# Simple questions and non-responsive answers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 20, 2008, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956 "2008-05-20T11:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [May 20, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/41 "2008-05-20T19:16:42Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] I pretty much thought it rocked. Atheism is considered an established religion (especially by theists), as is [Secular Humanism](http://members.aol.com/TestOath/Torcaso.htm). **Czar** , if you wanted us to choose from the Big Five, you should’ve just come out and said so. [/QUOTE] 1. Atheism is not an established religion. 2. [Here is a very basic list of established religions.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_religious_groups) There are probably better lists out there, but there are certainly more than five to choose from. Unfortunately for those who like to play wordgames, “Chthulu”, “atheism”, “some of this one and some of that one”, “whichever one does so-and-so” and “all of the above-let everyone have their one reality” are choices that don’t seem to be on the list. Too bad, so sad, and you don’t get to use tarot cards in Texas Hold-em(“but they _are_ cards! I don’t understand what your problem is with my hand!”) ---
**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:** [May 20, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/42 "2008-05-20T19:16:52Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] I pretty much thought it rocked. Atheism is considered an established religion (especially by theists), as is [Secular Humanism](http://members.aol.com/TestOath/Torcaso.htm). **Czar** , if you wanted us to choose from the Big Five, you should’ve just come out and said so. [/QUOTE] The only people that say atheism is a religion are disingenuous pricks that are trying to win an argument. ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/43 "2008-05-20T19:19:56Z")
I choose the brown Catholic Burger King. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/44 "2008-05-20T19:34:24Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] 1. Atheism is not an established religion. 2. [Here is a very basic list of established religions.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_religious_groups) There are probably better lists out there, but there are certainly more than five to choose from. Unfortunately for those who like to play wordgames, “Chthulu”, “atheism”, “some of this one and some of that one”, “whichever one does so-and-so” and “all of the above-let everyone have their one reality” are choices that don’t seem to be on the list. Too bad, so sad, and you don’t get to use tarot cards in Texas Hold-em(“but they _are_ cards! I don’t understand what your problem is with my hand!”) [/QUOTE] Chick, I suggest you (and **Snarky\_Kong** ) check out what’s listed at the bottom of your list. Atheism accounts for 2.35% of the worldwide percentage of adherents. Jews only account for .23%, but I’m pretty fuckin sure you won’t discount Judaism. You allowed my entry of Taoism, and it’s even less than that (.04%) ---
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/45 "2008-05-20T19:36:08Z")
You can’t tell people not to fight the hypothetical. They’re always going to try and nestle into a nice, comfy grey area. It’s just human nature. Pain in the arse human nature, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/46 "2008-05-20T19:38:28Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] It’s a fucking poll with clearly stated parameters-if your answer does not stay within the parameters of the question as stated(absent the occasional smartassery which I have already stated I don’t mind), then the answer doesn’t count. [/QUOTE] Then throw all those answers out. It’s your poll; you decide what answers “count” and which ones don’t. ISTM the rest is white noise, right? **Why do people give other than the straight answer, ie., the answer that you want?** Because they want to explain why they feel they cannot answer the question as posted. Because they want more information as to what you’ve getting at before answering. Because they think the question is stupid. Because they want to mess with you. Because they are trying to convey that a complex question defies a simple answer. Because in this forum many of them are contrarians and/or over-analyzers who are unable or unwilling to Just. Answer. The. Damn. Question. Because they can. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/47 "2008-05-20T19:41:59Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] Chick, I suggest you (and **Snarky\_Kong** ) check out what’s listed at the bottom of your list. Atheism accounts for 2.35% of the worldwide percentage of adherents. Jews only account for .23%, but I’m pretty fuckin sure you won’t discount Judaism. You allowed my entry of Taoism, and it’s even less than that (.04%) [/QUOTE] It also lists “non-religious” in its list of “major religions.” Atheism isn’t listed there because it is a religious faith, it’s listed for completeness’ sake. Atheism is not a religion by any reasonable definition. ---
**Author:** ![Plexi\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f6c823/32.png) [@Plexi\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plexi_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/48 "2008-05-20T19:50:04Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] the same single primary or secondary color, what color would you choose?" [/QUOTE] What the hell other colors are there? You want somebody to paint a house fuckin’ ultra violet? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/49 "2008-05-20T19:53:43Z")
[QUOTE=Tamerlane] It also lists “non-religious” in its list of “major religions.” Atheism isn’t listed there because it is a religious faith, it’s listed for completeness’ sake. Atheism is not a religion by any reasonable definition. [/QUOTE] Is it a religious stance based on faith (albeit strongly supported by science)? Is. And I am willing to admit that I’m being somewhat pedantic, but if you’re going to say “pick anything on this list,” then don’t get pissed when someone actually does it. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/50 "2008-05-20T19:54:49Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] Chick, I suggest you (and **Snarky\_Kong** ) check out what’s listed at the bottom of your list. Atheism accounts for 2.35% of the worldwide percentage of adherents. Jews only account for .23%, but I’m pretty fuckin sure you won’t discount Judaism. You allowed my entry of Taoism, and it’s even less than that (.04%) [/QUOTE] I think he’s excluding atheism for philosophical reasons, not statistical reasons. