# 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:** 17
**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, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/321 "2013-10-03T17:34:26Z")
> [@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. You cannot understand why people that worship other gods may not want to use your Bible as a guidebook?? ---
**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, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/322 "2013-10-03T17:34:34Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I would have to list the names, and I am not allowed to do that; suffice it to say there were 40 authors. Were any of those author’s ‘human’ ? Were they guided by a supernatural entity? ---
**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, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/323 "2013-10-03T17:36:31Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Were any of those author’s ‘human’ ? Were they guided by a supernatural entity? Do you have a list of Atheist leaders who would help rule the world if Atheist were given power? Lets have your list of them. ---
**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, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/324 "2013-10-03T17:36:36Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > No. What if I asked nicely? ---
**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, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/325 "2013-10-03T17:37:41Z")
Reported for forum change. ---
**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, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/326 "2013-10-03T17:38:36Z")
> [@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. The word for that isn’t theism; theism is the belief that one or more deities exist. That covers Ancient Greeks, Aztecs, the Norse pantheon, Egyptian mythology, aboriginal mythology, Islam, and countless others that either predate or reject the bible (or reduce it to secondary status). Maybe you need to coin a new term for your beliefs, Bible-ism or Reformed Christianity. “Theism” is taken. Moving right along, the writings of John Stuart Mill are books of morals and guidelines for everybody that can use them. So is the Bible, so is the Koran, so is the code of Bushido. Considering that you yourself seem vaguely hostile to the largest religion on the planet, which itself claims only a third of the population, you should understand that there is no common set of morals or laws or guidelines that are accepted universally. ---
**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, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/327 "2013-10-03T17:38:59Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Do you have a list of Atheist leaders who would help rule the world if Atheist were given power? > > Lets have your list of them. He never claimed to have such a list, so your demand to see it is completely unreasonable and totally nonsensical. ---
**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, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/328 "2013-10-03T17:39:07Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > What if I asked nicely? > **[Who wrote the Bible? (Part 1)](https://www.straightdope.com/21343123/who-wrote-the-bible-part-1)** > > A STAFF REPORT FROM THE STRAIGHT DOPE SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/329 "2013-10-03T17:40:39Z")
> [@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 were not told you couldn’t make lists. You were told to stop posting vague lists instead of making arguments. Try it. ---
**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, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/330 "2013-10-03T17:42:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > You were not told you couldn’t make lists. You were told to stop posting vague lists instead of making arguments. Try it. Well I am just trying to do as I am told. But thank you, if I make a list, I will argue each and every single word of it. ---
**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, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/331 "2013-10-03T17:44:53Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Well I am just trying to do as I am told. But thank you, if I make a list, I will argue each and every single word of it. As long as your arguments consist of something more than variations of “Because I say so”, we’ll have something to discuss. ---
**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, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/332 "2013-10-03T17:46:06Z")
Speaking of which, lets start with the list at the beginning of this thread: Why did you put the Family Research Council on it? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/333 "2013-10-03T17:49:21Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Well I am just trying to do as I am told. But thank you, if I make a list, I will argue each and every single word of it. Try this: instead of naming 15 books and asking people to read them all, mention one or two and explain in detail what the authors says and how it supports your argument. That’s what people actually want. ---
**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, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/334 "2013-10-03T17:51:50Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > [Who wrote the Bible? (Part 1) - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1985/who-wrote-the-bible-part-1) Thank you, I’ve already read that. Loukas is about the only solid name we have, as I recall ---
**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, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/335 "2013-10-03T17:53:10Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Try this: instead of naming 15 books and asking people to read them all, mention one or two and explain in detail what the authors says and how it supports your argument. That’s what people actually want. Well give me time to learn what people here want; and as I learn, I’ll give them what they want. I will not name 15 books, I can remember that, I will only name one or two and explain what the author says in detail; I can do that if I ever refer a book. ---
**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, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/336 "2013-10-03T17:54:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > As long as your arguments consist of something more than variations of “Because I say so”, we’ll have something to discuss. Can you show me where I ever said" Because I said so", I would like to see that? ---
**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, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/337 "2013-10-03T17:58:26Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Can you show me where I ever said" Because I said so", I would like to see that? Can you show me why the Family Research Council is on your list in the OP, or why the charitable organizations of other religions never made the list, or why you keep equating “theism” with “Christianity”, or why other religions should use the Christian Bible as their guidebook? ---
**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, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/338 "2013-10-03T18:01:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Can you show me why the Family Research Council is on your list in the OP, or why the charitable organizations of other religions never made the list, or why you keep equating “theism” with “Christianity”, or why other religions should use the Christian Bible as their guidebook? If you just really have a serious need to find fault in me, why not just ask me and I will give you a list of my faults, then you can just rail on them? ---
**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, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/339 "2013-10-03T18:04:01Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > If you just really have a serious need to find fault in me, why not just ask me and I will give you a list of my faults, then you can just rail on them? Just looking for answers to my questions. Got any? ---
**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, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/340 "2013-10-03T18:06:31Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Just looking for answers to my questions. > Got any? No, your looking for holes in me; for openings that you can rail on and on with; you have a need to find fault in any and everything I say; and I know this, so I have to be careful with you. You have talents that can cause the things that are not good for dialog in threads. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=18)