Some people only do it to look good. In the Bible there's written that a true Christian isn't a Christian just to look good, but to do actions that define them as a Christian (good deeds ect ect)
Family forces you to, it's expected of you, some people go for the community, I met a girl who went with her boyfriend & his family every Sunday to church because she found the church architecture itself fascinating. Maybe they would go because they don't believe in any god, but want to, or simply want to learn about different religions, and rather than attending a service at a mosque or a temple, or spending their Sunday with Quakers, Episcopalians, Baptists, Jews, or Hindus, they chose to spend their day in a Christian church. If an atheist was raised in a religious family, they likely will attend church until they move out, otherwise it's a huge signal "OMG I DO NOT BELIEVE", which you can imagine wouldn't always be accepted by a deeply religious family, or community. This has turned into a very large text chunk, so I shall end with an atheist potato: http://tinyurl.com/hr972s9
Some do it out of habit. One man goes to my church every sunday never failed to be there unless sick or out of town. He been going there since he was a baby in the nursery. He is now in his 80's and is a decon. Yet he was an atheist. And have been since he was a teen.
You can't be a Deacon if you're an atheist. Deacons are part of the religious hierarchy, just a step below priests. They can perform the seven sacraments too. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be confessing my sins to someone who doesn't believe in being redeemed by doing so. Or being married by one. Deacons go through rigorous religious training before they're ordained, and then are ordained by the bishop. So yeah, can't have an atheist deacon.
First off I am Baptist. A deacon is just a good man in the church every feels would be a good man to help lead the church and pass around the money plate lol. BUT yes he WAS an atheist. We didn't make him a deacon till he said he took god into his heart and was baptized. He said what turned him around was when his wife or 60 years was dieing of cancer and he held her hand till the last minute. Her last words was for him to do right with god because heaven would be so lonely with out him.
Okay, I guess Baptists and Catholics have WAY different views of Deacons. Catholic Deacons often offer mass, and can marry, baptize, confirm, and do many of the other things that priests can do.
I like to see churches while sightseeing, because they're a part of society from the cultural, historical, religious and architectural point of view, even though I'm not a believer myself. Although I think we could do with fewer churches because they're funded from state money aka our taxes to support the religious needs of the believing minority (my country is mostly atheist). If you want to be a a real christian, meaning to follow the example of Jesus, convert the churches into kitchens/shelters for the homeless and pray at home.
Czech Republic.
Most people here are atheists so like 90% of churches are completely useless, and another 9% still exist only because they're interesting architecturally and make for good tourist sights, thus boosting our tourism and consequently our economy. The remaining 1% is actually for believers.
(The percentage is made up but I've lived here my entire life and so far met only 4 believers so this estimation comes from experience)
If you're going on the Christianity route, this is a bad analogy. In Christianity, you have to ask God into your heart and believe in him. Going on that logic, if you just pray to the car God and ask him into your heart, you'll become a car...
Most people here are atheists so like 90% of churches are completely useless, and another 9% still exist only because they're interesting architecturally and make for good tourist sights, thus boosting our tourism and consequently our economy. The remaining 1% is actually for believers.
(The percentage is made up but I've lived here my entire life and so far met only 4 believers so this estimation comes from experience)