# More Atheists Than I Thought! **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 12, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470 "2006-09-12T23:01:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/1 "2006-09-12T23:01:30Z")
I needed some hopeful news today. This is from the Tribune-Herald coverage of Baylor University’s new study on religion in America: > [@](#): > > When asked whether a study of religion automatically skewed the results because of the reluctance by scoffers of the supernatural to take part, researcher Christopher Bader said the opposite was true. Some participants there, he said, wanted even stronger categories to express skepticism, he said. “They wanted to write ‘Heck, no!’ on there.” > > Getting agnostic and even atheist participation on Baylor’s religion survey didn’t seem to be a problem, he added. Although 10.8 percent did not claim any affiliation with any faith family or house of worship, only 5.2 percent of those surveyed declared themselves to be atheists. Five percent atheists! That’s a lot more than I’d though; I’d have figured maybe 2%. Not enough for the President or the gov’t. to actually acknowledge us, but still, more than I’d thought. Don’t feel _quite_ so alone tonight. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/2 "2006-09-12T23:05:31Z")
[QUOTE=Eve] I needed some hopeful news today. This is from the Tribune-Herald coverage of Baylor University’s new study on religion in America: Five percent atheists! That’s a lot more than I’d though; I’d have figured maybe 2%. Not enough for the President or the gov’t. to actually acknowledge us, but still, more than I’d thought. Don’t feel _quite_ so alone tonight. [/QUOTE] You’ve always got all of us… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/3 "2006-09-12T23:05:54Z")
[QUOTE=Eve] I needed some hopeful news today. This is from the Tribune-Herald coverage of Baylor University’s new study on religion in America: Five percent atheists! That’s a lot more than I’d though; I’d have figured maybe 2%. Not enough for the President or the gov’t. to actually acknowledge us, but still, more than I’d thought. Don’t feel _quite_ so alone tonight. [/QUOTE] Hmm, none of my friends are very religious, so that skews my perception, but I figured it’d be higher than that. I’d say around 50% of the people I generally talk to are agnostic if not athiest. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/4 "2006-09-12T23:14:59Z")
Every other poll I have seen has put American admitted atheists at 1-2%. This is a good thing indeed. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/5 "2006-09-12T23:20:01Z")
I’m always surprised by this, too, since my immediate group of peers probably runs at least 40 or 50%. Of course my peer group also probably suggests that 45% of the population is gay and 65% have PhDs or whatever, but the few atheists in the country always gobsmacks me. ---
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/6 "2006-09-12T23:35:35Z")
I definitely feel the sense of minority. Everyone always has some level or form of “spirituality” they feel they have to cling tenaciously to. Ive started reading “End of Faith” and its been both depressing and inspiring. At least theres an author with the guts to, as it says in an endorsement " say what we’re all thinking". ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/7 "2006-09-12T23:36:15Z")
That doesn’t surprise me. Actually, where I work is heavily skewed with religious folks and that surprises me more. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/8 "2006-09-13T02:15:28Z")
It’s Clinton’s fault. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/9 "2006-09-13T02:31:46Z")
Polls _always_ understate the percentage of atheists in the US population. Reason: many Americans were raised to believe that answering such questions honestly is akin to telling a stranger, “Yes, I like to strangle puppies and fuck my mother”. I go to lots of events where a silent prayer is conducted, and it always gives me a warm feeling to note how many people raise their heads, make eye contact and nod cordially. Any believers who can offer counter examples – _how did you do that?!_ Hear recalling George Bernard Shaw’s aphorism, “Why would anyone trust a preist’s advice on sex – if he knows anything, he shouldn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/10 "2006-09-13T04:04:52Z")
[QUOTE=Eve] Five percent atheists! That’s a lot more than I’d though; I’d have figured maybe 2%. Not enough for the President or the gov’t. to actually acknowledge us, but still, more than I’d thought. Don’t feel _quite_ so alone tonight. [/QUOTE] Is that all? Come to Australia, [15.5% at last count](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Australia#No_Religion). ---
**Author:** ![the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_chicken_of_exeter)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/11 "2006-09-13T04:08:08Z")
2.7% in Northern Ireland, probably less than 1% down south. I am a freak. ---
**Author:** ![the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac8455/32.png) [@the\_chicken\_of\_exeter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_chicken_of_exeter)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/12 "2006-09-13T04:13:13Z")
Apparently 0.7% of the English population is [jedi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_England). ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/13 "2006-09-13T04:15:20Z")
[QUOTE=the chicken of exeter] Apparently 0.7% of the English population is [jedi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_England). [/QUOTE] We even have a jedi [member of parliament](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Reed). 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/14 "2006-09-13T05:15:34Z")
[QUOTE=F. U. Shakespeare] Polls _always_ understate the percentage of atheists in the US population. Reason: many Americans were raised to believe that answering such questions honestly is akin to telling a stranger, “Yes, I like to strangle puppies and fuck my mother”. [/QUOTE] Never! As a true atheist, I want to strangle my mother and fuck puppies. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Alistair\_McCello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Alistair\_McCello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alistair_McCello)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/15 "2006-09-13T05:59:04Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > It’s Clinton’s fault. Personally I blame gay marrige. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRamenMonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@FlyingRamenMonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRamenMonster)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/16 "2006-09-13T06:17:16Z")
[QUOTE=Alistair McCello] Personally I blame gay marrige. [/QUOTE] I was about to say that \>:[ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/17 "2006-09-13T12:01:09Z")
“We’re gonna need a bigger boat!” ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/18 "2006-09-13T13:08:28Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager] Never! As a true atheist, I want to strangle my mother and fuck puppies. 😃 [/QUOTE] Finally, I know I am not alone in the world! Hail, brother! ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/19 "2006-09-13T13:33:03Z")
The tweed jacket brigade has long referred to the Victorian era as “a time of transition,” and part of the transition to which they referred was the movement away from religious faith and toward reason and logic. It seemed that the transition was stalled, but maybe not. Still, at this rate, it’s taking about 200 years for each 5% increment of reason and logic; my math skills tell me it’s gonna’ take about 2,000 more years just to hit something over 50%. 'Tis truly taking longer than Cecil expected! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470/20 "2006-09-13T14:00:05Z")
[QUOTE=the chicken of exeter] 2.7% in Northern Ireland, probably less than 1% down south. I am a freak. [/QUOTE] I’d bet you it’s more than that down south. Things have really changed there. Though the number of people who tick the ‘Catholic’ box may still be high, the number of practicing Catholics is shrinking by the day. I believe of all the people I knew when I lived in Dublin, only one attended mass outside of Christmas, weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs… er, what? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-atheists-than-i-thought/372470.md?page=2)