What do studies show about Atheists that Christians don't know?

1. 61

   TessSchlesingerposted 8 years ago

   What do studies show about Atheists that Christians don't know?
   
   Only answers with a verified reference to a study will be accepted. This is because, quite often, people accept urban legend as fact. So Christians might not, for instance know that atheists know more about religion than religious people do. They might not know that there is a correlation between higher education and atheism. The point of this question is to establish accurate information about atheists that is not commonly known by Christians. All answers off topic and without references will be deleted.
   
   

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2. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   
   
   According to a 2010 Psychology Today article by Nigel Barber, Ph.D., atheists have higher IQ than religionists.  Dr. Barber indicated that atheists approach things by using logic and analysis.  They don't believe in things blindly.  In another study done by the University of Rochester, the more intelligent a child is, the more h/she sees the futility of religious belief.  The study also substantiated that since atheists have higher IQs than religionists, they are able to think abstractly and analytically.  This translates into atheists viewing religion as the epitome of irrationality and have no conclusive basis in reality.  The same study also showed that atheists are more educated than religionists. 
   
   A 2014 Pew Research Study indicated that the atheist population is increasing.  3.1% of adults identify themselves as atheists in 2014, up from 1.6% in 2007. The same study confirmed that 68% of atheists are male and their median age is 34 years of age.  78% of atheists are Caucasian and 43% have a college degree. 69% of atheists are identified as Democrats with 56% being liberal.  The same study substantiated that 92% favor same-sex marriage, 87% believe in legal abortion, and 74% believe in aid to the poor.  The study pointed out that 8% of atheists do believe in a god or universal being and 2% of atheists are certain that there is a god. 54% of atheists reported to have a sense of appreciation and wonderment regarding the universe. The study concluded that 32% of atheists look to science for guidance and that 65% of atheists seldom or never discuss their beliefs with religionists.

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   1. 48

      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      "The study pointed out that 8% of atheists do believe in a god or universal being and 2% of atheists are certain that there is a god." Definition of an Atheist anyone?

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   2. 90

      Kylyssaposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Wouldn't the people surveyed who think God is real actually be Deists? Then again, a lot of evangelicals call all sorts of people atheists (including other Christians), so maybe some of them accept the label?

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   3. 48

      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I cannot find the study or article "According to a 2010 Psychology Today article by Nigel Barber, Ph.D." Seems like there was no study at all just Barber's ramblings which he does a whole lot. "Evolutionary psychologist"? Kind of slanted.

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   4. 61

      TessSchlesingerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Eric Dierker, to quote from the same article. "This is flat out incorrect. The second someone says they believe in God or are absolutely certain God exists, they are not atheists. So the actual number is 0 percent." Obviously they misunderstood.

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   5. 48

      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      A study so flawed in a major aspect is not to be trusted at all. Sometimes Pew misses the mark. Sometimes the questions are asked in a manner predicted to get a result desired. IQ tests favor White male college grad linear thinkers. Bad marker.

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   6. 67

      Act 3posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Here is a link to some of Dr. Barber's sources:
      https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/th … w-evidence
      That was after a quick search - nothing comprehensive. It's an interesting discussion topic!

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   7. 86

      Austinstarposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Please provide proof of your claims to have a high IQ, yet still be religious! And perhaps you might be an exception and NOT the rule. People with high IQs don't need to brag about it and generally don't.

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   8. 85

      tsmogposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Just in case for perspective here is the link to the Pew Study. Interesting . . .
      http://www.pewforum.org/religious-lands … y/atheist/

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3. 86

   Austinstarposted 8 years ago

   Atheists know and accept the fact that prayer doesn't work. Mostly because there is no super being to grant you "wishes". Prayer is just a form of begging. And it is begging to the invisible sky daddy that isn't there. We don't understand why religionists are so fixated on prayer!
   http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/31/healt … .html?_r=0
   Also, there have been thousands of studies on "near death experiences" and NO ONE has ever come back from being brain dead. Not Jesus, not anybody. Yet religionists insist that Jesus, an immortal being, was killed and resurrected as a sacrifice to his "father or himself" to "save" humans from the world that their god himself created! Firstly, you can't kill an immortal (they don't even exist), and secondly, there is absolutely no need for the Jesus story. If there was a god, he/she/it/ could just snap their fingers and forgive his "creation" for whatever he judged that we did to offend him. So, religion makes absolutely no sense at all to a thinking person.

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   1. 48

      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Let us see now. Based on you. All US Presidents have had religion. Therefor all US presidents have not been able to think. Your last line there is incredible.