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/51 "2008-05-20T19:59:28Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] I think he’s excluding atheism for philosophical reasons, not statistical reasons. [/QUOTE] Atheism is a viewpoint about religion, but it is _not_ a religion itself. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/52 "2008-05-20T20:02:23Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] Is it a religious stance based on faith (albeit strongly supported by science)? Is. [/quote] Is not :). Absense of religious belief is not a religion. Having a _stance_ of not believing in religion, is not a religion. > [@](#): > > And I am willing to admit that I’m being somewhat pedantic, but if you’re going to say “pick anything on this list,” then don’t get pissed when someone actually does it. Well, yeah…but why? I mean while I think **Czarcasm** is perhaps slightly more worked up over this than perhaps he should be ( a pit thread seems like overkill ), I can understand some mild irritation. It seemed like a fairly straightforward poll to me. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/53 "2008-05-20T20:07:21Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] Atheism is a viewpoint about religion, but it is _not_ a religion itself. [/QUOTE] I’m not disagreeing with you, but you must know that there are folks around here who would. And if it’s on the list you linked to, I’m sure you can understand the confusion. Do you want to include everything on that list, or not? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/54 "2008-05-20T20:13:39Z")
[QUOTE=Czarcasm] Atheism is a viewpoint about religion, but it is _not_ a religion itself. [/QUOTE] Okay, here’s my thing (and I am genuinely not trying to be nitpicky or intentionally blur any boundaries): people have a way of deciding for themselves what does and does not constitute religion. You just spent _weeks_ arguing with someone that I gave up on after a couple days regarding the nature of religion, you should know that. Your OP left it wide open. Some disembodied voice tells you to pick **any already established** religion, or the choice will be given to a stranger. After a certain number of replies didn’t fit your criteria, you came back and revised. I repeat: If you wanted us to pick from a certain list, you should’ve been more clear to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/55 "2008-05-20T20:24:05Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] I don’t think your problem has anything to do with this being the SDMB, I think it’s just human nature. I design questionnaires for a living, and you have to be VERY SPECIFIC as well as figure out ways to prevent people from going outside the parameters of the question. For instance, if I asked the question “If you could only go to ONE fast food restaurant for the rest of your life, which ONE would you choose?” Seems straightforward, but if I left it as a write-in answer, I guarantee I would get answers like: [/QUOTE] What if I say “The Wendy’s on the corner of Washington Ave and 2nd Street”, but then they tear it down? Do I get to pick another at that time? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/56 "2008-05-20T20:27:48Z")
I’m just curious if the pantheon of the ancient greeks would be allowed. I mean, it says any god… That’s kind of limiting. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/57 "2008-05-20T20:29:05Z")
[QUOTE=Tamerlane] Is not :). Absense of religious belief is not a religion. Having a _stance_ of not believing in religion, is not a religion. [/quote] You’re going to think I’m being nitpicky again. It is not about believing in religion (although I take more issues with religion than I do with those who simply believe in a god[dess]). I believe there is no god. It’s a statement of faith. I do not have proof that no such deity exists, but such science as we have supports my position to the extent that I am satisfied with accepting that article of faith. > [@](#): > > Well, yeah…but why? I mean while I think **Czarcasm** is perhaps slightly more worked up over this than perhaps he should be ( a pit thread seems like overkill ), I can understand some mild irritation. It seemed like a fairly straightforward poll to me. I suppose it was because it was left wide open, and then **Czarcasm** was amazed that people actually stated preferences that he didn’t foresee getting posted. There’s nothing wrong with pantheism under the original rules; it was within the spirit of the OP. Hell, I’m amazed no one answered “Cthulhu” til post 40. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/58 "2008-05-20T20:38:27Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] You’re going to think I’m being nitpicky again. It is not about believing in religion (although I take more issues with religion than I do with those who simply believe in a god[dess]). I believe there is no god. It’s a statement of faith. I do not have proof that no such deity exists, but such science as we have supports my position to the extent that I am satisfied with accepting that article of faith. [/QUOTE] The same way I take it on faith that there isn’t an invisible dragon in my closet. The same way I take it on faith that the sun will rise tomorrow. The same way that I take it on faith that if I have two apple and eat one I will have one left. That is in no way comparable to the faith of a religious person. Especially when you consider that atheism has no tenets, no rituals, no nothing except a non-belief. You don’t even have to make a positive claim that God doesn’t exist. Agnosticism is (soft) atheism. People saying that atheism is a religion or like a religion makes me want to curb stomp a kitten. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/59 "2008-05-20T20:49:08Z")
Hell, I might have posted differently in the other thread had I read some of the comments here first. Could we answer questions about questions and answers here, and about religion in the other thread? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956/60 "2008-05-20T20:49:12Z")
[QUOTE=Snarky\_Kong] People saying that atheism is a religion or like a religion makes me want to curb stomp a kitten. [/QUOTE] My word. Simply for pointing out that atheism is like a religion? You may want to see someone about your dosage, then. Or stay away from pet stores. It seems to be a fairly common (mis)interpretation. And there are atheists I’ve encountered who are so passionate in their disbelief, it may as well be ritual. It’s a religious belief. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simple-questions-and-non-responsive-answers/449956.md?page=4)