Harumi

Vitz is not the only one who "blames the daddy".

Dan Barker once debated on public television with another man who "through much scientific research" discovered this 'bad-daddy syndrome. His main example was Robert Ingersoll, which Dan Barker easily proved him wrong, simply by taking a passage from Ingersoll's books saying how much he loved and respected his father.

Fundies: can't they find something knew to chew on?

Vandrare

my point here being that all his examples are of men, and their relationships with their fathers. i guess if we stay in a world where gender roles are so clearly and easily defined, then ofcourse god is equated with only the father figure, after all god has to be a man right?! where does this leave females in the great scheme of society?

:-D Anna

mfaber

I'd be willing to bet that the "scientific research" of Barker's opponent was a reading of Vitz's book. The thing is hawked on every a nearly every Christian site with a book-list (almost certain to be on the Religious Reich type sites) and on virtually all of white-supremists sites. They are only too willing to overlook it's obvious scientific deficiencies and the incredible bias of the author in order use it as a cudgel to bash atheists.

Veovis

Excellent post mfaber! Now I'll remember to watch out for this guy.

Barcode

If this theory was credible in *any* way then there would certainly be a lot more atheists in the world, wouldn't there?

Non-praying Mantis

Second that!

...and welcome to IIDB, Veovis!

NPM

Vylo

My father is one of my biggest role models in live, despite me being atheist and him being a devoted Catholic and deputy of the Knights of Columbus. He has always encouraged and supported me. He taught me many valuable lessons in life that I still use today. He has overcome drug addiction and alcholoism cold turkey (he did so when my mother became pregnant). He can hardly be called weak. And yet I am athiest. I believe this sample is far too small, and the selection was probably skewed.

Jennie

I have to admit, that it's crossed my mind to wonder if people with good parents are more likely to believe in a loving parental figure (god) than those without. I think it would be interesting to do the study properly. I've also wondered if there are personality types that are more likely to be atheist; the Meyers-Briggs sort of test.

To contribute my bit to the sample, my father died when I was three; Mom remarried when I was five or six (I got to be flower girl), and Dad adopted my brother and I: they then had two more children, my younger sisters. I'm an atheist, my younger brother is religious and so are my sisters. Both my fathers were good men, though naturally I don't remember much about the first one. My Mom is great too.

Philosoft

Think so? How about this: Males with deficient fathers are more likely to be theists because God fills the father-figure void in their lives. Is that a different type of "certain logic"?
Hey, thanks. I hadn't fully grasped the inanity of the original article until you pointed out that sometimes atheists say stupid things, too. Useful knowledge, that is.

chanoc

I find that article disgusting! Well, I am an atheist and want to someday be a daddy.
And about the campus, I am staying in school for life just to make sure there is at least one Atheist on campus.