Atheism on the rise in America
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/09/survey-one-in-five-americans-is-religiously-unaffiliated/
This actually quite surprising, 1 in 5 Americans now have no religion, which is a greater number than at any time in history.
In the last 5 years alone this number has increased by 25% and it continues to drastically grow.
Looks like there's hope for humanity after all.
October 9, 2012
61 Comments • Newest first
you talk as if atheism on the rise in America is a surprising thing
ITT: "I'M MORE CORRECT THAN YOU ;_;"
@RubyRidge: thank you cpt.obvious for dissecting my joke. Canada is so boring the most interesting thing I've found from my country is that we're getting rid of our pennies
[quote=MarxMaster]Argumentum ad baculum; it is bad logic to reason something to be true because you'll be punished if you don't believe that it's true.
I could beat little kids until they believe that the sky is green for all the luls that would happen if that sort of logic actually works.[/quote]
Also @fraddBS:
Furthermore it's a false dichotomy which assumes only one of two states: Your "deity" is real or no "deity" is real. If you are going to state that a deity can exist then this deity can technically be part of any religion or even none of the religions that exist currently. In which case the mathematical benefit ceases to exist.
[quote=fraddBS]@ErrorCode: Technically if you don't believe in hell, that means you'd be ok with going to hell, in case it turns out to be real.[/quote]
So you're going with Pascal's Wager?
@below: 100% pure atheism [i]is[/i] pretty rare.
[quote=fraddBS]@MarxMaster: If you don't believe in hell, you want to go to hell. At least from my perspective.[/quote]
That's nonsense. If someone concludes that there isn't any reason to believe something exists, you can't just say that they [i]do[/i] believe it exists and, on top of that, has some specific opinion about it.
You can have whatever perspectives you want, but you need to realize that you're at a very high risk of being simply wrong.
I'm fine with this as long as they don't try to shove their beliefs down my throat or anyone else.
[quote=Anissa130]You're still wrong. Read what I wrote. The Muslims are coming to bite you. -chomp chomp- Everybody Run! All Muslims are terrorists! OMG! Islam iS Evil![/quote]
2.6 million is nothing, and that's largely in-part due to immigration not converts.
There are 33 million with no religious affiliation and 13 million Atheists.
I'm not worried.
[quote=Anissa130]Islam is on the rise in America...
According to the latest U.S. Religion Census that was released on May 1, 2012, the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The data for the census was compiled by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, and the results were released by the Association of Religion Data Archives. Just saying...[/quote]
Islam is the fastest growing [b]religion.[/b] But people with no-religious affiliation are growing at a much faster rate than Islam is. And the growth of religions overall are slowing down.
[quote=Aervas]Unaffiliated doesn't mean atheist nartard.[/quote]
Thanks for telling me something I already know.
Religion is not bad.
Only people are. I can bet 90% of people who claim they belong to a religion, do not follow it in the slightest.
I don't really care. I most likely won't be affected by this, unless we start to get a lot of these 'anti-theists' which I have had the displeasure of meeting one in real life.
I'm all cool for less ignorant people on both sides. My mom is a teacher, and it's hard for her to teach one of her students because her parents oppose Stephen Hawking. (She's a gifted teacher and they're doing a science segment on space and the Big Bang and stuff.)
[quote=Exumaii]So because I have a religion I am holding back humanity from moving forward?[/quote]
No, one's own private beliefs aren't an issue. The people who bring their fundamentalist ideologies to politics or anti-science movements are attempting to damage the progress of society at its foundation.
[quote=Exumaii] Do we need to mention how we were moved forward BY religious people in the past.[/quote]
I have respect towards the role of religion in early western civilization, but it just isn't needed anymore.
Take the blind old man metaphor, for example. If you're traveling through a forest in the dead of night and you meet a native, senile old blind man who offers to guide you, the best thing to do is to trust him. Once morning approaches, it becomes unnecessary to rely on him.
I'm not saying we know everything about reality now, but all that's left of religion's explanation of reality is a vague God-explains-everything-we-can't-know stance.
[quote=Exumaii]None of you have the right to criticize people's beliefs and talk about how they feel it's preventing us from progressing. If we all just respected each other's beliefs, several of the wars in the past wouldn't have happened.[/quote]
I don't mind individual beliefs, but we do have a right to oppose social and political movements we don't agree with.
[quote=Exumaii]So because I have a religion I am holding back humanity from moving forward? Do we need to mention how we were moved forward BY religious people in the past.
None of you have the right to criticize people's beliefs and talk about how they feel it's preventing us from progressing. If we all just respected each other's beliefs, several of the wars in the past wouldn't have happened.[/quote]
Religion holding back progression isn't someone's biased opinion, it's a historical fact. Yes religious people have done some things for science, religious [b]people[/b], not [b]religion[/b], learn the difference.
And yeah you're right, if we would have just respected Hitler's beliefs World War II wouldn't have happened.
