I thought up a somewhat simple correlation study I'd like to see done some day.
In a book I once read it stated that people need fantaxcy in their lives and that's the reason people are inclined to join religion. The book takes the possition that religious dogma is simply fiction.
So my experiment is to assemble an anonymouse survey asking questions that would assess the amount of fictional media (such as video games, movies, TV programs, and books with a fantastical theme) each person being surveyed experiences. These surveys would be taken by an equal amount of Atheists and Theists (chosen randomly, of course; Theists being the control group and Atheists the test group) and the data compiled.
Were that book of mine to be true, it would show that Atheists do in fact experience more fantasy-themed media than Theists.
My question: what do you think the results would show?
2006-09-01 21:06:42 · 9 answers · asked by Luce's Darkness 4 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Sorry, that was an over generalization. I shoud have said that the element of fantasy leads Theists to participate in various rituals and pagentry, such as attending services instead of staying home and reading from their respective scriptures strictly.
I was just concerned for message space. I only had so much room to type all that in after all.
2006-09-01 21:17:10 · update #1
Ha! I'm finally getting thoughtful answers.
I do understand that it would be difficult to *prove* the cause-and-effect in a correlation study, but it would still show some difference. Also I figured before the experiment was conducted it would be refined by PROFESSIONALS which I admit I am not. Maybe said professionals would apply the concept to a more accurate testing method.
2006-09-01 21:33:16 · update #2
No significant difference between the groups. I doubt that non-theists experience more fantasy-themed media than theists. However, if the did, how would you know why?
Theists are involved in church activities, so they have less time?
Theists avoid fantasy-themed media because they find most fantasy-themed media objectionable?
I think the question is interesting, maybe instead of correlation or groups testing, run the test on a continous scale of how important their religon is to them. (like 1-5) and control for the other factors and run regression. maybe modified multiple regression.
just a thought.
2006-09-01 21:21:00 · answer #1 · answered by xian_ist 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
An interesting question, though your test would have way too many holes to be conclusive. For one, if any given religion tends to tell it's followers that the way to happiness is self-denial, or that media is evil, then they will have less interaction with fictional media based upon thier religious beliefs, not necissarily because they are getting enough fantacy through their religion.
Also, environment will provide opportunity for more media outlets. For example, if a mountain dweller with no electricity were part of your survey, compared to some fellow from the middle of Las Vegas, it could take your findings and send them all over the map.
I'm afraid there would be too many variables to make it an accurate social study (not everyone fits into their own stereotypical box).
Interesting idea though...
2006-09-01 21:23:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont know if I truly agree with your theory, but that's besides the point. my one word of advice, is that this is not a true experiment, it is a quasi experiment, and measuring these survey results will not allow you to make any conclusive cause and effect interpretations from the data. if you wanted to know whether fantasy leads people to religion, you could create a very simple labratory experiment: get people in the lab, have one group read fantasy novels, watch a movie, or something along those lines, and have one control group watch a news clip. then right away, give people a survey to see how positively or negatively they feel about religion. you can statistically control for people's previous religious beliefs, and this experiment will allow you to see whether fantasy has an actual effect on the way people view religion...IMO
2006-09-02 02:25:14 · answer #3 · answered by MIzzy 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes. I believe everyone is looking for the answer to the universal question why are we here? what is this all about anyway? some spend more time on this then others but, I think every human being has visited this question at least once. Theists through external devices.
2006-09-01 21:15:57 · answer #4 · answered by mjohn28497@sbcglobal.net 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The result of the test will stand as is to date.
The theists will stand firm that God exists and the atheists will stand firm there is no God.
2006-09-01 21:26:06 · answer #5 · answered by Mike N. D 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No clue. But religion goes beyond a simple need to fantasize. People *die* for it everyday.
2006-09-01 21:09:34 · answer #6 · answered by Alex 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well yeah athiest are free to let that part of them out
2006-09-02 00:04:35 · answer #7 · answered by hfroggie2005 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that you have too much time on your hands
2006-09-01 21:18:59 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
that you have too much time on your hands.
2006-09-01 21:08:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