# Why is this site overwhelmingly atheist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 30, 2014, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938 "2014-08-30T04:04:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 25
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/481 "2014-09-25T18:49:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Descriptive of what exactly, as it pertains to the conversation at hand? Descriptive of WHAT?!! FAITH, you blockhead! I never thought I’d have to talk like Lucy on this board… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/482 "2014-09-25T19:01:14Z")
That song is as descriptive of faith every bit as much as “Billy Don’t Be A Hero” is descriptive of warfare. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/483 "2014-09-25T19:01:30Z")
> [@simster](#): > > At best - it describes exactly how poor faith is as a belief system. > > “true faith” can give you wings to fly - that means that no one - ever - has had “tru faith” - unless its talking about aircraft, and I don’t believe thats the intent. > > now, for true faith making a person fly high - is that a drug reference (as implied by verse 1 and hash) or a reference to using airplanes? because while I have faith in the pilots and the equipment (again, based on relevant observable data) - that has absolutely nothing to do with faith in a religious sense\* > > and I am pretty sure that no one - ever - has touched the ‘sky’ - inasmuch since the “sky” isn’t an object that can actually be physically touched. > > so - this set of lyrics is basically just another example of “faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain or command trees to walk” as an empty promise and a useless form of belief. > > Was that what you were going for ? methinks not? > \*not that people can’t have a religious experience while flying or due to it - but it is two wholly different things. Why do you think Robert the Bruce didn’t give up after all those failed attempts? More recently, and more seriously, why did the colonial forces persist after the defeat at Bunker Hill–or even the Viet Cong after the Tet Offensive? (Don’t try to convince me that they were spurred on by the words of Marx or Mao.) ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/484 "2014-09-25T19:09:02Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Why do you think Robert the Bruce didn’t give up after all those failed attempts? More recently, and more seriously, why did the colonial forces persist after the defeat at Bunker Hill–or even the Viet Cong after the Tet Offensive? (Don’t try to convince me that they were spurred on by the words of Marx or Mao.) It is said that God seems to favour the side with the bigger guns. Could you make a simple statement instead of rhetorical questions? "What makes the elephant charge his tusk, in the misty mist or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? Wizard Of Oz - Courage Lyrics | MetroLyrics " ---
**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:** [September 25, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/485 "2014-09-25T19:16:20Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Do you think Leon Trotsky could have imagined that in Mexico, about 1939? > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Why do you think Robert the Bruce didn’t give up after all those failed attempts? More recently, and more seriously, why did the colonial forces persist after the defeat at Bunker Hill–or even the Viet Cong after the Tet Offensive? (Don’t try to convince me that they were spurred on by the words of Marx or Mao.) I’m an atheist, but not a Communist…am I doing it wrong or something? You seem pretty sure that there’s a connection there. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/486 "2014-09-25T19:39:24Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Do you think Leon Trotsky could have imagined that in Mexico, about 1939? ☹ Or Jim Jones’ followers in Guyana in 1978? They had faith. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/487 "2014-09-25T19:44:06Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > I’m an atheist, but not a Communist…am I doing it wrong or something? You seem pretty sure that there’s a connection there. Yes, there’s a connection–but it’s not ideological. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/488 "2014-09-25T19:44:31Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Why do you think Robert the Bruce didn’t give up after all those failed attempts? More recently, and more seriously, why did the colonial forces persist after the defeat at Bunker Hill–or even the Viet Cong after the Tet Offensive? (Don’t try to convince me that they were spurred on by the words of Marx or Mao.) How about answering the actual post instead of bringing in more non-sequitor conversations??? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/489 "2014-09-25T19:46:07Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Or Jim Jones’ followers in Guyana in 1978? They had faith. Well, first, why don’t you tell me what basis they all had for drinking poisoned Kool-Aid? ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/490 "2014-09-25T19:47:26Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > It is said that God seems to favour the side with the bigger guns. Could you make a simple statement instead of rhetorical questions? > > "What makes the elephant charge his tusk, in the misty mist or the dusky dusk? > What makes the muskrat guard his musk? > Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? > Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? > Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? > > Wizard Of Oz - Courage Lyrics | MetroLyrics " In the words of Major Winchester: If you want to heckle, go to a nightclub. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/491 "2014-09-25T19:48:11Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, first, why don’t you tell me what basis they all had for drinking poisoned Kool-Aid? Thirst! CMC fnord! ---
**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:** [September 25, 2014, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/492 "2014-09-25T19:50:25Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, first, why don’t you tell me what basis they all had for drinking poisoned Kool-Aid? asked and answered in the post you quoted. Try reading it again, this time read all the words and take a moment to think. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/493 "2014-09-25T19:51:46Z")
It’s not heckling when people ask you - IN A DEBATE - to explain what your position is. In your own words. Clearly. Which you are still refusing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/494 "2014-09-25T20:03:47Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Descriptive of WHAT?!! FAITH, you blockhead! > > I never thought I’d have to talk like Lucy on this board… Faith, in this context, is believing something without evidence for it. It’s an inherently irrational action. It’s your right to believe any nonsense you’d like. But it’s not real, and it doesn’t do anything real. No God is waiting to cure your illnesses or save you from car accidents. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/495 "2014-09-25T20:19:48Z")
How does having faith cause the Bible to stop contradicting itself? ---
**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:** [September 25, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/496 "2014-09-25T20:22:21Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > How does having faith cause the Bible to stop contradicting itself? It allows one to divert attention with nonsense posts and hope that no-one remembers that answers are still expected for earlier posts. ---
**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:** [September 25, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/497 "2014-09-25T20:23:27Z")
> [@simster](#): > > It allows you to divert attention and hope that no-one remembers that answers are still expected for earlier posts. In that case, faith has failed him yet again. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/498 "2014-09-25T21:08:03Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Thirst! > > CMC fnord! Never mind that. I wasn’t reading newspapers much from 1978 to 1981. So I looked in Wikipedia. …so Jones’ followers did the kamikaze bit with cyanide - spiked Kool-Aid lest the feds round them up. I see no similarity between this and the murderous attitude that prodded Stalin to have Trotsky hunted down and killed the way a bounty hunter might! ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/499 "2014-09-25T21:10:33Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Faith, in this context, is believing something without evidence for it. It’s an inherently irrational action. > > It’s your right to believe any nonsense you’d like. But it’s not real, and it doesn’t do anything real. No God is waiting to cure your illnesses or save you from car accidents. What nonsense do you like, Lobohan? ---
**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:** [September 25, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/500 "2014-09-25T21:11:30Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Never mind that. I wasn’t reading newspapers much from 1978 to 1981. So I looked in Wikipedia. …so Jones’ followers did the kamikaze bit with cyanide - spiked Kool-Aid lest the feds round them up. I see no similarity between this and the murderous attitude that prodded Stalin to have Trotsky hunted down and killed the way a bounty hunter might! Don’t care. What about the contradictions in the Bible that have been pointed out to you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=24) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=26)