# Am I the only person on the Internet who believes in God? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 24, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944 "2010-09-24T23:41:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/61 "2010-09-25T15:15:40Z")
> [@Mozart1220](#): > > > [@jsgoddess](#): > > > > There are more atheists online than in face-to-face interactions, that’s for sure. But atheists still aren’t the majority online. > > Are you saying that an Atheist will lie in a real life encounter so as not to get beaten up or something? Once, when I was about 10 years old, I was visiting a friend’s house. For some reason, the topic of religion came up over the breakfast table. I said I didn’t believe in God. The next day at school, my friend said his dad told him not to hang out with me anymore because atheists have no morals. ☹ After that, I became a lot more tight lipped about my lack of belief. ---
**Author:** ![psikeyhackr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/97f17d/32.png) [@psikeyhackr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psikeyhackr)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/62 "2010-09-25T15:30:00Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > ]Curiously, I have independently come to the conclusion that to believe something merely means to, er, believe it, without the process that led you to that belief playing into it. And “knowing” something is about certainty, not correctness: you can “know” things that are false merely by having dispelled all doubt in their truth. > > The fact that I’ve had too many theists telling me that they “know” things may have led me to the conclusion that the word does not imply correctness. It is a matter of semantic correctness. People say they know when actually they believe and say believe when they actually know. Many people are not very precise in their use of language. And sloppy language leads to sloppy thinking. That is why claiming to know should be used sparingly. Just because someone says they know does not mean I accept that they do. But I mostly don’t talk to theists about religion and god related delusions. Or atheists in person either on that subject. Plenty of people assume that their paradigme of reality and reality must be the same thing. psik ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/63 "2010-09-25T16:10:07Z")
> [@Pixiesnix](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > I believe in Athena on Mondays, Thor on Tuesdays, Morgoth on Wednesdays, Aslan on Thursdays\*, Superman on Fridays, and Athena on Saturdays. On only Sunday is my atheism pure. > > Wouldn’t it be more fitting to worship Thor on Thursdays? I was wondering that myself. Plus, I’m still waiting to see what the asterisk refers to. To the OP: It’s highly unlikely you’re the only person on the Internet who \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_, no matter what you fill in the blank with. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/64 "2010-09-25T16:13:39Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > This isn’t Pit worthy, but not Mundane. Seems like everytime I mention God in a post (in general, not just SDMB) people make comments with the underlying attitude,“Ain’t that precious, you believe in some Invisible Guy in the Sky.” You probably disbelieve in just one less God than atheists. ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/65 "2010-09-25T16:15:55Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > This isn’t Pit worthy, but not Mundane. Seems like everytime I mention God in a post (in general, not just SDMB) people make comments with the underlying attitude,“Ain’t that precious, you believe in some Invisible Guy in the Sky.” Atheists are a very small minority of the world (and even U.S.) population. This link gives some figures. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics\_of\_atheism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism) You’ll find a lot of atheists here on the SDMB because they tend to be highly intelligent people and this sort of forum attracts highly intelligent people. Atheists also tend to be very vocal about their atheism, so they stand out. Whereas the majority of Christians or Jews, or just non-religious believers rarely talk about their religious views. Just for the record, I’m not an atheist, but you could probably search the 1,400 posts I’ve made here in the past 6 years and find very little reference to my religious beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/66 "2010-09-25T16:23:44Z")
There’s less social pressure to conform when you’re chatting anonymously on the internet. No friends or family who will demonize you, no teacher or other people who may look at you funny. Plus, being able to use a computer gives you a couple more IQ points than the rubes who don’t use computers ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/67 "2010-09-25T16:36:17Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Plus, being able to use a computer gives you a couple more IQ points than the rubes who don’t use computers …which helps make up a little bit for all the IQ points drained away by Facebook, kitty pictures, and internet porn. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/68 "2010-09-25T16:43:39Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > > [@etv78](#): > > > > This isn’t Pit worthy, but not Mundane. Seems like everytime I mention God in a post (in general, not just SDMB) people make comments with the underlying attitude,“Ain’t that precious, you believe in some Invisible Guy in the Sky.” > > Atheists also tend to be very vocal about their atheism, so they stand out. Whereas the majority of Christians or Jews, or just non-religious believers rarely talk about their religious views. > e Damn atheists. They are always coming around knocking on the door and leaving pamphlets, demanding special tax breaks, asking for certain days of the year to be set aside so they can not think about God, just pests in general. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/69 "2010-09-25T16:44:26Z")
> [@jasonh300](#): > > Atheists also tend to be very vocal about their atheism, so they stand out. Whereas the majority of Christians or Jews, or just non-religious believers rarely talk about their religious views. If you’re talking about online, I agree. If you’re talking about face-to-face, I don’t think it would be possible for me to disagree more. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/70 "2010-09-25T16:50:01Z")
