We’re growing. Scepticism is growing. This poll shows that a full 18% are nontheistic people — a nice jump over years past. A nice 8% specifically said they don’t believe in God, with another 10% on top of that are “not sure”. BUT, if asked about belief without the “Not Sure” option, they go secular!That’s about 50 Million Seculars!Lots of others have beliefs in reincarnation, spooks, astrology, and other non-Christian beliefs, which may be why the Christians are making up stuff to make us look bad.Here’s the poll
The Religious and Other Beliefs of Americans 2005 ROCHESTER, N.Y. ? December 14, 2005 ? That very large majorities of the American public believe in God, miracles, the survival of the soul after death, heaven, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Virgin birth will come as no great surprise. What may be more surprising is that significant minorities believe in ghosts, UFOs, witches, astrology, and in reincarnation ? the belief that they were themselves reincarnated from other people. Six in ten believe in hell and the devil. These are some of the findings of The Harris Poll of 889 U.S. adults conducted online by Harris Interactive? between November 15 and 22, 2005. The survey also found that women are more likely than men to hold both Christian and non-Christian beliefs. Republicans are more likely than Democrats and Independents to hold Christian beliefs. The level of belief is generally highest among people without a college education and lowest among those with postgraduate degrees. ? The 82 percent of adults who believe in God include 86 percent of women and 93 percent of Republicans but only 78 percent of men, 69 percent of those with postgraduate degrees, and 75 percent of political independents. ? The 73 percent of adults who believe in miracles include 79 percent of women, 83 percent of those with high school education or less and 76 percent of Republicans. Fewer (66%) men, post graduates (50%) and Independents (65%) believe in miracles.? The 70 percent of those who believe in the survival of the soul after death include 74 percent of women, 82 percent of Republicans but only 66 percent of men. Three-quarters (76%) of those without a college degree share this belief but only 53 percent of those with postgraduate degrees believe in this.? The 70 percent who believe in heaven includes 76 percent of women and 64 percent of men. This falls to 60 percent of Independents and 49 percent among people with postgraduate degrees. ? Seven in ten (70%) believe that Jesus is God or the son of God. This belief is more prevalent among women (75%) than men (64%), among those with less education (77%) than among post graduates (48%) and among Republicans (82%) than Independents (62%). On almost all the beliefs that are central to Christianity, there is a general pattern with: ? Higher prevalence of belief among women than among men.? Higher prevalence of belief among people with no college education and lower prevalence of belief among those with postgraduate education. Other interesting findings include: ? Six in ten adults believe in the devil (61%) and in hell (59%).Forty percent of the public, including 46 percent of women and 33 percent of men believe in ghosts.? One third (34%) believe in UFOs. More men (38%) than women (31%) hold this belief.? Just under three in ten (28%) adults believe in witches with slightly more men (30%) than women (27%) believing in them.One quarter (25%) of adults believe in astrology including 30 percent of women and 19 percent of men.One in five (21%) believe in reincarnation, the belief that they were once another person. While many people are very clear on what they do or do not believe in, there is a significant proportion (ranging from 10% to 25%), depending on the belief, that indicates that they are ?not sure? one way or another. For example, 10 percent say they are ?not sure? if they believe in God and 25 percent say they are ?not sure? if they believe in reincarnation or UFOs.
Phreedumb
Seems to me you don’t know your unholy bible. Those two verses come up quite frequently in my discussions of xtianity with the ignorant uneducated trash that I am unfortunately related to. You come on here to support your retarded religion and don’t even know the book! Seems to me that if belief in the Jesus myth is necessary for you not to burn in hell forever then you should know the Jesus/god myth manual inside and out. So, instead of saying, “LOL. Attack? No, how about providing the book and verse that you’ve quoted?” you should have recognized HeatheNZ’s comment immediately as paraphrasing those 2 verses (had you known your book of retardedness).
By the way, most of my friends have higher level degrees (masters or phd) and most of them know Jesus is a myth even though most were raised xtian. Horray for education!
pmswift
notfernuttin’ but, I’m pretty sure phreedm knew all along EXACTLY to what HeatheNZ was referring. That was just part of the little game that phreedm plays. He even knew it wasn’t an exact quote, I’ll betcha, and wanted to see how HeatheNZ would handle that.
Of course, HZ, being the honest gentleman that he is, freely admitted that it was not a direct quote and gave the best reference he could.
I could be wrong. But I bet two invisible unicorns I’m not.
Phreedm,
I was actually hoping you might offer your interpretation – so thatnks for abliging.
I certainly hope noone claims to know all the answers (except for invisible friends) for such a person would indeed be a liar.. I am happy at least knowing some of what I do not know. That is at least a step above ignorance.
As we all probably realize, when we grasp something we previously did not understand there are inevitably several additional unknown to investigate.
I don’t think it’s anything to do with humility. It’s just honesty and realism.
Agreed. But not so open that everthing falls out!
Comment from: HeatheNZ [Member]
Maybe that’s what the tissue paper is for.
