# 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:** 8
**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 2, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/141 "2013-10-02T22:37:51Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Atheism , as a whole You seem to keep missing this point. There is no “as a whole” to atheism, just as there is no “as a whole” to theism. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/142 "2013-10-02T22:38:29Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Crisis Pregnancy Centers > Promise Keepers > Family Research Council Why did you leave the Ku Klux Klan off your list? It’s clearly Christian, and fits right in with these other three. And no, atheism has no replacement to offer for the Klan. Sorry. ---
**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, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/143 "2013-10-02T22:39:53Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Well I clicked on Austrialia and its organization seems to promote Atheism primarily; what does that do for humanity? :D:D:D ---
**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, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/144 "2013-10-02T22:43:08Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > Atheism doesn’t do anything at all. It’s neither an organization nor a dogma, but the lack of any dogma related to the existence of deities. > > That’s like asking what would happen if people who are not into sports took over the world. Now this is an excellent point; many Atheist are for the removal of religion, which makes it fair enough then to ask them what will they replace religion with? Okay some are not for the removal of religion, but for the removal of all the negative things they view religion causes. But if Atheism does not " Do anything at all", then what sense would it make to allow Atheism to rule the world? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/145 "2013-10-02T22:45:28Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > But if Atheism does not " Do anything at all", then what sense would it make to allow Atheism to rule the world? Are you talking to yourself? Because _that’s_ the question _we’ve_ been asking _you_! ---
**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, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/146 "2013-10-02T22:47:58Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Are you talking to yourself? Because _that’s_ the question _we’ve_ been asking _you_! I am asking you that question; what difference would it make if Atheists ruled the world? If Atheism does not " Do anything", then explain to me what a " Not do anything dogma" could do to change this world? ---
**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 2, 2013, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/147 "2013-10-02T22:59:07Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Now this is an excellent point; many Atheist are for the removal of religion, which makes it fair enough then to ask them what will they replace religion with? Nothing; there’s no need to replace it with anything. Religion is highly destructive; we don’t need a “replacement” for that. > [@Mickiel](#): > > If Atheism does not " Do anything", then explain to me what a " Not do anything dogma" could do to change this world? Doing nothing is better than being evil and irrational, which is what religion is. Atheism is better than religion _simply by_ being an absence of religion; just as _not being_ a racist, thief or murderer is better simply due to the absence of racism, stealing and murder. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/148 "2013-10-02T23:09:16Z")
Ok I’ll bite. I am now President Captain Kirk of the US. What would I do WTR to Theists/Theism 1. Use the “Bully Pulpit” to remind Christians, Jews and Muslims they are arguing about the same God and put in some serious hours towards peace in the Middle East. 2. Federal Dollars will not be sent to schools that teach Creation “Science”, Young Earth Theory and the like. If you want your children to learn things that are clearly Religious in nature, you can pay for it. 3. Use what power I can to get rid of “Blue Laws”. Your practices should not govern my life. 4. Going to work hard to keep Abortion “Safe, Legal and Rare”. Come work with me on this, I will be happy to work with you. Also Birth control, Women’s Health you get the picture. 5. National Health Insurance, not out of ideology because it is cheaper and more effective and the right thing to do. I will need your help on this too. That is about it. **Capt** ---
**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, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/149 "2013-10-02T23:13:32Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Nothing; there’s no need to replace it with anything. Religion is highly destructive; we don’t need a “replacement” for that. > > Doing nothing is better than being evil and irrational, which is what religion is. Atheism is better than religion _simply by_ being an absence of religion; just as _not being_ a racist, thief or murderer is better simply due to the absence of racism, stealing and murder. You are suggesting that religion is evil; I don’t agree with that, but it has evil in it. Are you suggesting that Atheism has no evil in it? Oh so are you saying Atheism is pure and without fault? If Atheism is better than religion, then explain how? Explain what Atheism could do for the world that religion has not. ---
**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 2, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/150 "2013-10-02T23:14:57Z")
Atheism doesn’t have evil in it because it doesn’t have _anything_ in it. There have been evil atheists, but nobody who was evil _because_ they were atheists. ---
**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, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/151 "2013-10-02T23:14:58Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I am asking you that question; what difference would it make if Atheists ruled the world? If Atheism does not " Do anything", then explain to me what a " Not do anything dogma" could do to change this world? Define “atheist” as you use the term. Show us that you understand what is being talked about here. ---
**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, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/152 "2013-10-02T23:20:15Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Atheism doesn’t have evil in it because it doesn’t have _anything_ in it. There have been evil atheists, but nobody who was evil _because_ they were atheists. So are you suggesting there are Theist who are evil because they are Theist? ---
**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, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/153 "2013-10-02T23:21:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Define “atheist” as you use the term. Show us that you understand what is being talked about here. I have already asked that you define Atheism; I am still waiting on that. ---
**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, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/154 "2013-10-02T23:21:42Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I am asking you that question; what difference would it make if Atheists ruled the world? If Atheism does not " Do anything", then explain to me what a " Not do anything dogma" could do to change this world? Is it possible you’re confusing atheism with [secular humanism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism) or another philosophy that’s popular amongst Western atheists? Because surely you understand that atheists have values and philosophies, right? They just don’t happen to derive from belief in a god? ---
**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, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/155 "2013-10-02T23:22:05Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > So are you suggesting there are Theist who are evil because they are Theist? 1. You still haven’t given us your working definition of “atheist”. 2. What the hell is your problem with plurals? Are you doing this deliberately? ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/156 "2013-10-02T23:24:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > 1. What the hell is your problem with plurals? Are you doing this deliberately? Can it possibly have taken you this long to catch on? ---
**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, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/157 "2013-10-02T23:24:41Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > I have already asked that you define Atheism; I am still waiting on that. The dictionary definition has already been given in this thread-unlike you, I don’t make up my own definitions. Since this is _your_ thread, what definition of “atheist” are _you_ using for the purpose of the thread? ---
**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, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/158 "2013-10-02T23:25:05Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Is it possible you’re confusing atheism with [secular humanism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_humanism) or another philosophy that’s popular amongst Western atheists? Because surely you understand that atheists have values and philosophies, right? They just don’t happen to derive from belief in a god? Well I have read that Atheism does not " Do Anything", and has " Nothing in it", so I am wondering what that kind of philosophy would do if it ruled the world? ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/159 "2013-10-02T23:27:42Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Well I have read that Atheism does not " Do Anything", and has " Nothing in it", so I am wondering what that kind of philosophy would do if it ruled the world? Do you ever wonder what kind of philosophy left-handers would use to rule the world? What about people that don’t play Rummy, or people that never ride boats? ---
**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, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188/160 "2013-10-02T23:28:13Z")
> [@Mickiel](#): > > Well I have read that Atheism does not " Do Anything", and has " Nothing in it", so I am wondering what that kind of philosophy would do if it ruled the world? You’ve been here before, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-difference-would-it-make-if-atheist-ruled-the-world/670188.md?page=9)