Why are there few atheists in prison and why are most people who are religious happen to be poor?

Question

Atheists often point out that there are few atheists in prisons. Plus atheists will also say that they too are humans and are subjected to same laws set in place by the government. With this being the case, why do you think that there are fewer atheists in prison? If an atheist committed a crime on the outside, wouldn't he also be an atheist in prison? Do you think that one would be able to survive in prison better if they had converted to a theist philosophy? Could this be the reason for the low numbers? What is your opinion?

On the poor, so only the people who need hope have religion and the ones who don't, don’t need religion. Assuming that people who are poor are hopeless, and need the comfort of religion to get by; is atheism not the belief of the hopeless and the poor? Why can't these people gain hope from atheism rather than a belief in a god?

If you are an atheist who is in favor of someone having religion in their lives, because of the psychological benefits why? Aren't you ultimately saying that atheism offers no hope, and the only way to help someone have hope is through religion and a belief in a god?

Correction:
fewer atheists

Jo'dan, in prison a prisoner will have lots of time to go to the prison library to read. Not all criminals are uneducated, some just made the wrong choices in life. There are some prisoners who are in prison, because they thought they were smarter than everyone else.

I did not say that atheism = immorality.

Mercer,

Please correct;
"....only way to 'find find' is thru religion"

Cathy, thanks for the information. I will surely use it in the future. Thumbs up.

Cathy, oh you still didn't answer the questions. I would love to read your response.

Everard, should I conclude that most atheist think like you? Don't worry I won't.

Correction:
atheists. Forgot that damn 's' again.

Mercer:
"I believe in the power of the placebo affect, however, I do not believe that the only way to get over pain is thru sugar pills."
A placebo is given to you or are made to believe that something is true. Theist are not made to believe God is true, they know that God is true. God is true to them, so even if you take the placebo away, a theist will always believe that God is true. You don't have to believe in God to deal with pain, but one sure way to deal with pain is to believe in God. You don't need to have a belief in God to get on with your life, but having a belief in God is like having a friend who will comfort you in your good and bad times, so you can get on with your life.
____

Still no one answered the question on why there are few atheists in prison, and why there are fewer poor atheists. Most answers only stated that people need the help of religion in these circumstances. That only explains why religion is useful. It does not explain why ....(cont)

atheism is not useful in these situations.

Answer 1

1. I wish to express the "data" that shows there are less atheists in jail then religious are statistics from 1925, and an unscientific study done on religions of those that were executed for murder in one year at one prison (Sing Sing)
No modern or scientific study of religious affiliation and incarceration have been done.

2.The religious being poor is another fallacy. The University of Chicago medical Center conducted the first study of physicians and religious beliefs ever done in 2005. 76 % of physicians adhere to a relgious practice. As we know doctors as a professional whole rank among the top compensated in the world.
Again there has been no other scientific study of income levels by religious affiliation.

3. Finally most studies conducted by the University of California show that those in a religiously dense area obtain .5 more years of education then those that do not. So the less educated myth is just that myth.

For people that point to science and proof they certainly don;t point to it when making their claims.

Answer 2

Well, the one part on this that I wish I could see is a valid source confirming that there is a lower ratio of atheists in prison than there is in the outside world. I have never seen the proof of this. It would not surprise me if it was true, but I do not point this as true because I have never seen any proof of it. Being skeptical is a full time job.

Your last couple of paragraphs are a little disappointing. You say that if an atheist says that it is ok for another person to have religion is an admission from an atheist that the only way to find is thru religion. Not true. I believe in the power of the placebo affect, however, I do not believe that the only way to get over pain is thru sugar pills.

As for a person who is poor. If a person who is poor is religious and it make that person feel happy, then fine. However, if the person is poor and believes that religion is the only thing that will get the person prosperity then that person will have less success than a poor atheist who has decided that his life is his own and any improvements need to come from within himself and not from a god.

Answer 3

Saying atheists don't go to prison is simply a statistic, often used to counter the (false) belief that atheists lack morals.
The explanation behind this is pretty easy, however.
Most atheists are atheists because they have researched religion, thought about it. These are scholarly, usually at least middle class, educated people. There aren't many of those kind of people in prison. Not to mention most atheist parents I know allow their children to choose the religion of their choice, also lowering the number. (These are just general statements, I know there are a lot of exceptions)
Then again, you also get out of prison sooner for being a born again Christian. That might be a bit of extra incentive.

Answer 4

Religion is for cowards too afraid to face life and or death without the psychological security of imaginary friends.
Theists live in FEAR that they're being watched 24/7 and any digression from their interpretation of biblical message will land them in hell.

Atheists on the other hand are courageous as they need NO invisible sky swooper to hold their hands while venturing through reality.

"If you are an atheist who is in favor of someone having religion in their lives, because of the psychological benefits why?"
I AM in favour of religion for some because I have read HERE that many theists would become psychopaths and do rape, pillage and murder if they thought there was no god to answer to.
It seems that theists FEAR hell enough to remain generally law abiding.
If it wasn't for the 'carrot' of heaven and the 'stick' of hell we'd be living with a lot more violence in our societies than we do now.
.

Answer 5

Parole boards may be more likely to let inmates out if the inmates profess to have faith and will have support from a religious based charity.

For those warehoused in horribly over crowded American prisons, hope for an after life may be the only thing that keeps them sane. Of course, many are mentally ill regardless in their belief in God.

Answer 6

actual it truly is any incorrect way around. There are greater human beings of religion in detention center than there are atheists. i do no longer think of they comprehend how plenty the shrink to rubble right here. to declare many of the folk in penitentiary are atheist is saying each penitentiary, which holds hundreds of prisoners are ordinarily atheists. this would make our inhabitants double or greater probably triple over night. besides the undeniable fact that the explanation they are saying it somewhat is through fact they choose for to think of all immoral persons are atheist to coach their followers to no longer leave their faith. besides the undeniable fact that fact is that those that have self belief that actual punishment is would desire to punish toddlers, i.e. spanking, whipping, and so on would have an more advantageous fee of violent human beings while they are adults. i'm no longer saying it truly is the mummy and dad fault the toddler is in detention center, it truly is in basic terms that a bible that has plenty dying and devastation won't be able to help yet have maximum of black sheep.

Answer 7

To the poster above me, there are atheists in foxholes. It's a false statement.

Answer 8

There is a documented correlation between education level and atheism. There is a documented inverse correlation between education level and prison.

Answer 9

There are also few atheists in foxholes.