Pew: 8 facts about atheists

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you believe in a higher power, you are not an atheist.

Some atheists believe in a non-spiritual higher power. Like they believe in scientific forces and concepts as a higher power that shapes and controls the lives of humans and other beings. But they do not believe that there is a god pulling the strings behind the scenes.

So some atheists might believe in a "higher power" but not believe in any gods.

A useful thing about understanding this is that it reveals how personal belief systems are, and how dependent on language, which can be imprecise. I've also heard s dentists who maintain religious beliefs describe their beliefs in God in a similar way-- like to point to the principles of physics or natural forces and say "that is God at work " They say God, an atheist would not, but the difference in their beliefs system is to some degree semantic.

Obviously many religious people and atheists are further apart than that (most atheists would not describe scientific forces as a "higher power" and many Christians are skeptical of science to begin with) but I think it's interesting that some are closer together than you'd expect.

[Anonymous]

^ scientists, not dentists! Typo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where in the article do you find the test? I'd like to take it. I think it's interesting the atheists do better on Bible knowledge than the professed believers. I've noticed that in real life too.

Nevermind. I found it.
Atheist here. I got 15 out of 15. (but I admit I was just guessing on the two Catholic questions about communion and purgatory).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you believe in a higher power, you are not an atheist.

Some atheists believe in a non-spiritual higher power. Like they believe in scientific forces and concepts as a higher power that shapes and controls the lives of humans and other beings. But they do not believe that there is a god pulling the strings behind the scenes.

So some atheists might believe in a "higher power" but not believe in any gods.

A useful thing about understanding this is that it reveals how personal belief systems are, and how dependent on language, which can be imprecise. I've also heard s dentists who maintain religious beliefs describe their beliefs in God in a similar way-- like to point to the principles of physics or natural forces and say "that is God at work " They say God, an atheist would not, but the difference in their beliefs system is to some degree semantic.

Obviously many religious people and atheists are further apart than that (most atheists would not describe scientific forces as a "higher power" and many Christians are skeptical of science to begin with) but I think it's interesting that some are closer together than you'd expect.

I can't see how anyone could argue that scientific forces (like gravity, centrifugal force etc.) aren't "higher powers." I'd add evolution through natural selection, but that one may be more disputed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14 of 15 questions right
Atheist since 2000

“On average, they answered about 18 out of 32 fact-based questions correctly, while U.S. adults overall got roughly 14 questions right.”

The link posted is for a different survey than the one referenced in Pew’s report on atheism.

The linked religious test only has 15 questions, and the test referenced in the op has 32 questions.

I took the linked 15 question test. It asked a few extremely easy and basic questions about the major world religions. I don’t know if knowing a few facts about each religion makes one knowledgeable. I got a perfect score and I am not knowledgeable about any religion. I just know a few things about the world’s major religions.

I think the weird thing about the test is that apparently people who are religious don't know as much about religion as people who aren't.

NP
That's been my experience with people who become atheist versus those who discover or become more religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is OP obsessing over atheism?

Are you questioning your faith? Or do you just enjoy antagonizing others?

Not OP, but if atheists start threads bashing religion all the time, why can’t op offer up a few actual facts?

Is that what we’re doing now? Escalating?

Sure you want to poke the bear?

You feel a Pew research article is poking the bear?

What is being escalated?

Don’t play coy. Intentionally posting antagonizing posts is escalating.

Is that what you want, OP?

There is nothing antagonistic being posted in this thread. You should report the posts you feel are antagonizing and let the mods deal with them, they can remove them if they feel they are inappropriate or break tos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is OP obsessing over atheism?

Are you questioning your faith? Or do you just enjoy antagonizing others?

Not OP, but if atheists start threads bashing religion all the time, why can’t op offer up a few actual facts?

Is that what we’re doing now? Escalating?

Sure you want to poke the bear?

You feel a Pew research article is poking the bear?

What is being escalated?

Don’t play coy. Intentionally posting antagonizing posts is escalating.

Is that what you want, OP?

There is nothing antagonistic being posted in this thread. You should report the posts you feel are antagonizing and let the mods deal with them, they can remove them if they feel they are inappropriate or break tos.

+1. Posts you don’t necessarily like aren’t necessarily antagonizing or escalating. Democracy is like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is OP obsessing over atheism?

Are you questioning your faith? Or do you just enjoy antagonizing others?

