# 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:** 26
**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, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/501 "2014-09-25T21:14:08Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > 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. All right, Smeghead, my position is: I defend the Bible, even as you scorn it. If I withdraw, it’s because I get sick and tired of being ragged. And obviously I don’t agree with atheists. Satisfied? ---
**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, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/502 "2014-09-25T21:16:18Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > How does having faith cause the Bible to stop contradicting itself? You are the ones making that claim, which I have never accepted. You don’t agree? Big deal. ---
**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, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/503 "2014-09-25T21:19:49Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > All right, Smeghead, my position is: I defend the Bible, even as you scorn it. If I withdraw, it’s because I get sick and tired of being ragged. And obviously I don’t agree with atheists. Satisfied? you actually think you’re “defending” the bible? by posting a random “consider verse x” or non-sequitor random musings and no discussion outside of “I disagree”? ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/504 "2014-09-25T21:28:40Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > You are the ones making that claim, which I have never accepted. And not once have you provided a rational answer to explain why you fail to accept this obvious fact. It probably does not matter. With nonsense posts and cheap shots that are just under the line for insults from both sides and one side refusing to actually address the issue being debated, this thread is not likely to survive much longer. The OP was addressed long ago, (including corrective demonstrations that the board is **not** overwhelmingly atheist along with the reasons why it does have more atheist posters than is typical on American based boards). And while the drift to discussions of attitudes toward the bible has provided points that have occasionally been interesting and occasionally been informative, the current round of meaningless feuding provides neither. Unless something like a genuine debate appears pretty soon, this thread will be closed. (Anyone wishing to simply bash other posters is welcome to open a thread in The BBQ Pit.) [/Moderating] ---
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/505 "2014-09-25T21:45:48Z")
> [@simster](#): > > you actually think you’re “defending” the bible? > > by posting a random “consider verse x” or non-sequitor random musings and no discussion outside of “I disagree”? Take it or leave it. ---
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/506 "2014-09-25T21:51:30Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > And not once have you provided a rational answer to explain why you fail to accept this obvious fact. > > It probably does not matter. With nonsense posts and cheap shots that are just under the line for insults from both sides and one side refusing to actually address the issue being debated, this thread is not likely to survive much longer. > > The OP was addressed long ago, (including corrective demonstrations that the board is **not** overwhelmingly atheist along with the reasons why it does have more atheist posters than is typical on American based boards). And while the drift to discussions of attitudes toward the bible has provided points that have occasionally been interesting and occasionally been informative, the current round of meaningless feuding provides neither. > Unless something like a genuine debate appears pretty soon, this thread will be closed. (Anyone wishing to simply bash other posters is welcome to open a thread in The BBQ Pit.) > > [/Moderating] "…“This obvious fact…” I resent questions and statements that are brazenly leading. Such as this, which is as bad as “Do you still beat your wife?” Don’t ask me a question in such a way that you can predict the answer I would give. I didn’t give you your hoped-for answer and you welched. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/507 "2014-09-25T22:09:37Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Descriptive of WHAT?!! FAITH, you blockhead! > > I never thought I’d have to talk like Lucy on this board… Insults, even ones that rely on tropes form the comics, are still insults. Knock it off. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/508 "2014-09-25T22:18:45Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > "…“This obvious fact…” I resent questions and statements that are brazenly leading. Such as this, which is as bad as “Do you still beat your wife?” Don’t ask me a question in such a way that you can predict the answer I would give. I didn’t give you your hoped-for answer and you welched. NO. There are obvious contradictions in the bible. You have asserted that there are none. Every reply you have posted regarding such contradictions has used hypotheticals and imaginary claims to try to evade the issue. I have no interest in that aspect of the discussion and I am not one of your opponents in that particular hijack. I could not have “welched” on a discussion which I am not participating, so your accusation, (using an ethnic slur\*), is without merit. The presence of contradictions in scripture is, indeed, an “obvious fact.” Do not try to drag me into this discussion. No one has posted any question analogous to “are you still beating your wife?” so your claim is without merit. \*(Welch is a minced oath of Welsh and is based on a presumption that the Welsh are dishonest.) ---
