do you think this is true?? non religious people are nicer than the religious?

Question

Ninety-seven per cent of non-religious people would help if someone collapsed, compared to 91% of religious people, according to a poll commissioned by the BBC's new religious programme, the Big Questions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/index.html#a017451

Answer 1

Unlikely that the poll is really accurate.

Honestly I think its about even. The question isnt religion or lack thereof, it is morals.

You have moral atheist who do the right thing because its right just like you have moral Christians who do the right thing because its right.

Then on the atheist side you have the person who follows the law, not morality and does so out of fear of punishment. This is equal to a Christian who only is good out of fear of hell. Ammoral people exist everywhere, in every faith, in every atheist group.

They give no info at all on that poll. There is no margin of error. There is no report of how the data was collected, whether it required work on the part of the responder or not. All of these affect the accuracy--this poll could end up being just as accurate as those online polls where clearing your cache means additional votes.

Answer 2

I think this is a totally meaningless comparison. What does it mean to be "religious"? As if being a Christian is the same, ethically, as being a Moslem or Buddhist. We also don't know what the other alternatives are: what they chose instead of helping the collapsed person, or why.

I think it's fair to say the number of nice "religious" people is about the same as the number of nice "non-religious" ones; but niceness is not what Christianity, at least, is really about. It's about the possibility of receiving forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus for the sins that you and I KNOW we have committed. Surveys like this are attempts to cloud and avoid the real issue.

Answer 3

Yes it is true and the reason is definitely down to religion. Most religious people dislike people of other religions. Atheists don't dislike religious people (except the fundies). Religious people are quick to put society's problems down to the will of god, or lack of prayer in schools. Atheists will look at such problems much more sensibly and with reason and logic. You would never find an Atheist sending someone who clearly has a mental illness to a priest to be exorcised of demons. We would send them to the doctor and get them the help they need. Religious people don't give to charity, they give to their church who then give to charity. They give because they feel they are supposed to. Their morals simply exist on a set of rules to get them into heaven. Atheists actually do treat people how we would like to be treated.

What ever the outcome of any poll, the fact is the world will be a far better place once all religion has been vanquished. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll see it in my life time. It will probably get worse before it gets better, but one day, we will rid the world of that great stain on humanity, religion, and mankind will truly flourish.

Answer 4

I don't know where you get your alledged facts from, but I guess in a sense that's true, because 91% of religious people follow dogmas created by men and not true followers of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that the gate to heaven was narrow, and very few people actually find it, so it's no wonder that people trying so hard to be "religious" (especially the hindus whose religious beliefs state that you are in the condition that you're in because you're supposed to be there, or you deserve it! And don't forget the animists in Puerto Rico, Africa, and other 3rd world countries, whose very religion is to hurt through witchcraft those they hate - I'm sure THAT religious group would NEVER help, thus increasing the % of religious people who would not help.)

But if you go by the Biblical definition of religion, you are DEAD wrong! The Bible says that TRUE religion, and undefiled, is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless, visit people in prisons and in hospitals, meet the needs of orphans and widows, etc, etc. In fact, Jesus said that when you done these things, you've actually done it to Him.

So these 97% of "non-religious" people are really QUITE religious, according to the Biblical definition.

In fact, 100% of people who help other people are religious according to THIS definition.

Answer 5

I took a CPR course so I could help the NEXT time someone collapsed in front of me!

Five years ago, an elderly gentleman fell down on the sidewalk. I didn't know how to help him but one man put his coat under his head and three young, tough thugs whipped out their cells and called 911. I ran into the street and stopped a bus and asked for a doctor or nurse. A nurse came but the man died.

Next time, I'll know what to do.
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Answer 6

Yes and no. It depends on the definition of "nicer". Religious people are programmed to unquestionly attend their religious services and this is reinforced by the religious "charity" work. Aside from the preaching that those groups do, those charity organizations really do a lot of good work.

Atheists tend to give to charity organizations more anonymously. There are no hospitals with "atheist" slapped on them. We probably don't give as much to charity, but we probably do think more about the charities we give to. Personally, I support several charities and have even helped out a local church make sandwiches for the homeless.

As far as morality goes, I think that atheists have a better handle on it, in general. Religious people are given lists of rules and taught not to question them. Most atheists are humanistic in their morality.

The poll is interesting, but rather useless, like most are. As Mark Twain said, there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.

Answer 7

My religious beliefs have nothing to do with helping people if I can, it's more to do with my upbringing. Always treat people the way you wish to be treat.
I once helped an elderly lady who had fallen, she looked at me as though I was going to rob her.
The area i live are mostly non-religious, they would step over you, rather than help.

Answer 8

This is nothing new. Jesus gave a parable of a man beaten and robbed and left for dead on the roadway. Two religious leaders went to the other side of the road to avoid him. A Samartan, a man whose nationality was one hated by Jews, helped the man. (Matthew 10:30-36)

Answer 9

i think of that's common to throw out assaults from the secure practices of the internet as we don't could desire to stand the outcomes of our movements. in certainty i've got caught myself getting caught up in it - making very own assaults on human beings. As an atheist, I usually experience slightly uncomfortable stating so. After a tragedy, or maybe at dinner human beings will say "enable us to desire". This seems completely organic and alright to maximum. that's seen purely slightly a pretend pas for me to merchandise. i'm meant to easily "upward thrust out of admire" and save my mouth close. So, it feels reliable to furnish alittle decrease back right here. ultimately, i think of there's a brilliant style of information that faith has accomplished greater injury than reliable and a brilliant style of argument ought to be made that the international may be greater effective off if it went away. So, we atheists attempt to do our section for the betterment of the international.

Answer 10

Quite a number of religious people end up feeling superior to unbelievers, and this produces all sorts of problems, not the least of which are people who are the antithesis of what a Christian is supposed to be in the first place.

Proud, arrogant, boastful.

They shall receive their just reward.

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