Christians are 'most persecuted group'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:There are obviously different definitions, understandings, levels, degrees etc of atheism just as other belief or non belief systems out there.

No, there aren't, you are still completely wrong despite it being explained to you, and that is the problem.

If you need WHY it is a problem explained to you, I can do so, but I will first ask: since every atheist is telling you the same thing, why do you refuse to accept it?

Every atheist? I reject this notion

pp loves rejecting things, but in this case it's not a notion. It's a fact that atheists posting here have accurately presented atheism as a simple lack of belief in gods. One doesn't need to be an atheist to say this or know this. It's a simple bit of information.

No it is not that simple, there are all sorts of atheists just like there are all sorts of christians, hindus and muslims etc.

Atheists have all sorts of personalities, like other people, despite nationality or religion or lack of it.

Because atheism is a lack of religious belief, there are no differences among atheists regarding religious beliefs. Just like there are no symptoms of measles among people who do not have measles: they are asymptomatic.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this. It should help people with limited knowledge or interest in atheism understand it better.

You're wrong. There are implicit atheists, explicit atheists, gnostic atheists, agnostic atheists, weak atheists, anti-theists, casual atheists, evangelical atheists, humanist atheists, religious atheists to name a few.

Yes and blonde atheists and republican atheists and left-handed atheists etc. Just as there are theists in all those categories you list as well. It has nothing to do with atheism per Se.

I don’t know why this simple concept is so hard to grasp.

Like Christianity is hard to grasp for atheists I guess.

Actually, these days, most atheists were raised in a religion, so know a lot about religion, firsthand. Also, many atheists made a study of religion before leaving, so know more about it than many religious people https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons are among the highest-scoring groups on a new survey of religious knowledge, outperforming evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Catholics on questions about the core teachings, history and leading figures of major world religions."

That may change as more people are raised without religion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are obviously different definitions, understandings, levels, degrees etc of atheism just as other belief or non belief systems out there.

No, there aren't, you are still completely wrong despite it being explained to you, and that is the problem.

If you need WHY it is a problem explained to you, I can do so, but I will first ask: since every atheist is telling you the same thing, why do you refuse to accept it?

Every atheist? I reject this notion

pp loves rejecting things, but in this case it's not a notion. It's a fact that atheists posting here have accurately presented atheism as a simple lack of belief in gods. One doesn't need to be an atheist to say this or know this. It's a simple bit of information.

No it is not that simple, there are all sorts of atheists just like there are all sorts of christians, hindus and muslims etc.

Atheists have all sorts of personalities, like other people, despite nationality or religion or lack of it.

Because atheism is a lack of religious belief, there are no differences among atheists regarding religious beliefs. Just like there are no symptoms of measles among people who do not have measles: they are asymptomatic.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this. It should help people with limited knowledge or interest in atheism understand it better.

You're wrong. There are implicit atheists, explicit atheists, gnostic atheists, agnostic atheists, weak atheists, anti-theists, casual atheists, evangelical atheists, humanist atheists, religious atheists to name a few.

Yes and blonde atheists and republican atheists and left-handed atheists etc. Just as there are theists in all those categories you list as well. It has nothing to do with atheism per Se.

I don’t know why this simple concept is so hard to grasp.

Like Christianity is hard to grasp for atheists I guess.

Actually, these days, most atheists were raised in a religion, so know a lot about religion, firsthand. Also, many atheists made a study of religion before leaving, so know more about it than many religious people https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons are among the highest-scoring groups on a new survey of religious knowledge, outperforming evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Catholics on questions about the core teachings, history and leading figures of major world religions."

That may change as more people are raised without religion.

Whatever helps you sleep at night. I wouldn’t want to be associated with genocide any more than Catholics want to be associated with pedophile priests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are obviously different definitions, understandings, levels, degrees etc of atheism just as other belief or non belief systems out there.

No, there aren't, you are still completely wrong despite it being explained to you, and that is the problem.

If you need WHY it is a problem explained to you, I can do so, but I will first ask: since every atheist is telling you the same thing, why do you refuse to accept it?

Every atheist? I reject this notion

pp loves rejecting things, but in this case it's not a notion. It's a fact that atheists posting here have accurately presented atheism as a simple lack of belief in gods. One doesn't need to be an atheist to say this or know this. It's a simple bit of information.

No it is not that simple, there are all sorts of atheists just like there are all sorts of christians, hindus and muslims etc.

Atheists have all sorts of personalities, like other people, despite nationality or religion or lack of it.

Because atheism is a lack of religious belief, there are no differences among atheists regarding religious beliefs. Just like there are no symptoms of measles among people who do not have measles: they are asymptomatic.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this. It should help people with limited knowledge or interest in atheism understand it better.

You're wrong. There are implicit atheists, explicit atheists, gnostic atheists, agnostic atheists, weak atheists, anti-theists, casual atheists, evangelical atheists, humanist atheists, religious atheists to name a few.

Yes and blonde atheists and republican atheists and left-handed atheists etc. Just as there are theists in all those categories you list as well. It has nothing to do with atheism per Se.

I don’t know why this simple concept is so hard to grasp.

Like Christianity is hard to grasp for atheists I guess.

Actually, these days, most atheists were raised in a religion, so know a lot about religion, firsthand. Also, many atheists made a study of religion before leaving, so know more about it than many religious people https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons are among the highest-scoring groups on a new survey of religious knowledge, outperforming evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Catholics on questions about the core teachings, history and leading figures of major world religions."