**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, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/509 "2014-09-25T22:55:14Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > NO. There are obvious contradictions in the bible. > You have asserted that there are none. > Every reply you have posted regarding such contradictions has used hypotheticals and imaginary claims to try to evade the issue. > I have no interest in that aspect of the discussion and I am not one of your opponents in that particular hijack. I could not have “welched” on a discussion which I am not participating, so your accusation, (using an ethnic slur\*), is without merit. The presence of contradictions in scripture is, indeed, an “obvious fact.” > > Do not try to drag me into this discussion. No one has posted any question analogous to “are you still beating your wife?” so your claim is without merit. > > \*(Welch is a minced oath of Welsh and is based on a presumption that the Welsh are dishonest.) Ethnic slur? Well, maybe you can muster another term which is not a stilted circumlocution. ---
**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, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/510 "2014-09-25T23:00:50Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Yes, there’s a connection–but it’s not ideological. Well don’t leave me in suspense! Tell me of this connection. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/511 "2014-09-25T23:05:38Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > :Sigh: Well, I guess I’ll have to do it for you… > > - You is old as your doubts, but, brother, > You is young as your Faith. > Folks who lend cash all have it, > Folks who save trash all have it! > It’s undeniable that folks who order hash all have it! > (Second verse: …that gamblers on their knees all have it!) > …We can hope for some charity as long as we’ve got some Faith! > True Faith can give you wings to fly, > True Faith can make you fly so high! > Yes, Faith can touch the sky… > You can solve the riddle of it > If you got a little of it! \* > > Now I’d say that’s plenty descriptive–wouldn’t you? So basically what you’re saying is, it doesn’t matter that the bible has apparently unresolvable contradictions, you should just believe in it anyways? I’m sorry, but if that’s your epistemology, then you don’t _have_ an epistemology. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/512 "2014-09-25T23:18:05Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > . . . you blockhead! > [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Well, you isn’t the dumbest person that has potsed to this thread… I originally cut you some slack on this stuff as i am sure you feel that you are being “attacked” by many other posters. However, since you decided to post more than one insult while remaining obstinately unresponsive to the question submitted to you, I have changed my mind and I am issuing you a Warning to stop insulting other posters. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2014, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/513 "2014-09-25T23:19:24Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Ethnic slur? > Well, maybe you can muster another term which is not a stilted circumlocution. There was nothing “stilted” about my observation and we have had enough of your games. [/Moderating] ---
**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 26, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/514 "2014-09-26T01:38:57Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Well don’t leave me in suspense! Tell me of this connection. There is no question but that faith played a part in all of these, the Battle of Bunker Hill most notably. For the first time, colonials realized that regular British troops could be beaten–if not this time, then maybe next time. The Viet Cong was defeated in the Tet Offensive, but they came to the same conclusion–quite properly–as Colonel Prescott ’ s army. Robert the Bruce had the faith to persist, like the spider attaching its web, and he was vindicated. I hope this is a good illustration. 🙂 ---
**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 26, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/515 "2014-09-26T01:51:55Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > There was nothing “stilted” about my observation and we have had enough of your games. > > [/Moderating] That’s not what I meant. Lately political correctness tends to discard single words, such as the one I used that you said is an ethnic slur, in favor of circumlocution ("altitudinally challenged " instead of “short”, for example). This stifles my expression and I have to hunt for alternate words. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/516 "2014-09-26T01:57:37Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > There is no question but that faith played a part in all of these, 1. Wrong. There is plenty of question. There might be all sorts of reasons that people might choose to persist in pursuing s cause in the face of adversity. 2. What about all the people who persisted (or “had faith,” if you insist) and lost? ---
**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 26, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/517 "2014-09-26T02:07:48Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > 1. Wrong. There is plenty of question. There might be all sorts of reasons that people might choose to persist in pursuing s cause in the face of adversity. > > 2. What about all the people who persisted (or “had faith,” if you insist) and lost? Such as? ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/518 "2014-09-26T02:27:01Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Such as? For every winning side, there is a a losing side, presumably one with people who had faith. ---
**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 26, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/519 "2014-09-26T03:10:31Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > There is no question but that faith played a part in all of these, the Battle of Bunker Hill most notably. For the first time, colonials realized that regular British troops could be beaten–if not this time, then maybe next time. The Viet Cong was defeated in the Tet Offensive, but they came to the same conclusion–quite properly–as Colonel Prescott ’ s army. Robert the Bruce had the faith to persist, like the spider attaching its web, and he was vindicated. > I hope this is a good illustration. 🙂 It only illustrates that they persevered - it doesn’t illustrate “faith” - atleast not the religious type of faith thats been discussed - and while it might be a “nice illustration” - you have yet to demonstrate “what” they had faith in, nor have you cited any evidence for it. So - there are plenty of questions - and you have provided no evidence or citation for your claims. ---
**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 26, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/520 "2014-09-26T03:23:06Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > For every winning side, there is a a losing side, presumably one with people who had faith. How about all those people that constantly pray to avert hurricanes - do they not have “faith” ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=27)