Planet of the Atheists

by **Basseemia** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:04 pm

Atheism has now become the third largest group of affiliation, or in this case no affiliation, to religion after Islam and Christianity and just before Hinduism. Judaism now has the world's smallest growing rate. (Source)

What is causing this decline in religiousness in humans today?

by **Intelectual Atheists** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:06 pm

I approve of this title.

by **Stormhound** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:06 pm

What is your opinion, OP?

by **Crysuko** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:06 pm

Access to information, better science, better education, it's just a side effect of modernisation.

by **Basseemia** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:08 pm

Stormhound wrote:What is your opinion, OP?

In my opinion, it's the breakthrough of scientific research, the questioning of everything, and education. It has come to where religion can't explain some things that science can.

by **Pola** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:08 pm

I'm atheist.

by **Zoboyizakoplayoklot** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:10 pm

I think it probobly has to do with more and more scientific evidence coming up that proves religious beliefs wrong. Example: We have proof that snakes can't talk, unless your Harry potter, we have proof there was never a giant flood that wiped out humans, and unless Noah had poke balls it's impossible to fit all those animals on a boat, and also human kind would have died out from incest.

by **Pope Joan** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:10 pm

Maybe this is what happens whenever you give voters (respondents) the option of "none of the above"?

Which could also possibly be a more direct path toward a minimalist government than the one now charted by the GOP.

by **Pandeeria** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:11 pm

Firstly what's your opinion?

Secondly, it'd a variety of factors. Due to scientific progress, people are seeing the issues of religion more easily then ever. Also back in the day, when people only lived to be 30 and normally only slaved away on farms, they needed some purpose. And religion + afterlife gave their lives purpose but now a day when we live to be 70+ and have freedoms we don't really need to attempt to give our lives artifical purpose like religion.

The benefits of religion (like unity) are also being found in different ways. When we lived in caves or mud huts, we really only found unity and created no-shit laws (like don't murder or steal) because of religion, but due to medicine, culture, technology (notably the internet), the general politically leaning of the Left-Wing (we as a species are turning more and more left wing wether you like it or not), we don't really need the benefits that come from religion anymore.

Though I'm looking at this in the pretty grand-scheme of things.

by **Cu Math** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:12 pm

I would say the double whammy of great atheist icons (Tyson, Hitchens, Maher, Dawkins to an extent) and the fact the religious establishments have had a lot of scandals recently

by **Terra Sector Union** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:12 pm

Too many intellectuals speaking their mind on the internet. We oughta crack down on free speech. I have nothing against the concept of atheism itself but I believe it has been causing a lot of civil unrest and anarchy movements in society. No different than wars caused by religion.

by **The Black Forrest** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:13 pm

Basseemia wrote:
Stormhound wrote:What is your opinion, OP?

In my opinion, it's the breakthrough of scientific research, the questioning of everything, and education. It has come to where religion can't explain some things that science can.

Scientific research?

How does one test for the existence or non-existence of a God?

by **NERVUN** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:14 pm

I really got to wonder if you read the article or just got excited by the title of it and took off to here.

by **Aurea** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:15 pm

Money is the new religion and people follow it. Like religions today, the religion of money will collapse one day.

by **Pandeeria** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:15 pm

The Black Forrest wrote:
Basseemia wrote:In my opinion, it's the breakthrough of scientific research, the questioning of everything, and education. It has come to where religion can't explain some things that science can.

Scientific research?

How does one test for the existence or non-existence of a God?

I think he meant logic, and that we can disprove scientifically incorrect things in the bible.

by **The Five Galaxies** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:16 pm

Terra Sector Union wrote:Too many intellectuals speaking their mind on the internet. We oughta crack down on free speech. I have nothing against the concept of atheism itself but I believe it has been causing a lot of civil unrest and anarchy movements in society. No different than wars caused by religion.