In repsonse to the OP, no. > [@Uzi](#): > > So, I wonder if the numbers on the internet actually do reflect society, if that society was actually free to make their opinions known. In hte USA, everyone is free to make their opinions known, except for government employees, who may be punished for making it known that they are Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/71 "2010-09-25T16:51:00Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > …and internet porn. There’s a negative correlation between porn and intelligence now? Damn! ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/72 "2010-09-25T16:55:17Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > In repsonse to the OP, no. > > > [@Uzi](#): > > > > So, I wonder if the numbers on the internet actually do reflect society, if that society was actually free to make their opinions known. > > In hte USA, everyone is free to make their opinions known, except for government employees, who may be punished for making it known that they are Christians. It’s horrible. They come to work on Ash Wednesday with a smudge on their forehead and they get fired, mention that their kid was baptized and they are walked out the door. It’s so bad the President of the United States has to pretend to be Muslim. I really don’t see how much longer Christians can stand the kind of discrimination and abuse they face on a daily basis. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/73 "2010-09-25T16:56:37Z")
> [@Pixiesnix](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > I believe in Athena on Mondays, Thor on Tuesdays, Morgoth on Wednesdays, Aslan on Thursdays\*, Superman on Fridays, and Athena on Saturdays. On only Sunday is my atheism pure. > > Wouldn’t it be more fitting to worship Thor on Thursdays? StR is a _reformed_ Thor worshipper. Only the retrograde _orthodox_ worship him on Thursdays. And never the twain shall meet. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/74 "2010-09-25T17:02:00Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > In repsonse to the OP, no. > > > [@Uzi](#): > > > > So, I wonder if the numbers on the internet actually do reflect society, if that society was actually free to make their opinions known. > > In hte USA, everyone is free to make their opinions known, except for government employees, who may be punished for making it known that they are Christians. So it’s just their opinion that they are Christians? I’m pretty sure that you can get fired from the New York Yankees for making it known that The Red Sox are the bestest team evar. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/75 "2010-09-25T17:16:39Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > [@ITR\_champion](#): > > > > In repsonse to the OP, no. > > In hte USA, everyone is free to make their opinions known, except for government employees, who may be punished for making it known that they are Christians. > > So it’s just their opinion that they are Christians? > > I’m pretty sure that you can get fired from the New York Yankees for making it known that The Red Sox are the bestest team evar. Let’s not discuss religion. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/76 "2010-09-25T17:17:58Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > > So it’s just their opinion that they are Christians? > > > > I’m pretty sure that you can get fired from the New York Yankees for making it known that The Red Sox are the bestest team evar. > > Let’s not discuss religion. Good one. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/77 "2010-09-25T17:26:45Z")
Examples of this term include “Jumbo Shrimp,” “Spiritual Truth,” and “Intelligent Theism.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/78 "2010-09-25T17:53:10Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > In repsonse to the OP, no. > > > [@Uzi](#): > > > > So, I wonder if the numbers on the internet actually do reflect society, if that society was actually free to make their opinions known. > > In hte USA, everyone is free to make their opinions known, except for government employees, who may be punished for making it known that they are Christians. Oh, I’ve _got_ to have a cite for this! It must be shown that _all_ the victims did was let it out that they were Christians-it can’t just be a part of a larger effort to break the rules to push an agenda of some sort. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/79 "2010-09-25T17:58:01Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > … just those who claim there are no God are very noisy. This is known as a sneer; it is not a meaningful statement in the world of substantive discourse. While IANan atheist, it’s interesting to know that through history the kind of thinking you represent has never been kind to those who did not parrot the great, unquestionable religious truths. One treatise on the war of religion against science reported the “awful pun” against Heliocentrism: “Ye men of _ **Galileo** _, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” (A twisting of the first part of Acts 1:11) But despite such clever abusive retorts, it was Geocentrism, not reason, that failed. * * * Kanicbird, let’s try to stick to substance, not sneers. [del]Now, _shut up_, yewww![/del] 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944/80 "2010-09-25T18:33:22Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Hey, I’m a five-point Calvinist hardline Presbyterian yet I’m here! :D;) Ummm… should I say “Thank you” for your openness or “My Condolences” for your reasoning powers? 😉 > [@SenorBeef](#): > > I feel terrible that you’re part of a persecuted minority of merely 96% of the American population, a population that rates the other 4% … :dubious: 96%? I’m figuring that you have read some survey that has it that high. (Percentage of people who say that they believe in God.) I’m skeptical. Maybe those who said that, even if they were completely comfortable with the question, should be asked follow-up questions. Questions about what they mean by the word. For instance, I’ve met a circle of friends who were “Pantheists” of a sort and blithely assumed that nature was what one meant by God. Add a Deist here and there and the figures for “believers in God” go up even more. There should be a cross-check for those who mean something significantly different from Jewish/Christian/Muslim deity beliefs. _ **- Jack** _ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-person-on-the-internet-who-believes-in-god/554944.md?page=5)