dado

some of the more vociferous atheists have made a number of claims regarding the relative worth of atheism and theism. a broad swath of these claims can be put in one category: basically, that atheism promotes clearer, more competent thinking. this is expressed a lot of ways - from "you can't reason, you're a theist" to "your reasoning ability is tainted by faith" to etc etc etc - but it all comes down to the same claim - that atheists can out-think theists.

if we accept such claims - and if "thinking better" confers a survival advantage - why isn't the planet overrun by atheists? is "thinking better" not such an advantage? does atheism in fact not imply a superior level of thinking? is there another option that hasn't occured to me?

i'll be over in the corner donning asbestos undies...(don't worry, i have faith the asbestos won't harm my lungs.)

Starboy

I am surprised that there are as many atheists as there are. Atheism is not about anything, it is simply a lack of belief in god(s). For me I self identify as an atheist simply because I can't stand what theists are doing to my country and the world. In any case the fastest growing category of people is non-religious, so I guess they too are getting tired of what religion is doing as well. Twenty years ago I could have cared less, things have changed. The lunatics are taking over the asylum.

Starboy

Kvalhion

A shift in the numbers of atheists in comparison to theists is not something that has or will happen overnight. I would venture to say that the number of people professing atheism has certainly grown in recent times. I would also say that the number of fundies is shrinking, even if they are as obnoxious as ever.

At least in this country, most people really do not need to re-evaluate their theistic beliefs. Its convenient and easy to believe there is a god, to go to church once or twice a year, to pray whenever you need something. Convenient christianity is indeed convenient for a lot of people.

So the shift happens slowly. The numbers attending church dwindle, power wielded by the church slowly crumbles.

Then there are the people who are literally indoctrinated from birth to beleive religion as unquestionable truth. Especially in the third-world countries, this is all they know. It is their entire lives.

I think the current trend will inevitably continue. Those with access to knowledge and independant thought will continue to shift slowly towards atheism as science progresses and the omniabsent god remains omniabsent.

Heathen Dawn

Why aren’t there more atheists? Probably because a lot of people don’t want to buy into such a depressing worldview.

EverLastingGodStopper

I lack both theism and a worldview.

Edited: And I'm not depressed about either.

Xev

Well, I actually do not see it as depressing. In fact, it took me a couple of years to actually be able to say, "I'm an atheist". I had this fear that if I did say it, some god was going to be mad at me. It was a RELIEF when I decided that my old beliefs were silly (to me). If someone else wants to believe, great. It's just not for me. I've noticed that I appreciate life a little more now that I believe this is the only life we have, that there is no afterlife. I'm not striving for something that I know nothing about, I'm not trying to warn others that what they're doing may affect their soul, etc. I'd rather buy into the here and now, and be happy about it, than worry about a judgement by a god that I have no relationship/evidence of. Just my opinion.

Heathen Dawn

Atheism is a worldview.

Good for you.

Krosis

One person being depressed by atheism.. does not a depressing worldview make.

-cheers

Heathen Dawn

I may be one person, but I bet there are many people like me in this regard.

Starboy

Well yes, they are all Pascal theists. What is your point?

Starboy