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   2. 86

      Austinstarposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Do you have proof that these religious presidents didn't practice the separation of church and state? Do you have proof that religion made sense to all these presidents? Or were they religious because they wanted the religious votes?

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   3. 83

      gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Eric, yes American presidents had a religion but that religion was for social approval- to get the votes of the masses.American presidents used religion as a lure so to speak.Do you think that they were authentically religious? No,religion was a game

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   4. 48

      Ericdierkerposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I guess their own testimony is proof enough for me. And the fact that they attended church. But hey you could be right maybe 1 or 2 were faking it just to get votes - Obama comes to mind. Reagan, the Roosevelts, Lincoln and Washington were true.

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   5. 86

      Austinstarposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Eric, please provide your proof of what you are saying. It's not true just because you think it is true. (just like religion itself)

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4. 61

   TessSchlesingerposted 8 years ago

   To add to what is being said about IQ and religiosity.
   
   IQ measures ability to solve problems accurately. The tests involve logic using math, spatial, words, meaning. Average IQs for countries below at link. American average is 98 with Hong Kong highest at 107. Ashkenazi Jews have the highest average at 117. To be gifted (genius) you need higher than 140. One percent of human beings are above 140. Info can be confirmed at https://goo.gl/E24Hlp
   
   A summary of the correlation between intelligence and believing in god is at https://goo.gl/ARpva5
   
   While knowledge (education) is taught, one is born with one’s intelligence. This is proven through nearly a century of testing IQs of adopted twins and triplets. God is a taught knowledge which is why people believe in different gods in different countries.
   
   Repeated studies (especially those with twins and triplets separated from their birth families at birth) show that intelligence is 100% genetic. Intelligence is problem That’s why people in different countries believe in different gods. Those people who have exceptional IQs eventually work out that there is no evidence of god and therefore become atheists. Those who don’t have the sufficient intelligence to see the falsities accept what they are taught/told.
   
   People get tested when they apply for jobs, go for career counselling, or a part of a particular study.
   
   Personal experience is not a measurement of IQ as it’s relevant to our own level of intelligence. According to the Royal Society, 95% of its members are atheists. In order to gain entry, one must be an eminent scientist. Eminent scientists average 1Q at 150 and above. Hard science average IQ is 150 and soft science 120.
   http://www.religjournal.com/pdf/ijrr10001.pdf
   
   By the way, 87% of American Jews (Ashkenazi) are secular, i.e. atheists.

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5. 60

   Angele Parrisposted 8 years ago

   To answer this question I will reference the article -TEN THINGS I WISH CHRISTIANS CONSIDERED BEFORE ARGUING WITH ATHEISTS    http://www.faithstreet.com/onfaith/2015 … ists/36113
   
   MAKE SURE YOU ARE ARGUING ABOUT THE SAME DEFINITION ABOUT GOD
   I will use Revelation 1:14-15 to describe the God I am writing about - His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (KJV)
     NO ONE EVER CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY BECAUSE THEY LOST AN ARGUMENT
   
   This statement is true about Pharaoh, Darius and Pilate. Darius did not disagree with Daniel, and Pilate found no fault with Jesus
   
   DON’T TREAT YOUR CONVERSATION AS A CONFRONTATION-TREAT IT AS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO GET CLOSER TO THE TRUTH
   You can only make the best out of life by knowing and understanding it. To know, you must fall back on the intelligence of others who came before you and have left their records behind. – Marcus Garvey
   
   PLEASE DON’T START THE DIALOGUE BY TALKING ABOUT HELL
   Talk about heaven. Revelation 22:1-Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
   
   DON’T GIVE AN ATHEIST YOUR UNSOLICITATED OPINION ABOUT WHY HE EMBRACES ATHEISM
   This statement should be true about African-Christians who were former slaves. Don't argue about why we embrace Christianity. 
   
   STOP SAYING EVOLUTION IS WRONG
   Similarly, stop saying creation is wrong:
   In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
   
   WHENEVER POSSIBLE DIRECT THE CONVERSATION TOWARD JESUS
   1 Corinthians 15:14New International Version (NIV)
   14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
   DON’T INTENTIONALLY CREATE MORE ATHEISTS
   This is a little difficult when preaching the word of God. Almost all who preach the message of God have been arrested.
   A JOYFUL CHRIST-FILLED LIFE IS A FAR MORE POWERFUL ARGUMENT THAN ANYTHING ELSE
   
   Christ is not  taught in public schools.
   http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nationa … -1.2219229

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