Elder St Paisios on Unbelief.

“Everything evil today stems from not believing. In the past people believed in God; even the most indifferent ones had at least a bit of faith. Maybe people were simple; maybe they did not understand much of what they heard in church. Some didn’t even know that the Gospels are four; some thought they were twelve, but what faith, what devotion they had! And the nurses what philotimo they had! So many of them went to war as volunteers! Having both faith and a sacrificial spirit, they were most helpful. Today someone told me that a patient was saying the Creed and the nurse struck him, thinking that he was doing some sort of magic! She didn’t even know the Symbol of the Faith! What have we come to! Take young people and ask them “What do you believe?” “I don’t know,” they say, “” Haven’t decided yet.” “What is your parents’ religion?” “I don’t know. I haven’t asked them.” He wasn’t at all interested in finding out his parents’ religion! How can one who is so indifferent be helped?”