# 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:** 16
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/301 "2013-10-03T17:15:33Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I wonder if the world could be ruled or guided by a disbelief in deities with no common set of rules to live by? Given we have a huge set to live by now that are only coincidentally somewhat in alignment I fail to see your point. Some people, theists included, might argue that some commonality of moral expectations is based on the evolutionary path humans have taken. A theist might then link that to a divine agent while an atheist wouldn’t even bother considering the need for that hypothesis. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/302 "2013-10-03T17:16:20Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I think the bible encompasses all that. “Theism” is not the same thing as “Christianity” so, no. Try again. ---
**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, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/303 "2013-10-03T17:17:13Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Given we have a huge set to live by now that are only coincidentally somewhat in alignment I fail to see your point. Some people, theists included, might argue that some commonality of moral expectations is based on the evolutionary path humans have taken. A theist might then link that to a divine agent while an atheist wouldn’t even bother considering the need for that hypothesis. Are you suggesting that you see some good in Theist morals? ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/304 "2013-10-03T17:18:27Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Are you suggesting that you see some good in Theist morals? Which god’s theism are you referring to? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/305 "2013-10-03T17:18:45Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I think the bible encompasses all that. Which parts are common to all theistic philosophies? It’s rather a long list. ---
**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, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/306 "2013-10-03T17:18:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “Theism” is not the same thing as “Christianity” so, no. > Try again. careful - you might call him a christian - or suggest that teh bible is ‘christian’ - he hates that ---
**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, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/307 "2013-10-03T17:20:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Which parts are common to all theistic philosophies? It’s rather a long list. Well I am forbidden here to make list; and it is rather long. ---
**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, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/308 "2013-10-03T17:20:32Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I think the bible encompasses all that. That’s Christianity, not theism. Do you mean Christianity every time you write theism? They aren’t the same thing. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/309 "2013-10-03T17:21:38Z")
> [@simster](#): > > careful - you might call him a christian - or suggest that teh bible is ‘christian’ - he hates that I don’t care anymore-if he has a problem with the common definitions of words he can go duke it out with Mr. Webster. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/310 "2013-10-03T17:21:40Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Are you suggesting that you see some good in Theist morals? I have made no judgement about anyone’s morals in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/311 "2013-10-03T17:24:36Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I think the bible encompasses all that. Who wrote the bible? ---
**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, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/312 "2013-10-03T17:25:44Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > That’s Christianity, not theism. Do you mean Christianity every time you write theism? They aren’t the same thing. The bible is used by Christianity, it is not Christianity within itself. Perhaps this concept is hard to grasp by Atheists, which is another reason why I think it would be difficult for Atheists to rule the world; you have no common set of morals or laws or guidelines, so its hard for you to understand that the bible is a book of morals and guidelines for everybody that can use them, not just for any singular group to usurp it as a whole and then name the bible after that group. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/313 "2013-10-03T17:26:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Which parts are common to all theistic philosophies? It’s rather a long list. > [@Mickiel](#): > > Well I am forbidden here to make list; and it is rather long. You’re not forbidden from making lists. You made up a list of things that had nothing to do with what you were talking about and were asked to explain it. Go ahead, we’ll wait. ---
**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, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/314 "2013-10-03T17:27:06Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Who wrote the bible? I would have to list the names, and I am not allowed to do that; suffice it to say there were 40 authors. ---
**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, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/315 "2013-10-03T17:29:07Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You’re not forbidden from making lists. You made up a list of things that had nothing to do with what you were talking about and were asked to explain it. > > Go ahead, we’ll wait. No , my list are considered here to not be facts that are proven; I cannot therefore make biblical list here because the bible is rejected as being factual. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/316 "2013-10-03T17:31:14Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I would have to list the names, and I am not allowed to do that. Not true. ---
**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:** [October 3, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/317 "2013-10-03T17:32:15Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > No , my list are considered here to not be facts that are proven; I cannot therefore make biblical list here because the bible is rejected as being factual. Absolute nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/318 "2013-10-03T17:33:04Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > The bible is used by Christianity, it is not Christianity within itself. Perhaps this concept is hard to grasp by Atheists, which is another reason why I think it would be difficult for Atheists to rule the world; you have no common set of morals or laws or guidelines, so its hard for you to understand that the bible is a book of morals and guidelines for everybody that can use them, not just for any singular group to usurp it as a whole and then name the bible after that group. That’s a wonderful self deception I suppose. Nonsensical, but at least it’s all yours. ---
**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, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/319 "2013-10-03T17:33:20Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I would have to list the names, and I am not allowed to do that; suffice it to say there were 40 authors. You have the names of 40 authors of the bible??!!! That’s world news, man. Get off your cross and post them already. ---
**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, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/320 "2013-10-03T17:34:18Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > You have the names of 40 authors of the bible??!!! > > That’s world news, man. > Get off your cross and post them already. No. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=17)