Why is atheism vastly over represented on the Internet?

Question

You can clearly see that just from being on R&S for any length of time. This place is controlled by atheists. Apparently, this isn't the only place that they come: http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_poll2.htm (scroll down to look at the data chart!)

My question is, why?

I should add that I'm an atheist. I just happened to use the work "they" instead of "us" which would have been more appropriate.

sorry. "word" not "work"

Answer 1

Geeks tend to be atheists. Geeks also tend to use the internet. (I'm both a geek and an atheist, so don't take this the wrong way guys)

Answer 2

I wouldn't say atheism is VASTLY overrepresented. It is overrepresented, but not by all that much.

That said, the reason it is overrepresented is that the kind of people who tend to be atheists are also the kind of people who tend to go on the Internet. Atheists tend to be more progressive and intellectual than theists, so something modern and informational like the Internet tends to appeal to them more. For example, your stereotypical guy with nerdy glasses and stacks of math books is more likely to be an atheist than a southern redneck with a stubbled chin and a cowboy hat, and is also more likely to go on the Internet. Additionally, there tend to be a higher proportion of atheists in advanced, wealthy countries where people are more likely to have access to the Internet. For example, on a country-by-country basis, higher church attendance has a 51% inverse correlation with government spending in research and development, a 41% correlation with adults at a low literacy level and a 39% correlation with child poverty. Anyone with half a brain can tell that countries with low technology, a low literacy rate and a high child poverty rate are going to be the countries that also have less Internet access.

Answer 3

Just look at what happened to the teacher in Sudan who let her pupils call a teddy bear Mohammed. Even in less extreme cases, a person can suffer consequences (even in the west) for merely questioning religion. Perhaps the Internet is the only safe haven an atheist has for asking such much needed questions.

On the other hand, atheism may just be on the increase, and the Internet is the only place many can come (confidentially) to express this. With any luck, it will be the religious who are in the global minority in the not too distant future.

Answer 4

Two reasons, admitting you are an atheist at your job, or in a social setting, will cause a great many people to distrust you and/or flat-out hate you.

(I proudly announce it everywhere I go for this reason, btw. If anyone has a problem with that, then I wouldn't want anything they might have to offer anyway. Took me a while to get that bold, however)

Secondly, and I mean this sincerely... accessing the internet requires at least a layman's knowledge of technology (operating a computer) which means a lot of the less educated folks are weeded out. It is a proven fact that atheists tend to have higher education levels than theists. So naturally there will be more atheists online.

Answer 5

I think two reasons - partly because atheists are more likely to want to debate about religion(in my experience), while quite a lot of religious people don't particularly care about debates - their religion is personal, and they have no particular interest to try to force people into their beliefs.

And partly because they're on the Internet, they're anonymous. I'd be willing to bet there are quite a lot of atheists who go to church, act like they're religious, but are afraid to let their family and friends know that they think God doesn't exist. On the Internet, they don't have to worry about their family finding out about their true theological beliefs, because nobody will ever know who "joe_blow_atheist" is unless he tells everyone.

Basically, I think that especially in religious forums, atheism can get a little over-represented, but certainly not by much. A lot of it is that sometimes Christianity can be over-represented.

Answer 6

Get real!! Get an education!!

Christianity whilst a major religion is in fact in the minority when compaired to atheists and even against the combined other religions.

Therefore atheists are actually under represented.

Since most claiming to be Christian here spout hatred (A human emotion) for gays and many other things, are egotistical and dictatorial - it surely proves that GOOD Christians are vastly under represented also!!!!

What ever happened to that loving, inclusive and forgiving God?!!!!

Answer 7

I think many individuals online are college age. These kids go through an atheist faze during their college years, but, eventually abandon atheism after they enter the real world and leave the accedemic one behind. Atheism isn't practicle for most adults who go on to get married, have kids a career. Eventually, everyone needs to believe in God at some point.

Answer 8

First of all, you are seeing an accurate representation of Atheism. Your opinion is that it is vastly over represented. You must value your opinion as the standard for truth. Surely you don't think you're that important do you?

Second, R&S is not "controlled" by Atheists. This is your "opinion" again. Obviously, your interpretation of "intelligent & outspoken" is confused with your interpretation of "control."

Last but not least, to answer your question as to "why".

Because we can.

Answer 9

Maybe because people are waking up to the fact that MAN invented God. He needed the comfort of something outside of himself in a cold, cruel world. Besides, are you really going to continue believing in a fallacy and fantasy written by a bunch of Semitic folks living in the desert?! C'mon we all know what that heat will do to your mind, just look at all the crazy Muslims, which by the way worship the same God. Maybe it's time we tried to get past the religions of the past and start really studying our world. Do you want to live your life deluded by a myth? C'mon the bible reads like a fantasy novel, you may as well worship Ole Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit!

Answer 10

Atheism tends towards high intelligence, being well educated, and able to express oneself well.

These are common traits for hackers, geeks, and other assorted Internet nerds, also. A lot of them are atheists, the rest argue over whether Picard or Kirk was the best captain, with equal vigor.

I wouldn't consider Yahoo! Answers to be a fair representative of the Internet, though. Head over to USENET or 4chan or something sometime, the folks here look positively evangelical in comparison.

Answer 11

It is one of the very few places we can speak openly and freely without fear of retribution or persecution by theists who seem to get off on telling us how evil we are and how we are going to rot in hell. So much for Christian love eh?

James B below me a couple of answers is a dunce! Just because he is weak and needs a god, doesn't mean the rest of us do. And I am not college age, am well educated and perfectly content without his myths.