Are you being sarcastic about this? It's difficult to tell.

by **Intelectual Atheists** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:16 pm

Terra Sector Union wrote:Too many intellectuals speaking their mind on the internet. We oughta crack down on free speech. I have nothing against the concept of atheism itself but I believe it has been causing a lot of civil unrest and anarchy movements in society. No different than wars caused by religion.

I don't want to begin an argument or anything like that but wouldn't reducing free speech reduce civil rights? I don't think we should close our minds because we disagree, I mean, it's not like I made my nation atheist only...Oh.

by **The Black Forrest** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:16 pm

NERVUN wrote:I really got to wonder if you read the article or just got excited by the title of it and took off to here.

You are supposed to read the Daily Mail? :blink:

by **Zoboyizakoplayoklot** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:17 pm

Cu Math wrote:I would say the double whammy of great atheist icons (Tyson, Hitchens, Maher, Dawkins to an extent) and the fact the religious establishments have had a lot of scandals recently

Such as [urlhttp://www.newsweek.com/vatican-pushes-back-after-pope-francis-claims-2-percent-catholic-clergy-are-258729]this?[/url]

by **Olmernon** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:17 pm

People are being exposed to the other side more. People aren't isolated and even if you try your hardest to avoid questioning your faith you're still a lot more likely to be confronted with the evidence against it.

by **NERVUN** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:21 pm

The Black Forrest wrote:
NERVUN wrote:I really got to wonder if you read the article or just got excited by the title of it and took off to here.

You are supposed to read the Daily Mail?

... This is a valid point.

In any case, tossing some cold water on the back slapping here, "Overall, 84 per cent of the world's inhabitants, which it estimated at 6.9 billion, identify with a religion, according to the study entitled 'The Global Religious Landscape' issued by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life on Tuesday.
The 'unaffiliated' category covers all those who profess no religion, from atheists and agnostics to people with spiritual beliefs but no link to any established faith. 'Many of the religiously unaffiliated do hold religious or spiritual beliefs,' the study stressed. 'Belief in God or a higher power is shared by 7 percent of unaffiliated Chinese adults, 30 per cent of unaffiliated French adults and 68 percent of unaffiliated U.S. adults,' it said." So it sounds more as if we have the general leaving of organized religions rather than a lack of faith.

Also, it's interesting to note that "Among the 1.1 billion unaffiliated people around the world, 62 per cent live in China alone and they make up 52.2 percent of the Chinese population.
Japan comes next with the second largest unaffiliated population in the world with 72 million, or 57 percent of the national population." Given China's state policy and Japan... well, being Japan...

Not quite the hurrah after all.

by **Basseemia** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:22 pm

Pandeeria wrote:
The Black Forrest wrote:
Scientific research?

How does one test for the existence or non-existence of a God?

I think she meant logic, and that we can disprove scientifically incorrect things in the bible.

I meant exactly that as well as theories, the biggest one obviously being evolution, that have been proven to be true but goes against most religious teachings not just the bible.

by **Scholmeria** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:23 pm

Basseemia wrote:Atheism has now become the third largest group of affiliation, or in this case no affiliation, to religion after Islam and Christianity and just before Hinduism. Judaism now has the world's smallest growing rate. (Source)

What is causing this decline in religiousness in humans today?

I guess that would be the mass media which are spreading commercial messages that are contrary to religous believes.

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:24 pm

Basseemia wrote:
Pandeeria wrote:
I think she meant logic, and that we can disprove scientifically incorrect things in the bible.

I meant exactly that as well as theories, the biggest one obviously being evolution, that have been proven to be true but goes against most religious teachings not just the bible.

Except it doesn't.

Some religious people may reject the idea or hold an idea of it so distorted as to reject it, but mainstream religions don't oppose evolution. No, not even Catholicism.

by **Intelectual Atheists** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 4:25 pm

People also no longer get stoned to death for having a different opinion anymore, except when you are on some social networks, but that's another topic.

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