This question was prompted by the uncharitable answers to http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070207170025AAfcqS1&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMhjRcU2VMe0i6plzt8i2FIgdMO0yif.7W3HU1qOpSwfdnthX3hqcV9jfLbcgoh3einw--&paid=answered#FpF6CTS1WWJcCLc8tfh7oudQRk1pBRVH..aj.Zq.T1on5l2nQBFj and to an answer a few days ago claiming atheists lacked morality.
To my mind the argument should be based on the facts, and the one I would like to present is:
There are very few atheists in prison (0.209% of the US prison population). It is hard to estimate the number of atheists in the US accurately, but it is believed to be at least 8-16% of the population.
Interestingly, atheists also have a lower divorce rate - 21% compared to 25% for Christians (figures are again from the US).
2007-02-07 22:58:08 · 15 answers · asked by The Truth 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Angelz – I have not (yet) made a statement about these statistics. But I will comment on the naivety of your answer. The statistics you are belittling as atheist propaganda were created by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I’ve never heard it claimed that they were an atheist organisation.
Mrs Badgrumble – I have not stated an opinion on this so please don’t judge me when you know nothing about me.
2007-02-08 00:29:10 · update #1
Angelz says: "No and your facts and figures are flawed, just because a Atheist lies about being a Christian doesn't change the fact that they are a Atheist and their actions and behaviors prove they are Atheists. Funny how Atheist like to rearrange statistics to their own benefit."
I think this shows why more theists land up in prison. They're incredibly stupid. As an atheist I've never, ever met anyone who wasn't a Christian and claimed to be one. Most people I know would rather go to jail than have people think they were so weak minded that they'd been brainwashed by the cult of christianity.
2007-02-08 02:49:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I'm an atheist and I wouldn't say that I'm any "better" or "worse" than anyone else. My point of contention when comparing people of different beliefs is merely a matter of ones willingness to accept reality over fantasy; short of that, most people are about the same - some are good, some are bad. Statics don't always give an accurate measure of how things truly are. They are often a tad too myopic.
Those who require a crutch of fantasy to support them are excused temporarily, in my book. Give them a chance to think things over and perhaps some will become wise enough to take on a clearer picture of the real condition of humankind, cast off their crutches and finally walk on their own.
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
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2007-02-07 23:12:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Everyone's pretty much in the same boat. Everyone has their good stuff and their bad stuff. I'm a Christian, but I wouldn't say that Christians are better than atheists either. I think there is a difference between Christians and atheists because Christians have been forgiven for all the rubbish, but that doesn't make them better people.
2007-02-07 23:08:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends how you define "better". We're not brainwashed idiots and we don't make difficult moral decisions based on what a 6,000 year old book (with numerous updates and hack jobs along the way) tells us is the best thing to do in order to please some God we never see or hear from.
I suspect that may put us in a better position to do the right thing in a tricky situation than somebody following a confused and archaic set of guidelines which come ready laced with a guilt complex.
2007-02-07 23:05:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
And yet Jesus Christ God the everlasting Son reported there is not any man or woman good - not one. it is your be conscious adversarial to His. what's this communicate about "theists"? if you're conversing of Christians, you err once extra. Christians at the instantaneous are not theists yet men and females human beings regenerated in Jesus Christ - subsequently turning out to be the youngsters of God. Christians do not concern hell for God sends not one among His children to hell. God sends unregenerate men to the lake of fireplace - for they are the youngsters of their father the devil, in basic terms as Jesus reported. back your be conscious is ineffective and can't stand. staggering commence residing that existence of yours that you atheists insist is so priceless because quite frankly, you're dropping it at an alarming cost.
2016-11-26 02:09:29 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's still not possible to generalize. There are good and bad among all people. Theists may be at a disadvantage though because they are liable to attract more bad people wishing to disguise their badness. All they can do against that is to try to weed these frauds out.
"With or without religion, there would be good people doing good things, and bad people doing bad things. But for good people to do bad things - that takes religion."
2007-02-07 23:04:05 · answer #6 · answered by Bad Liberal 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I think this question is an emotionally young question. All people are really the same. Christianity is about something other than what you think perhaps?
2007-02-07 23:18:25 · answer #7 · answered by : 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atheist are not better or worse than theist.The only difference is that atheist depend on reason to guide their lives,and theist depend on faith.
2007-02-07 23:09:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you forgot the most critical statistic comparing atheists to theists, and that is the amount, in years, of formal education in high schools/universities.
2007-02-07 23:03:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Dude they are both as bad for someone with a lisp - man thats harsh
2007-02-08 00:52:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