Comment from: pmswift [Member]
Right on cue. A perfect example of our discussion………
And Karen….as I’ve stated several times I’m a minority on this board and find it hard to respond to all posts directed at me………I’ll try and do better in the future.
blockquote
wow, I don’t know what happened there, but I’ll try again.
Because they are lying, FCC & Arlington hoaxes. Is there a minimum amount of lying that is necessary before Dave can be proactive about it?
Karen,
Thanks for the compliment …. you are now responsible for the decrease in my humility quotient…… please stop, or I’ll never get into heaven.
Phreedm,
I took a look at my original post and although I did say that I had heard it was allegely purloined from the bibble, I did place it in block quotes. So that was not 100% clear I guess. Sorry about that.
What I would like to know is why there are still people with graduate degrees and higher learning credentials that still believe in the religious fairy tales and why these people even bother going to church. I took a humanities course in college and there were constant attacts by the religious people when truths about christianity were exposed such as the stealing of bible stories from pagan traditions and the fact that christ could have never been crucified because Romans didn’t use nails. These are the FACTS. These are not secrets or conspiracies and yet even learned people will have a b****-fit.
david715,
This is news to me. Do you have and references to back it up?
Sadly, I know a great many people with college degrees who are believers that Jesus is the son of God. I know of one person with a masters and 2 with BA, 1 with a BS degree and one with a PHD that take a deist viewpoint. That’s what comes to mind right now. I know a lot of teachers and people in medical fields, a few engineers. An engineer couple is among the most religious, with a xmas letter that made me want to barf. They work with my husband, so I keep my mouth shut. I think I’m getting a PC-related ulcer.
Phreedumb
I just like being mean to fundy trash. Trust me, I’ve taken it from your kind for years. As a gay atheist I’ve experienced nothing but hatred and hostility from you people so I have no problem being nasty to you or any other fundy trash.
phreedm, on an earlier thread(the one about the Kansas professor with a disdain for IDiocy), you mentioned that, “…my own personal experiences have proven to me God is real.” I’ve twice asked you to elaborate, as have several others, do see if you’re really just saying “I have a feeling,” or if you’ve got something realistic. Now that I’m quite sure you’re actually here, I’d like to ask again. Merely expressing curiosity. If you don’t answer, I’m going to assume you were lying (did I spell that right?).
PMSwift,
I too am a gay atheist (in the South!) and for too long gay people have been demonized, opressed, beaten, killed, and generally made to be fucking miserable by religious people and like you I make no apologies in attacking their mythology. Yes, I’m angry and I never pass up an oppourtunity to point out the fallacy of religion or argue with religious people about how incredibly ignorant and self delusional they are and I really could care less if this hurts someones feelings. Fuck the religious.
Alex.
david715
The Romans didn’t use nails? You sure? That’s a new one on me. Didn’t they shoe their horses?
Do you have a source for this?
David715:
I’m w/HZ. Please elaborate.
Oh, & provide sources, please.
It was the ossuary of Jehonanon, where archeologists found proof (maybe an unrepresented sample? Will look further) that the Romans did indeed use nails.
This is a fundy favorite to mention (McDowell especially).
What is left out of the equation, is that in order to dismount the body, the legs had to be amputated.
http://www.joezias.com/CrucifixionAntiquity.html
HZ:
Old Korean philosopher once said, “Ignorance is the beginning of wisdom, wisdom the knowledge of ignorance, and stupidity the function of mankind.”
I’ll give a no-prize to anyone who can name that fellow.
How to you close the italics tag? Do you put the slash before or after the I?
Noodes
Before the I.
Like this, is it?
Noodles
There ya go.
Comment from: The Noodly Apendage [Member]
I have answered…..here’s my email address. Far to long to take space here on Dave’s server.
phreedm@intergate.com
Seeker:
Good article. To fulfill Phreddy’s prophesy – worldnetdaily?
I distrust most news sources (both left & right), as they tend to play only the selected highlights.
Has anyone else published this story? Are there more details, elsewhere?
I’m betting there is.
I have a problem w/any media outlet that espouses Coulter, anywhoways.
phreddy:
Ah, yes, a truly Xtian response, a truly Xtian attitude…NOT!
Not Confuscius, is it? No…Lao-Tzu? I’m pretty sure they were both from China, but I think Korea was a part of China in those days, so I’ll guess anyway.
reluctant
My son saved it; said we should send it in to Leno for his “Headlines” bit.
I don’t know who your philosopher is/was, but I had a fortune cookie the other day that had a fortune saying “Do ONTO others as you would have others do ONTO you.” ONTO wasn’t in all caps, but those were the words used! NO lie!
I was watching the History Channel earlier this week. The episode was about the discovery and recovery of the remains of large Roman pleasure ships. Those ships had been constructed with large cut nails.
The study failed to take into account the age of the participants. I would assume that 50> demographic scores significantly higher in their religious beliefs than those 30
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47892
Seeker……..great article.
Won’t take long for someone to complain about the source though.
It seems there is a finite number of web sites acceptable for news here. I believe it’s up to 6 now.