[quote=Exumaii]So because I have a religion I am holding back humanity from moving forward? Do we need to mention how we were moved forward BY religious people in the past.
None of you have the right to criticize people's beliefs and talk about how they feel it's preventing us from progressing. If we all just respected each other's beliefs, several of the wars in the past wouldn't have happened.[/quote]
Give me some examples of where religion has helped humanity move foward a considerable amount. And I do have the right to tell you your beliefs are stupid, just as someone has the right to hold such beliefs. I respect your right to have a religion, I do not respect your religion nor do I have to.
Atheism is completely different than no affiliation imo because I have no affiliation nor do I care about religion at all to this day.
[quote=aalex99999]Lol, all the religion-haters.
If you don't believe in the religion, then don't. I highly doubt there is a denomination FORCING you to believe. Sure, they want people to believe their faith, but that's like saying a sports team wants fans.
Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, religion is not destroying the world. I assure you, religion has been around for quite some time. Last time I checked, religion has not caused the Earth to implode on itself because of people's beliefs.
Trying to persuade a person of a particular faith why their religion is wrong or whatnot is the same as a person of faith trying to make you believe that the deity is real. From what I've gathered about the vocal agnostic, they don't like to be told what to believe. So please, don't try to tell others how stupid their religions are, because you aren't going to change anybody's mind.[/quote]
Most religions are quite dangerous. Dark ages, that Islamic rioting in the middle east, etc. Religion accounts for quite a bit of the violence in this world.
[quote=NewGen]Disgusting, soon they'll be allowing queers in america.
Just disgusting.[/quote]
Because drinking red wine from the basement is not disgusting at all
So because I have a religion I am holding back humanity from moving forward? Do we need to mention how we were moved forward BY religious people in the past.
None of you have the right to criticize people's beliefs and talk about how they feel it's preventing us from progressing. If we all just respected each other's beliefs, several of the wars in the past wouldn't have happened.
making fun of people's beliefs on the internet.. clever
Cooliee, that normative moral relativism is absolutely disgusting. Islamists can believe what they want, but when they're violating some of the most fundamental human rights on such a large scale, it's not our obligation to say "They can do what they want. It's not right, but we must tolerate them".
People are suffering and being killed over ancient beliefs about a being that is somehow better than humans yet still cares about what they think and do in private. It is NOT something to tolerate.
Let's see who has last laugh on Judgment Day.
well religion doesn't really solve anything.
@TrueAtheist: Like I said 3 times already, I agree with you to a certain extent. I'm not arguing THAT. I think that religion has set us back centuries, but that's just my opinion, and I understand that some people believe the exact opposite of what I believe in.
[quote=Cooliee124]@WontPostMuch: Oh I agree with that.
@TrueAtheist: Read my last post please.[/quote]
Okay if you think they have the right to believe that, then I have the right to call those beliefs idiotic and say that they have no place in the year 2012.
@WontPostMuch: Oh I agree with that.
@TrueAtheist: Read my last post please.
[quote=Cooliee124]@cb000: I agree. Some people in this thread think that I'm defending radical muslims, I'm not. If I'd rather have people also be atheist.
@Rubyridge: Wow, I;m not even going to bother if you [b]really[/b] think I was aiming for that.[/quote]
But you are.. you explicitly said that you defend the beliefs of radical Muslims.
[quote=Cooliee124]@WontPostMuch: Listen I agree with you, but what I'm trying to convey is not defending someones beliefs. At least not directly. I'm just saying that people have the right to believe what they want to. I'm not saying they SHOULD believe it.[/quote]
I mean, yeah go ahead and believe it but I'm of the opinion that they don't have a right to enforce it. Idk, I don't care about freedom much, so I'm p okay with governments forcing people not to enforce their beliefs if need be & obv we all have the right to make fun of their retarded beliefs.
@WontPostMuch: Listen I agree with you, but what I'm trying to convey is not defending someones beliefs. At least not directly. I'm just saying that people have the right to believe what they want to. I'm not saying they SHOULD believe it.
[quote=Cooliee124]@TrueAtheist: Who are you to tell me that my morals are wrong? Like it or not, morals are opinions, and like opinions, they differ from person to person. It's selfish to think that YOUR moral compass is worth more that one elses. Let the Muslims believe what they want to believe, no matter how much you or I dislike it. It's called tolerance. Do I think sometimes it goes too far? Sure, but why should my opinion be of any value to them?[/quote]
Come on bro, there's a huge difference between tolerance and outdated morals and beliefs. Some stuff is seriously messed up and has no place in modern times. Lol @ defending outdated morals and beliefs in the name of tolerance
@cb000: I agree. Some people in this thread think that I'm defending radical muslims, I'm not. If I'd rather have people also be atheist.
@Rubyridge: Wow, I;m not even going to bother if you [b]really[/b] think I was aiming for that.