That may change as more people are raised without religion.

Whatever helps you sleep at night. I wouldn’t want to be associated with genocide any more than Catholics want to be associated with pedophile priests.

Nothing about being an atheist helps or hinders sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are obviously different definitions, understandings, levels, degrees etc of atheism just as other belief or non belief systems out there.

No, there aren't, you are still completely wrong despite it being explained to you, and that is the problem.

If you need WHY it is a problem explained to you, I can do so, but I will first ask: since every atheist is telling you the same thing, why do you refuse to accept it?

Every atheist? I reject this notion

pp loves rejecting things, but in this case it's not a notion. It's a fact that atheists posting here have accurately presented atheism as a simple lack of belief in gods. One doesn't need to be an atheist to say this or know this. It's a simple bit of information.

No it is not that simple, there are all sorts of atheists just like there are all sorts of christians, hindus and muslims etc.

Atheists have all sorts of personalities, like other people, despite nationality or religion or lack of it.

Because atheism is a lack of religious belief, there are no differences among atheists regarding religious beliefs. Just like there are no symptoms of measles among people who do not have measles: they are asymptomatic.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify this. It should help people with limited knowledge or interest in atheism understand it better.

You're wrong. There are implicit atheists, explicit atheists, gnostic atheists, agnostic atheists, weak atheists, anti-theists, casual atheists, evangelical atheists, humanist atheists, religious atheists to name a few.

Yes and blonde atheists and republican atheists and left-handed atheists etc. Just as there are theists in all those categories you list as well. It has nothing to do with atheism per Se.

I don’t know why this simple concept is so hard to grasp.

Like Christianity is hard to grasp for atheists I guess.

Oh no, we get that just fine, as many of us were raised in it.

[Anonymous]

I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

I'm happy you believe in something. What is that? A survey? Way to go out on a limb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

Also, it should be clarified, that atheists know more facts about religion - which is what the pew study was measuring. They may or may not have more experience participating in religious activities.

I know some atheists who started studying religion when they became fed up with the restrictions that their religion required of them or when they noticed hypocrisy among their religious leaders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

Also, it should be clarified, that atheists know more facts about religion - which is what the pew study was measuring. They may or may not have more experience participating in religious activities.

I know some atheists who started studying religion when they became fed up with the restrictions that their religion required of them or when they noticed hypocrisy among their religious leaders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

I'm happy you believe in something. What is that? A survey? Way to go out on a limb.

It's called "data". It's how things get determined by smart people. Try it, you will be very satisfied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

I'm happy you believe in something. What is that? A survey? Way to go out on a limb.

It's not a matter of "believing" in a survey -- It's the scientific method. it's checking the methods and raw numbers that any respected survey research firm (like Pew) provides with its survey results.

I'm getting more and more convinced that you are an atheist yourself -- just trying to make religious people look naive and dumb, and provide an opportunity for other atheists to explain the fallacies of religion.

Many regious people are neither naive or dumb -- they simpy are attached to their faith because it enhances their lives and they don't care about its factuality. It makes them feel good. It provides community. It gives them hope for the future.

They like the idea that prayer works, even if experience shows that it doesn't a lot of the time. They like feeling like they have a personal relationship with the big guy upstairs.

They really don't care much about atheists at all.

[Anonymous]

I like the subtle digs at religion pp.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Christian and you know how persecuted I feel in this country? Zero. Nada. Zilch. But I'm disgusted how the fundamentalist beliefs of people like Pence have taken over the Christian narrative because I think what they teach is un-Biblical.

I'm also not surprised that agnostics and atheists are more knowledgeable about religion than the average Christian. I've visited some small town, conservative, Southern churches where many get their religious "education" and it's appalling. It's not education, it's propaganda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love this. So now not only are religious folks ignorant to atheism, you also know more about religion than they do.

Not more, no. But likely just as much.

Actually, research shows that on average, atheists know more about religion than religious people do.

As noted above: https://www.pewforum.org/2010/09/28/u-s-religious-knowledge-survey/

"On average, Americans correctly answer 16 of the 32 religious knowledge questions on the survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. Atheists and agnostics average 20.9 correct answers. Jews and Mormons do about as well, averaging 20.5 and 20.3 correct answers, respectively. Protestants as a whole average 16 correct answers; Catholics as a whole, 14.7. Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons perform better than other groups on the survey even after controlling for differing levels of education".

NP. Clearly you didn’t read the survey you’re citing. Or, you’re being disingenuous and hoping nobody will follow your link.

This is not an in-depth survey of the tenets of any particular religion. It’s a test of knowledge of very basic concepts of MANY religions. So, knowing that the Jewish Sabbath is on Friday, that Islam’s holy book is the Koran, that the Dalai Lama is Buddhist, that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, that Indonesia is mainly Muslim, that atheists do not believe in a god, and that that public schoolteachers cannot lead a class in prayer. This is most certainly *not* a test of whether respondents are familiar with complex theological issues like original sin, faith vs. works, or grace. Nor is it a test of in-depth scriptural knowledge for any major religion.

Doing well on this survey in no way suggests anybody is an “expert” in any single religion, far from it. FWIW, as far as the questions on Christianity specifically go, Mormons and Evangelicals did the best—not atheists.

Anybody here can follow your link and see the disparity between the expertise you’re claiming and what the survey actually measured.

PS. I work at Pew, although on a completely different issue and in a different building.