# How did so many atheists end up here? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 19, 2010, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219 "2010-07-19T14:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/21 "2010-07-19T15:09:43Z")
As **Dio** points out, my impression is that the strongest criticism of believers comes as their professed beliefs become more and more specific. When someone expresses a belief in something super/un-natural, why is it mocking or insulting to correctly observe that such beliefs have ZERO objective proof, and are not one jot more reasonable than belief in fairies, witches, IPUs or whathaveyou? Further , when yet another believer comes around with another version of the same old “proofs” for their belief which have so soundly been refuted countless times over the preceding centuries, are we supposed to simply say, “Yup - sounds good to me!”? I have not conducted any study, but I would suspect that at least in a good number of such threads the criticism has increased as an OP’s defenses of irrationality increased. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/22 "2010-07-19T15:14:35Z")
I’m guessing the unbridled hostility toward believers that is so prevalent on the board drives a lot of believers away. Though I guess that’s a chicken and egg proposition. I’m guessing the hostility and irrational prejudice feeds off of the lack of believers and vice-versa to create a vicious cycle. I’ve considered starting a Great Debates thread about the failure of many of this board’s atheists to really grasp the experiential aspect of religion. I never really understood how profound the disconnect was until [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12605712&postcount=29). The person asking the question was asking a very rational question, but to someone who has actually experienced glossolalia it’s striking how the least important element of the experience is the one that is emphasized the most. I’m a Buddhist too, **Bijou**. And an atheist. I don’t consider them mutually exclusive. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/23 "2010-07-19T15:14:45Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > While this board definitely has more atheists than the general population - its a comfortable place for atheists, I also think the believers around here under report. Agreed on all counts. There are a lot of atheists here. Many of the atheists here are openly hostile towards those that profess even the tiniest shred of belief. And I’d wager that there are plenty of people here who believe in God that never (or rarely) mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/24 "2010-07-19T15:18:05Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I’m guessing the unbridled hostility toward believers that is so prevalent on the board drives a lot of believers away. Though I guess that’s a chicken and egg proposition. I’m guessing the hostility and irrational prejudice feeds off of the lack of believers and vice-versa to create a vicious cycle. I have not seen this alleged “unbridled hostility” and “irrational prejudice” against believers. Would you care to link to some specific examples? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/25 "2010-07-19T15:19:49Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > And I’d wager that there are plenty of people here who believe in God that never (or rarely) mention it. That’s fine by me, as a contrast to the rest of my life where people keep bringing up their beliefs in situations where it is completely (IMO) unnecessary, and oftentimes offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/26 "2010-07-19T15:25:13Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I have not seen this alleged “unbridled hostility” and “irrational prejudice” against believers. Would you care to link to some specific examples? Post 3 this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/27 "2010-07-19T15:27:33Z")
The stuff in this thread about “well, we are a bunch of smart people here” is an example of hostility towards believers. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/28 "2010-07-19T15:31:16Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I have not seen this alleged “unbridled hostility” and “irrational prejudice” against believers. Would you care to link to some specific examples? No. I stated my opinion at the request of the OP. I have no desire to engage in a debate about this. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/29 "2010-07-19T15:31:24Z")
You guys are working with an unconventional definition of “hostile.” ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/30 "2010-07-19T15:33:54Z")
It’s not overt hostility but saying that people here are smart/educated so that’s why they are atheist is taking a shot at believers. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/31 "2010-07-19T15:35:58Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > Is that irony? He really doesn’t see it, **Bearflag70**. He just doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/32 "2010-07-19T15:37:29Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > It’s not overt hostility but saying that people here are smart/educated so that’s why they are atheist is taking a shot at believers. Also that religiously-inclined folks would turn to the church to ask “Is glass really a liquid?” rather than their fellow man 😉 ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/33 "2010-07-19T15:39:21Z")
This board is a freakin’ lovefest with regards to believers compared to, say, the JREF board. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/34 "2010-07-19T15:48:56Z")
So basically, nobody can back up the “unbridled hostility” allegations except for one mild (and smilied) comment about “informed/educated” people being less prone to religious belief. That’s about what I thought. The board is challenging to people who want to argue in favor of specific religious/supernatural/paranormal claims, but is not, by and large, gratuitously hostile to people just for saying they believe in God. ---
**Author:** ![Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d9b06d/32.png) [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boozahol_Squid_P.I)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/35 "2010-07-19T15:54:06Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > So basically, nobody can back up the “unbridled hostility” allegations except for one mild (and smilied) comment about “informed/educated” people being less prone to religious belief. > > That’s about what I thought. > > The board is challenging to people who want to argue in favor of specific religious/supernatural/paranormal claims, but is not, by and large, gratuitously hostile to people just for saying they believe in God. Do you really need someone to slog through, say, **Der Trihs** ’ backposts? I promise if you go through his last 100 posts, he’ll have said something outright offensive about religion and religious people. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/36 "2010-07-19T15:54:21Z")
What I saw as irony was “atheist calls out theist for bald conclusion in thread about atheism.” I’m not saying there’s no hostility here. I’m just saying the post in question was a bald conclusion. Maybe there’s another level of irony there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/37 "2010-07-19T15:56:41Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > This is not an accurate description of the board. In fact, it’s a completely false description of the board. Oh well then I recant. :rolleyes: This is not a nice place where believers making claims outside of the generic golden rule can exist too long without bringing down a fair bit of derisive laughter. Most people tend to take hearing their cherished beliefs dismissed as superstition or bronze age myth personally. That tends to be considered unpleasant and so they leave. Now is that unfair? Of course not. Claims that can be debunked or religious beliefs that have no basis in reality should be pointed out. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/38 "2010-07-19T15:58:27Z")
I think SDMB members overall are skeptical about pretty much everything and dismissive of people who present beliefs of any kind without a strong foundation in fact. There is some hostility to the role that religion has historically played in war, oppression and opposition to scientific thought. I don’t see a lot of people displaying hostility to the particular religious beliefs of other members, except where those beliefs threaten the rights of non-believers. In recent years, Christianity in the US has been closely linked to political views such as banning abortion, teaching creationism in schools and preventing gays from marrying. The goal in these cases is not merely to allow these folks to hold their own beliefs but rather to force everyone to adhere to these beliefs. This is extremely hostile behavior and greatly insulting to people capable of independent thought. Although not all people of faith behave in this hostile manner, there is not nearly enough outcry from tolerant, open-minded religious people against their intolerant brethren. Its’ not surprising that a group inclined toward skepticism and critical thinking is going to display some verbal hostility toward people who claim association with groups that impose their unfounded beliefs on others. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/39 "2010-07-19T15:58:43Z")
> [@Boozahol\_Squid\_P.I](#): > > Do you really need someone to slog through, say, **Der Trihs** ’ backposts? I promise if you go through his last 100 posts, he’ll have said something outright offensive about religion and religious people. That is one poster. I already said there was one poster like that. There maybe be others who are less prominent, but I still maintain that, by and large, the atheists on this board are not gratututously hostile to believers, and even **Der Trihs** is offset by **ITR Champion** starting a new atheist bashing thread every month or so. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219/40 "2010-07-19T16:00:46Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > … except for one mild (and smilied) comment about “informed/educated” people being less prone to religious belief… You ignorant fool. That emoticon was clearly a hostiley. [FWIW](http://www.nber.org/papers/w8080) - one attempt to suss out the interplay between education (not intelligence) and religion. I think what may be needed is an investigation of apparently decreased skin thickness among believers… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-so-many-atheists-end-up-here/547219.md?page=3)