today, and non-realistic Christianity has made inroads into the church.

The Bible warns against those who, in the last days, possess “a form of godliness but deny its power. Have nothing to do with such people” «having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. », (2 Timothy 3:5). Christian atheism denies the Father and the Son, a rejection of truth that brings a stern scriptural rebuke: “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22;cf: 1 John 4:2-3).

Christian atheists see themselves as intellectual sophisticates who are smarter than your average churchgoer, who might actually believe that God is real and that the miracles in the Bible happened. But what Christian atheism rejects as “fairy tales” the Bible calls “many convincing proofs” «to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: », (Acts 1:3). And what the Christian atheist considers an intellectually superior approach is, in reality, a denial of the truths upheld by traditional Christianity.

Or in a position that the Bible refers to as foolish: “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, There is none that doeth good.”, (Psalm 14:1).