How is posting a Pew Research link that merely shows Pew Research results and research about atheists antagonizing others?

You post about athiests and then complain because athiests are posting in a religion forum.

At least you don't deny obsessing over atheism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:14 of 15 questions right
Atheist since 2000

I got 8 out of 15. I guess I really did daydream my way through church as a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is OP obsessing over atheism?

Are you questioning your faith? Or do you just enjoy antagonizing others?

Not OP, but if atheists start threads bashing religion all the time, why can’t op offer up a few actual facts?

Is that what we’re doing now? Escalating?

Sure you want to poke the bear?

You feel a Pew research article is poking the bear?

What is being escalated?

Don’t play coy. Intentionally posting antagonizing posts is escalating.

Is that what you want, OP?

There is nothing antagonistic being posted in this thread. You should report the posts you feel are antagonizing and let the mods deal with them, they can remove them if they feel they are inappropriate or break tos.

+1. Posts you don’t necessarily like aren’t necessarily antagonizing or escalating. Democracy is like that.

Don’t play dumb. OP is obviously trying to stir the pot.

Be careful what you ask for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14 of 15 questions right
Atheist since 2000

“On average, they answered about 18 out of 32 fact-based questions correctly, while U.S. adults overall got roughly 14 questions right.”

The link posted is for a different survey than the one referenced in Pew’s report on atheism.

The linked religious test only has 15 questions, and the test referenced in the op has 32 questions.

I took the linked 15 question test. It asked a few extremely easy and basic questions about the major world religions. I don’t know if knowing a few facts about each religion makes one knowledgeable. I got a perfect score and I am not knowledgeable about any religion. I just know a few things about the world’s major religions.

Maybe the answer is that atheists are educated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is OP obsessing over atheism?

Are you questioning your faith? Or do you just enjoy antagonizing others?

How is posting a Pew Research link that merely shows Pew Research results and research about atheists antagonizing others?

You post about athiests and then complain because athiests are posting in a religion forum.

At least you don't deny obsessing over atheism.

Does anyone think it’s creepy that this poster, an anonymous poster as we all are, knows another anonymous poster’s post history?

How would someone know what others post if we are all anonymous?

Are you a mod that has access to posters posting history or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is OP obsessing over atheism?

Are you questioning your faith? Or do you just enjoy antagonizing others?

How is posting a Pew Research link that merely shows Pew Research results and research about atheists antagonizing others?

You post about athiests and then complain because athiests are posting in a religion forum.

At least you don't deny obsessing over atheism.

Does anyone think it’s creepy that this poster, an anonymous poster as we all are, knows another anonymous poster’s post history?

How would someone know what others post if we are all anonymous?

Are you a mod that has access to posters posting history or something?

They don’t know for sure. They made an overly broad statement based on your style, and now you’ve outed yourself. Most people here are just testing spaghetti. Some things stick and others fall flat.

[Anonymous]

Some religious people, let's be honest, know very little about their religion. "Dumb as a fundamentalist Baptist" comes to mind.

Anyway, I'm an atheist and got 15 out of 15. And yes, I adore the Bible, particularly the OT as history and literature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you believe in a higher power, you are not an atheist.

Some atheists believe in a non-spiritual higher power. Like they believe in scientific forces and concepts as a higher power that shapes and controls the lives of humans and other beings. But they do not believe that there is a god pulling the strings behind the scenes.

So some atheists might believe in a "higher power" but not believe in any gods.

A useful thing about understanding this is that it reveals how personal belief systems are, and how dependent on language, which can be imprecise. I've also heard s dentists who maintain religious beliefs describe their beliefs in God in a similar way-- like to point to the principles of physics or natural forces and say "that is God at work " They say God, an atheist would not, but the difference in their beliefs system is to some degree semantic.

Obviously many religious people and atheists are further apart than that (most atheists would not describe scientific forces as a "higher power" and many Christians are skeptical of science to begin with) but I think it's interesting that some are closer together than you'd expect.

I can't see how anyone could argue that scientific forces (like gravity, centrifugal force etc.) aren't "higher powers." I'd add evolution through natural selection, but that one may be more disputed.

Because “higher power” indicates some kind of hierarchy, and the natural world has no hierarchies.

Plus it’s ridiculous new age woo woo bullcrap and it is a phrase that has no space in any scientific discussion. Even spinoza’s god or the god of the gaps.