# What difference would it make if Atheist ruled the world? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 2, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188 "2013-10-02T15:48:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/221 "2013-10-03T01:49:55Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > A reasonable request; > > I think religion has added at least these things; > > Some unity > > A voice the government has to take serious > > A monetary force > > A local neighborhood rally of inspirations > > A choice for youth that has possible positive connotations > Fellowship for loners > > A platform for morality > > I could go more, but at least give me something that Atheist could offer in each of these realities. and yet you ‘walk alone’ and ‘do not have religion’ and are not any of those things. What do you offer the world? what have you replaced this stuff with? the irony - it burns. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/222 "2013-10-03T01:54:43Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I think religion has added at least these things; > > Some unity No, it creates divisions and hatred that wouldn’t exist without it. > [@Mickiel](#): > > A voice the government has to take serious An _insane_ voice, the voice of evil and madness. > [@Mickiel](#): > > A choice for youth that has possible positive connotations Nonsense, the effect of religion on the “youth” is primarily torment and abuse. > [@Mickiel](#): > > Fellowship for loners Loners don’t want “fellowship”, and they certainly aren’t going to get it from religion. > [@Mickiel](#): > > A platform for morality No, religion _corrupts_ morality; it is a source of evil, not good. _Genuine_ moral behavior requires that religion be rejected or sidelined. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/223 "2013-10-03T01:54:51Z")
I’m linking [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681547) again, because it provides answers that there do exist atheist organizations that provide some of the benefits **Mickiel** has attributed to organized religion, including fellowship and a moral compass. Of course, they don’t claim to speak for **all** atheists, but no church/temple/whatever claims to speak for **all** theists, either. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/224 "2013-10-03T02:02:31Z")
> [@CLee](#): > > Hey, here’s a thought. What’s the abortion rate in Japan? Abortion rates generally appear to roughly equivalent to the United States. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/225 "2013-10-03T02:03:45Z")
> [@CLee](#): > > Hey, here’s a thought. What’s the abortion rate in Japan? Hard to say. It’s been going down as birth control becomes more commonly used. I found a stat from the Health Ministry from 2007, giving the abortion rate as 9.3 per thousand women. (In the 1950s, it was 40-50 per thousand women). This compares to a rate of 19.5 per thousand in the US in 2005, and 18.2 in England and Wales. Official statistics can be misleading, though, because doctors don’t always report abortions, partly because some do them under the table for cash, and partly because if it’s a teenage girl or an unmarried woman, they don’t want that getting out and affecting the woman’s reputation. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/226 "2013-10-03T02:10:49Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > In the case of the United States I’d expect: > > -Gay marriage would probably be legal nationally > -There’d continue to be controversy over abortion even if pro-life forces were somewhat weakened. Probably both abortion and birth control would be federal funded but with the overall result that abortion rates are reduced somewhat > -Liberalization of drug laws and an end to the Drug Wars > -Less restrictions by the FCC > -More widespread legalization of euthanasia in the states, including something like the Groningen Protocol being implemented in some states > -Further societal dissipation, compared to the Japanese or even most European populations Americans are far more individualistic and the loss of established churches (along with other social organizations such as say the Freemasons already in decline) is going to increase individual atomization. Probably higher suicide rates as a result. > -Partly related to the above, a rise in illegimate births and fornication > > Speaking as a Christian, I find that some of these results would be beneficial and others would be less than preferable Speaking as an atheist, I find your analysis insightful. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/227 "2013-10-03T02:20:52Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > A reasonable request; > > I think religion has added at least these things; > > Some unity > > A voice the government has to take serious > > A monetary force > > A local neighborhood rally of inspirations > > A choice for youth that has possible positive connotations > Fellowship for loners > > A platform for morality > > I could go more, but at least give me something that Atheist could offer in each of these realities. None of those are unique to religion, and not all of them are even beneficial. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/228 "2013-10-03T02:49:42Z")
