According to 1997 Federal Burear of Prisons statistics, over 83% of the U. S. prison population is Judeo-Christian, while atheist constitute only 0.2%, compared to the U. S. population of 10-13% atheists.
2007-11-26 06:52:38 · 13 answers · asked by Grant H 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Although I think your stats are probably about right, lack of religion is not what causes ethical behavior. Instead, education promotes ethical behavior while simultaneously undermining superstition.
2007-11-26 07:05:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'd guess that ethics depend on the individual and have nothing to do with his belief system. In other words, I'd expect the numbers to be about the same.
Statistics on atheists are pretty slippery, often including people who just don't bother to go to church along with decided atheists and agnostics. Also, because these polls depend on people to self-identify, any perceived penalty for atheism will skew the results. I'm sure a lot of prisoners figure that being an atheist is not the way to make a good impression on the parole board.
If there is a real trend behind the prison numbers, it's probably education-related. Less-educated people are over-represented in prisons, and are probably more likely to continue to identify with whatever religion they were raised in, regardless of their actual observance.
2007-11-26 07:07:16 · answer #2 · answered by injanier 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would be hard to say. I'm a Christian, and have some very ethical Christian friends and acquaintances. But I also have a lot of atheist friends, and regard them as highly ethical people. I also know practitioners of religions other than my own who are quite ethical in their behavior (Pagans, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus, to name but a few). There are both ethical and non-ethical people in all groups.
As far as the prison population goes, many religious groups heavily proselytize within prisons, at least in the U.S., so there is probably a great deal more information available to prisoners regarding religion than non-religious alternatives. It is not at all uncommon for people to "get religion" behind prison bars.
2007-11-26 07:00:22 · answer #3 · answered by solarius 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Prisoners always find faith in prisons .. but find out the percentage that keeps the tenets of faith as soon as they are released from prison.
You can say a lot of stuff when your put away for 20 years.
The whole world has a non denominational percentage (which includes agnostics, atheists and those with no church affiliation) at 16%. I bet you if you check that poll they include agnostics with atheists. There isn't that many atheists around they just like to yell they are because it gains attention.
2007-11-26 06:57:36 · answer #4 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First of all, I suspect your numbers of skewed...lots of people find religion after they go to prison. Second, "non-religious" and "atheist" are not synonymous. Third, "ethical" and "not breaking the law" are not synonymous. Fourth, people in prison aren't merely the people who break the law, but are the people who get _caught_ breaking the law. You're ignoring a ton of variables.
2007-11-26 07:07:34 · answer #5 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
But when you add which group has the highest number of abortions the non religious pull ahead by a land slide. I guess it's all about how you define ethical/moral. contrary to one answer education doesn't make one more ethical. It enables them to become smarter crooks if they so choose. I have seen this in my own government who have had their share of lawyers who learned to bend the law or change it in order to serve themselves.
2007-11-26 06:58:03 · answer #6 · answered by Edward J 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would say it is close
however it is true that there are many unethical religious People out there
I talk about it in great deal in the bible it self in Romans
they know better and still do it
anyway does it really matter
2007-11-26 07:09:33 · answer #7 · answered by working together 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is the actual percentage of people who care? Your implication and that of this statistic are both self-serving for obvious reasons and not to be acknowledged with any true concern.
2007-11-26 06:56:43 · answer #8 · answered by Wired 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
One thing is to state religious preference over actually practicing it.
What's the percentage that actually practice their religion? Probably minimal too.
2007-11-26 06:57:23 · answer #9 · answered by California 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about whichever group has less people trying to judge who is more ethical.
2007-11-26 07:34:32 · answer #10 · answered by kaz716 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