Why are there so many atheists on Yahoo?

Question

Why does it seem the majority of users on Yahoo answers lean toward atheism? Ask a question about the bible being true and you will get many more rude and adolescent responses than you would if you asked a question about the bible being fake.

We know for a fact that the US is mostly religious and most of us believe in god and are Christians.

So what is it?

All i can think of....is. All the atheists are the losers sitting on the internet 20 hours a day while the good god fearing Christian people of America work to provide for their families.

Does the fact that they have the "majority" on the net only PROVE their minority in this country? As outcasts that are afraid to speak up anywhere but in an anonymous environment?

Is the internet the last refuge of the coward?

Answer 1

1.Christians are too busy reading their Bible and praying (ie. doing nothing) to engage in intellectual conversation.
2. The majority are not Atheists. You can see this when a Christian finally gets the nuts to ask a question or take a stand, you'll see a million thumbs up to Christian answers from believers who are too intimidated to speak up themselves, apparently. Atheists on the other hand just ask a lot of questions in general, about everything... something Christians are not inclined to do.

Answer 2

I promise you, for 100% certain, that if you count the number of CLEARLY atheist posters, and the number of CLEARLY religious posters, or even only the clearly Christian ones - the number of religious or Christian members would be significantly higher than atheists.

The internet is the atheists friend because, in real life, no Christian would by choice expose themselves to our ideals and our opinions. On the web, you kind of HAVE to listen. Additionally, as far as "losers sitting on the internet", I'd guess that, again, the amount of loser-atheists is equal to or less than the number of loser-theists.

I don't need to prove anything. And I'm certainly not afraid to speak up in a public forum. I wear atheist t-shirts, I have an "atheist" tattoo, and I can back up my words with some intellect and knowledge as well.

You asked if the internet is the last refuge for the coward. Let's find out. I propose a casual debate, whether via online chat, e-mail, YouTube video posts, or WHATEVER. Just between you and I on any theological subject(s) you see fit.

We can't debate in person, although I'd prefer it that way. Nonetheless, if you'd like to debate the validity of scripture, the existence of Jesus, the merits of religion versus non-theism, I'm totally game. Otherwise, be a coward ;-).

[e-mail] (so much for anonymity)

Answer 3

Judging by your commentary, it's the last refuge of the troll. But I will attempt to answer your question fairly.

There's a vast majority of Christians, to be sure, in this country. But a lot of them are very casual Christians. What's the membership of a church vs. the average number who show up on a given Sunday? The church I belonged to had 500 in the pews on a good week. But for every butt in the pew, there were three or four in bed or cooking a late breakfast. Now I know there's more to being a Christian than showing up to church, but this is the land of the free; if you don't like your church, there's one a block and a half down the road with a later start time and a better choir and theology (or whatever). So a lot of that Christian majority doesn't find two hours of 'dress nice, drive to church, listen to message, chat over coffee' to be worth their time.

If you subtract the huge swath of America that calls itself Christian but can't be bothered to engage in the minimum of rituals, teachings, and fellowship that term seems to imply, the ratio of Christian to atheist drops precipitously. It's safe to assume that that middle section of casual Christians isn't going to be spending much time on R&S.

So the two wings on this spectrum are overrepresented. True believers and committed atheists both have an interest in being here. But I think another factor comes into play: our interest as the minority group is greater. Race issues are more important to African Americans than to whites; gay rights are more important to homosexuals than to heterosexuals, and religious issues take on greater meaning to atheists, whose rights are instutionally enshrined but ignored in practice, or whose rights are institutionally proscribed (we technically can't hold office in at least four states).

I think those two factors taken together explain the superior numbers of atheists on R&S.

One does not need to resort to slanderous conjectures or namecalling.

Regarding the relative amount of paid work done by atheists and Christians, don't forget the education differential. Perhaps the superior average education of an atheist means that they can support their family while working fewer hours than the average Christian, allowing for more leisure time.

Answer 4

We're just better with computers. It goes along with the whole "learning for yourself".

"All the atheists are the losers sitting on the internet 20 hours a day while the good god fearing Christian people of America work to provide for their families."

Just so happens, I'm a paramedic. I save lives for a living.

What did you do today?

Answer 5

I think it is because the Atheists point of view is predominantly logical so stumps most christians and they realize their argument carries no weight and would sound very week, so christians tend to answer questions in a more robotic, indoctrinated manner, as soon as a question is posted that requires an answer not printed in the bible they are stumped. I don't believe there are more atheists than christians, its just the christians limited realm of narrow minded indoctrination that precludes them from answering a lot of questions

Answer 6

Most of your observations and insights are correct. The majority of everyday Christians aren't on the Internet too much, at least most of the ones I know. And it doesn't seem to have much to do with "lack of education" or no intelligence. Most of the people I know who are Christians are actually intelligent and educated people who lead busy lives and don't have much time to spend on Internet forums. I really don't spend too much time on here either - I have lots of other things on my plate that require my time and attention. I get online once in a while when I have some spare time. One of my own personal motivations for posting here is to sort of redress the balance and show that there is another point of view besides the skeptic/non-believer view that is prevalent here.

As far as the Internet being the last refuge of cowards goes,. it's been my observation that people will write and post things here that they wouldn't dare say face to face with anyone, be it neighbors, friends, family, etc. People who engage in personal attacks and name-calling - that sort of thing.

I've always operated under the concept that I don't say anything on here that I wouldn't say to someone in person, face to face.

Answer 7

No. The Internet is the way of the future. The way it is now is just the beginning. Religion and the Internet don't really go together whereas Atheism and the Internet are perfectly suited to each other as you've noticed. But we're not cowards, not by a long shot. This is merely a sounding board or soap box for ideas and opinions.

Answer 8

i only work 4 or 5 hours a day because that's all i need to do. i skim in and out of r&s when i get bored with writing or the gardening. i will talk with christians about belief when i find them in real life but they are an endangered species where i live. i only know one church goer and one christian who will not set foot in a church. my mother who was once a staunch and observent christian is now vaguely deist. christianity is disappearing in europe.

Answer 9

Aren't you being rather adolescent now?
You're saying that because atheists are on Answers they are losers, cowards and outcasts - yet there are many Christians on here also (presumably hard-working geniuses).
I don't think you're the most intellectual person I've answered today - not an uncommon trait amongst Christians.

Answer 10

Straight-A student taking 18 credit hours.

I just disproved your stereotype. Next please.

But it is true that atheists are treated poorly by most Americans. My mum still plays radio programs calling atheists the children of Satan, in my presence. She does so because she would like me to convert to "born again" fundamentalism. That's pretty cruel and cowardly of her, if you asked me. I use the internet because I would like to see whether my arguments can hold water or not.There is always something to learn.

Here is your morsel of logic for the day: The majority view is not always correct. A billion people can believe in a specific invisible man, or that the solar system orbits the earth. That doesn't make it reality.