# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/21 "2013-10-02T16:17:27Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’ve noticed that the others on your list seem to be Christian-based. Could you not find organizations from other religions to support your claim? Well it seems that Christians were at the top of most of my research; Tyson foods Tom’s of Maine Hobby Lobby Service Master Herman Miller Interstate Batteries And I think Walmart. But if the thread last, I will try and find some. ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/22 "2013-10-02T16:18:47Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Would a dominant world of Atheist then seek to totally stop any Theism? Once again, “atheists”. ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/23 "2013-10-02T16:19:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you still sticking with your theory from the previous thread that other religions are demonic and thus, when you say “religious”, you actually mean “Christian”? > edited to add: Just for clarification, could you please give us your definition of “atheist”? On this thread I mean Theist, and what good they have done, and that compared to what good Atheism can do. The focus of this thread is Atheism. ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/24 "2013-10-02T16:20:39Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > The problem with these questions is that atheism itself isn’t an ideology with content. What sort of atheists are we talking about? If it’s Enlightenment humanists, the world would improve. If it’s Stalinists, it’d get worse. > > Similarly, if theists ruled the world, it’d make a tremendous difference if they were liberal Christians, or Aztecs. > > Does science count? It’s not atheistic per se, but it’s rationalist. Are you suggesting that all Theist are not rational? ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/25 "2013-10-02T16:22:38Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Who is this “Atheist” person you keep referring to? One of those rock stars with just one name, like Madonna? > > Also, while the Salvation Army & most of the other organizations on your list are forces for good, the Family Research Council and Promise Keepers are both on the side of Mephistopheles. What is Mephistopheles? ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/26 "2013-10-02T16:22:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > By the way, we usually don’t capitalize the word-it’s not like we’re an organized group. I’ve polled the members and we agree through unanimous affirmation that **Czarcasm** speaks for us. So it is written, so it shall be done. ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/27 "2013-10-02T16:22:58Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Are you suggesting that all Theist are not rational? I’m referring to [rational_ism_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalism). > [@](#): > > In epistemology, rationalism is the view that “regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge” or “any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification.” Religions are not rationalist, they are based upon faith, not reason. ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/28 "2013-10-02T16:25:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve polled the members and we agree through unanimous affirmation that **Czarcasm** speaks for us. So it is written, so it shall be done. Not a lifetime position, I hope-they tend to end rather abruptly. ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/29 "2013-10-02T16:26:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Not a lifetime position, I hope-they tend to end rather abruptly. We need a martyr, what can I say? ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/30 "2013-10-02T16:26:56Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > I’m referring to [rational_ism_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalism). > > Religions are not rationalist, they are based upon faith, not reason. Well be that as it may, its way to broad of a brush in my view, it suggest that religious people cannot be reasonable people, and I disagree with that, altough I am not religious, I know some reasonable religious people. So if Atheism ruled the world, you think then that the world would be more rational? ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/31 "2013-10-02T16:27:46Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > On this thread I mean Theist, and what good they have done, and that compared to what good Atheism can do. The focus of this thread is Atheism. You keep trying to group ‘atheists’ together as a group like you do ‘religion’ - there are plenty of ‘atheist’ individuals that do alot of good things and there are even groups without religous affliliations that do good things. Your entire question is similar to a former member here that tried to suggest - unsuccessfully - that atheists lacked purpose without the belief in ‘God’. > [@Mickiel](#): > > Are you suggesting that all Theist are not rational? Theism is ‘faith based’ - and is not ‘reason’ based - it is therefore not ‘rational’ by definition. ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/32 "2013-10-02T16:27:52Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > On this thread I mean Theist, and what good they have done, and that compared to what good Atheism can do. The focus of this thread is Atheism. You can’t expect us to take your word automatically that everything on your list is to the good, then move on. For example, what has the Family Research Council given us? ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/33 "2013-10-02T16:29:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > We need a martyr, what can I say? I’m allergic to wood and nails though my palms, and bullets make me break out. ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/34 "2013-10-02T16:32:05Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You can’t expect us to take your word automatically that everything on your list is to the good, then move on. For example, what has the Family Research Council given us? They were on my list because of their promotion of traditional family values. And I asked what Atheist groups promote family values and how would an Atheist approach to family life change how its viewed now? ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/35 "2013-10-02T16:33:44Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > They were on my list because of their promotion of traditional family values. And I asked what Atheist groups promote family values and how would an Atheist approach to family life change how its viewed now? What “traditional family values” do they promote? Show me that what they promote is something for atheists to emulate. ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/36 "2013-10-02T16:35:02Z")
> [@simster](#): > > You keep trying to group ‘atheists’ together as a group like you do ‘religion’ - there are plenty of ‘atheist’ individuals that do alot of good things and there are even groups without religous affliliations that do good things. > > Your entire question is similar to a former member here that tried to suggest - unsuccessfully - that atheists lacked purpose without the belief in ‘God’. > > . Who are these Atheist who do good? If you cannot give me some legit Atheist groups, I am willing to see the Individuals too. After all, if you would rule the world, we need to see examples of what such a world would be like. ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/37 "2013-10-02T16:36:01Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Well be that as it may, its way to broad of a brush in my view, it suggest that religious people cannot be reasonable people, and I disagree with that, altough I am not religious, I know some reasonable religious people. It doesn’t suggest that. Religion isn’t rational, but people generally are. Religion and religious people aren’t interchangeable. [QUOTE=Mickiel] So if Atheism ruled the world, you think then that the world would be more rational? [/QUOTE] Again, it depends. You have a fundamental problem here, which is content. For instance, you asked “what difference would Atheism make in Family life”. Say there’s a father, whose teenage daughter is seeing an older teen boy the father doesn’t approve of; a typical family problem. There is no atheistic answer to this problem, nor is there a theistic answer. Different atheists and different theists would arrive at different solutions, based on the content of their beliefs. An atheist who believes in crystal healing and aliens colonizing Earth in secret has little in common with an atheist who believes in naturalism. A theist who’s convinced God laid down stern laws of worship that must be enforced with public executions has little in common with a theist who believes God is a benevolent spiritual force that binds all living beings together. So, to answer your question, in depends on who these atheists are. If it’s ones with my humanist and naturalist views, then yes, the world would become more rational. ---
**Author:** ![Mickiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/0ea827/32.png) [@Mickiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mickiel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/38 "2013-10-02T16:36:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What “traditional family values” do they promote? Show me that what they promote is something for atheists to emulate. I am more interested in the values of Atheist and how that would change this world. ---
**Author:** ![sentrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@sentrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sentrix)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/39 "2013-10-02T16:37:52Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I’m allergic to wood and nails though my palms, and bullets make me break out. same here. sticks and stones may break my bones but whips and chains excite me. ---
**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 2, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/40 "2013-10-02T16:38:03Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Well be that as it may, its way to broad of a brush in my view,\*\* it suggest that religious people cannot be reasonable people\*\*, and I disagree with that, altough I am not religious, I know some reasonable religious people. > > So if Atheism ruled the world, you think then that the world would be more rational? \ This is your inference - it is not the meaning of the word ‘rational’ as stated in the response - it also has nothing to do with ‘being reasonable’ - it has to do with using ‘reason’ (or logic). They would be more rational by definition - that doesn’t mean they will all be ‘rational’ people. > [@Mickiel](#): > > **They were on my list because of their promotion of traditional family values.** And I asked what Atheist groups promote family values and how would an Atheist approach to family life change how its viewed now? Bolding mine - this usually equates with anti-gay messages as well as anti-abortion rights - who’s “traditonal family values” and why should they be promoted? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=3)