@Cooliee124: Yes, you're right. Still, I hope it's clear why we work towards pressuring other nations to abandon certain beliefs despite how reluctant or opposed they are. And I don't mean forcing them to abandoning their beliefs about homosexuality being bad and such, but at least tempering such beliefs so it's no longer punishable by death or other such extreme measures.
[quote=MrPebbles]Well you hate people that believe in religion, so....[/quote]
No I don't. I've never said that. I love people who believe in religion, my family is religious, most of my friends are religious, my best friend is actually a Muslim.
There's a difference between hating religion and hating the person. If I hate someone's taste in music it doesn't mean I hate the individual.
@Cooliee124 Nope stop trying to escape your hypocrisy. You said that morals are completely subjective and that we should respect other people's beliefs because they're all equivalent, then you defend Muslims who kill people for trivial reasons, but then you say Hitler's beliefs are wrong? Respect Hitler! Because that's what you're preaching. Go buy a Nazi poster and respect him.
@TrueAtheist: No I didn't. Do you not get it. People have their own opinions and have the right to not care about anyone elses morals. I SAID THAT FROM THE BEGINNING!
Let the war begin.
[quote=Cooliee124]@cb000: Were not talking about America though. Thats the middle east, and it is unfair there.
@trueatheist: Did you just miss everything I said? I didn't respect Hitlers opinions, but why should my opinion matter to him?[/quote]
Cool so you just contradicted your original argument.
[quote=RubyRidge]You shouldn't have used that example to arouse sympathy with someone who defends fanatic Muslims.[/quote]
I hope you're being sarcastic about me doing that.
[quote=TrueAtheist]international law.
[/quote]
I giggle like a little school girl every time someone mentions international law w/ a straight face. Like srs, that crap is just a joke and nobody cares about it. Mostly just invoked by more powerful countries to justify an invasion/boycott of weaker nations, even if said nation is violating more "international" laws than the nation they're punishing.
Even the concept of international laws is mind numbingly stupid.
@cb000: Were not talking about America though. Thats the middle east, and it is unfair there.
@trueatheist: Did you just miss everything I said? I didn't respect Hitlers opinions, but why should my opinion matter to him?
[quote=Cooliee124]@TrueAtheist: Who are you to tell me that my morals are wrong? Like it or not, morals are opinions, and like opinions, they differ from person to person. It's selfish to think that YOUR moral compass is worth more that one elses. Let the Muslims believe what they want to believe, no matter how much you or I dislike it. It's called tolerance.[/quote]
So I guess you respect Hitler's beliefs. We should have let him kill millions of Jews. Right?
This makes me so happy. <3
[quote=Cooliee124]If that's what they believe, they have the right to believe that. It doesn't matter how inhumane and unfair it is.[/quote]
Yes it matters. You have the right to do whatever you want as long as it doesn't infringe upon the rights of others. Beliefs that lead to inhumane, unfair conditions are infringements upon others' rights to enjoy life without such inhumane, unfair conditions.
Such is the reason why institutions like slavery were removed, but it's up to the government (and the people) to decide whether they'll let such conditions go unchecked or not. The Islamic governments obviously don't want to act upon it.
@TrueAtheist: Who are you to tell me that my morals are wrong? Like it or not, morals are opinions, and like opinions, they differ from person to person. It's selfish to think that YOUR moral compass is worth more that one elses. Let the Muslims believe what they want to believe, no matter how much you or I dislike it. It's called tolerance. Do I think sometimes it goes too far? Sure, but why should my opinion be of any value to them?
I'm not saying I agree with what the muslims believe in, and I'm not trying to defend THEM.
[quote=Cooliee124]If that's what they believe, they have the right to believe that. It doesn't matter how inhumane and unfair it is.[/quote]
Yeah let's completely ignore basic human rights and international law.
I'm glad we've established that you respect people who stone mothers to death who are caught talking to another man or leaving the house when they're not suppose to.
You have fantastic morals.
[quote=TrueAtheist]Yeah you're right! Let's let Muslim theocracies continue to believe that homosexuality is punishable by death and that women should be killed for wearing nail polish.[/quote]
If that's what they believe, they have the right to believe that. It doesn't matter how inhumane and unfair it is.
idk, I predict it will have no effect on the quality of people or our nation (srs)
This isnt surprising at all. Churches are practically obsolete these days. Personally I think this is a good development.
who cares? america is stupid & obese whether they believe in a god or not. Canada is the brightest hope for North America. lmfao.
[quote=Debelzaq]yeeee LES GET ALL DEH IGNANT THIESTS & ANTITHIESTS OUTTA THEIR ROCK! WOOOH
no one should give a rat's ass about what other people believe in. oh lord I don't believe in, these people be stupid caring about what other people believe in.[/quote]
Yeah you're right! Let's let Muslim theocracies continue to believe that homosexuality is punishable by death and that women should be killed for wearing nail polish.
as Bill Nye the science guy said "religion is holding back humanity from moving forward" soo i have to say it is a good thing religion is become less "popular"