Why do people think there are more Athiests than Christians?

Question

One-third of the world is Christian, almost twice as many as Athiests.

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

In fact, there are about as many Catholics themselves as there are Athiests!!!

It's funny how little they know, yet they claim to be so smart...

Answer 1

I am an Atheist and I can tell you that all the other loud mouth whiney Atheists who try to make these claims are retarded. Almost everyone I know is Christian. Almost everyone I meet is Christian. Roughly 83% (see link below) of Americans identify themselves as Christian. If more people were Atheists then morals and religion wouldn't be the #1 reason for voter turn out.

The reason why they say this is because it sways people and through all their railing against conversion attempts, that is exactly what they are trying to do. All these adults you see walking around are just wrinkled teenagers who never get over the popularity contest. Everyone likes to claim their individuality and ability to go against the grain when in fact most of them are lying to themselves. Most Atheists don't INITIALLY come by their beliefs from thoughtful self debate. They come by it in at least one of 3 ways;

1. Their parents were Atheists.
2. Others don't believe therefore they follow.
3. They have Bitter Atheist Syndrome.

The people who are posting insults at you for stating a FACT have Bitter Atheist Syndrome. Those that attack "In God We Trust" have Bitter Atheist Syndrome. Those that refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance have Bitter Atheist Syndrome.

Bitter Atheist Syndrome is when someone realizes (according to their experience) that God doesn't exist or feels that God doesn't give a crap about them. The original conversion to Atheism stems not from a disbelief in God, but anger AT GOD for not having their faith fulfilled (usually during teenage years). Some people (such as myself) stop, rationalize that an actual existence in God doesn't seem logical and get over it. Others remain Bitter Atheists who harass people for believing in the "tooth fairy".

To tell you the truth, I don't give a shiit what you believe. I would never try to convince you of anything else and I don't think any person who has faith of any kind is stupid. In fact if I had to choose a belief system that I would want to be the majority it would be Christianity. Whether I think it's true or not is irrelevant. Some people need faith and if that's what it takes for them to be a good person, I'm all for it. Many studies have shown that Christianity conversion within our penal system drastically lowers the rate of criminal recidivism. What ever it takes to get people to stop breaking the law and live productive lives I'm all for.

As far as the claim that the best scientists are Atheists- That's crap. Albert Einstein was devout.

I'm sure I'll get many Bitter Atheists disagreeing and insulting me. I don't care because they are lying to themselves and everyone else.

Please see the following study on Religion and Criminal Recidivism:
http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/TRANS/religious_services/rs_article2.shtml

Religion percentages:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/church_poll020301.html

Answer 2

The principle of bullshit from http://www.churchofreality.org/

The Principle of Bullshit recognizes that things that aren't true just aren't true. It doesn't matter how many people believe it - it doesn't matter that people have believed it for thousands of years - it doesn't matter if you want to believe it - bullshit is bullshit - and if it isn't true - it isn't true. There is a difference between something being true and something being not true.

The Principle of Bullshit is all about refusing to live the lie; to be able to call something the way it really is. It is the ability to face the reality of being wrong so as to create a starting point to make a better choice. It is to accept that you can't truly pursue reality if you continue to believe in things that aren't real. You may have made a mistake - or millions of people might have made the same mistake for thousands of years. But when you know it's all bullshit then you have to call it - accept it - and move in the Sacred Direction. If you're a Realist then by definition you are supposed to give up what's not real - or at least admit your denial if you aren't ready to face reality.

Bullshit is bullshit no matter how many people believe in it.

Truth must be purified through scrutiny and doubt. There is nothing that rises above these tests. Anything that is prohibited from being questioned, is not subject to doubt or scrutiny, is assumed to be bullshit per se. If you are required to believe something without question then that something is bullshit, even if it turns out to be true. (Of course it couldn't turn out to be true unless it were tested against some objective standard. And if so tested it would be subject to doubt and therefore no longer bullshit per se.)

Answer 3

I don't think there are more Atheists than Christians,or some other religions. You would know if that were true,because the world would be a much more peaceful place.

AD

Answer 4

The reason is because Atheists scream and shout all the time about their civil rights being violated. They don't understand that if they don't like a reference to Christianity in a public place, all they have to do is look the other way.

Answer 5

Normally it's the 'squeaking wheel that gets greased' They make more noise about how their rights are getting hammered, and whining about how their being harassed, while most if the Cristians are working, and trying to help their neighbors out. Most of the atheists are in the mass media, so who's message do you think is getting out? ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS! and God bless!!

Answer 6

I dunno.

I'm guessing it's a mixture of two things, though: a) atheists tend to be more outspoken when asked about their lack of belief, unlike many moderate Christians, and b) atheism is looked down upon in many areas (the US, for example), which might cause atheists to lie about their religion (or lack of it), leading to there being more atheists than previously thought.

Answer 7

Which people are you referring to?>

Answer 8

This is what the US Government says:
Christians 33.03% (of which Roman Catholics 17.33%, Protestants 5.8%, Orthodox 3.42%, Anglicans 1.23%), Muslims 20.12%, Hindus 13.34%, Buddhists 5.89%, Sikhs 0.39%, Jews 0.23%, other religions 12.61%, non-religious 12.03%, atheists 2.36% (2004 est.)


Jim

Answer 9

I think the true number of real atheists is even less then that.
But, you see, this is not in a book about general science so they don't believe yet. And they feel threatened so they want to do a little "puffing" so they believe they are better and stronger then they really are.

Answer 10

1/3? Last time I checked a reliable source. Christian numbers had actually dipped below 20%. And, it really doesn't matter. Legitimacy in numbers is not real. The more people who believe in your god doesn't make it "more real" or true.