Worst. Turing Machine. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/229 "2013-10-03T03:14:07Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Worst. Turing Machine. Ever. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/230 "2013-10-03T03:29:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, it creates divisions and hatred that wouldn’t exist without it. You have to admit that amongst any given congregation, there is tremendous potential for strong unity. This could prove to be a bad thing, even without the spectre of militant action. When you unify a group, it becomes that much more difficult for even mild dissenters to stray (think independently). Which is to say that unity itself may not be a net positive. > [@](#): > > An _insane_ voice, the voice of evil and madness. That is a bit extreme, there are crazy people in all walks of life, we should seek to treat the cause of insanity (which is not _always_ religion). But, as pertains to unity above, one has to wonder on whose behalf that voice is being raised, and to what ends. > [@](#): > > Nonsense, the effect of religion on the “youth” is primarily torment and abuse. While it may not always be obviously bad, there are also subtle effects of belief that cause problems for young people (and the adults they become). In the end, we all have to deal with _your_ children, they belong to society, it is not entirely clear why some people think they should control their children’s growth in ways that can leave those children emotionally scarred, confused and sometimes dysfunctional. My personal experience, FWIW, illuminates religious teaching as tantamount to child abuse, the churches desperately need to be kept away from all preadolescent humans – let them view it on balance and make a rational choice about what to subscribe to. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/231 "2013-10-03T03:45:56Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > A reasonable request; > > I think religion has added at least these things; > > Some unity Quite a bit of disunity, as well. At any rate, we have no lack of secular tribal markers, from nationality to which football team you support. This is a need that can (and already is) easily be filled by wholly secular means. > [@](#): > > A voice the government has to take serious Religious groups certainly wield a lot of power in government, but this is not a positive in and of itself. The ends to which that power is put is what matters. > [@](#): > > A monetary force I’m not sure what you mean, here. If it’s just “Religions have a lot of money,” well… so what? > [@](#): > > A local neighborhood rally of inspirations Not sure what you mean by this. It makes people feel good, and gives them good ideas? You can get that from _Star Trek_ reruns. > [@](#): > > A choice for youth that has possible positive connotations There are plenty of secular youth groups out there. > [@](#): > > Fellowship for loners Likewise, there are a lot of hobby and special interest groups out there. I’ll grant that this may take more of an effort on behalf of the loner, though. > [@](#): > > A platform for morality I’ve never noticed a lack of morality on behalf of atheists. Or a particular surplus of it on behalf of theists. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/232 "2013-10-03T05:06:11Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Thanks for making my point better than I could. Well, I can’t quite bring myself to say “ditto”, since my post was more articulate than yours. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/233 "2013-10-03T05:17:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Were you home-schooled? I don’t think it a stretch to hypothesize that English is not Mickiel’s first language. This is not a statement on his (?) intelligence, but on his phrasing and spelling. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/234 "2013-10-03T05:37:11Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I could go more, but at least give me something that Atheist could offer in each of these realities. Again, _atheists_ or _atheism_, not “Atheist”. And again, nothing. Atheism is the lack of belief in deities, not a structured philosophy. Just like ‘not being a communist’ is not a political organization. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/235 "2013-10-03T11:05:00Z")
None. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/236 "2013-10-03T11:45:17Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > -Partly related to the above, a rise in illegimate births and fornication. You’re still a young man, right? Let me introduce you to a very valuable concept: Catholic school girls. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/237 "2013-10-03T12:18:26Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > You’re still a young man, right? Let me introduce you to a very valuable concept: Catholic school girls. This is encountered more and more. People are coming of age that don’t know how it was just a couple of decades ago, when Religion _did_ rule the daily lives of people. Priests coming round your house interfering in private stuff, forbidding marriages between protestants and catholics. Clubs that you could only join if you were of the right religion, even official functions, etc etc… They see the last innocent remnants of what used to be a very intrusive and segragating power of evil and ask themselves what’s so bad about such a harmless phenomenon as religion. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/238 "2013-10-03T12:29:33Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > This is encountered more and more. People are coming of age that don’t know how it was just a couple of decades ago, when Religion _did_ rule the daily lives of people. Priests coming round your house interfering in private stuff, forbidding marriages between protestants and catholics. Clubs that you could only join if you were of the right religion, even official functions, etc etc… > > They see the last innocent remnants of what used to be a very intrusive and segragating power of evil and ask themselves what’s so bad about such a harmless phenomenon as religion. I’m not sure I fully take your point, but it was almost three decades ago when I was in high school and discovered the truth about Catholic school girls and fornication. I did end up marrying one, and it was not forbidden, except that we had to do pre-cana classes and I had to make promises I had no intention of keeping. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/239 "2013-10-03T13:30:16Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > I’m not sure I fully take your point, There are of course variations and degrees in all countries. In Europe the Black Crows have all but dissapeared, and that is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/240 "2013-10-03T13:33:35Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > None. Then what difference would it make if religion rules the world? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=13)