# 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:** 28
**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 26, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/541 "2014-09-26T15:29:01Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > I doubt that, with your contempt for the Bible, you would actually have gone to the trouble of discerning a message in it in the first place. I’m sorry, but holding your limited, modern and unsupportable interpretation in contempt is not the same as holding the Bible in comtempt. And I must say you are showing a very non-Christian attitude towards those you could be trying to teach through example. ---
**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, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/542 "2014-09-26T15:38:52Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > I’m sorry, but holding your limited, modern and unsupportable interpretation in contempt is not the same as holding the Bible in comtempt. And I must say you are showing a very non-Christian attitude towards those you could be trying to teach through example. Sorry, Doc–I call them as I see them. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/543 "2014-09-26T15:46:48Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Spoken like a true drunk in a bar at 1:45 a.m. Dougie, I don’t care about your beliefs. But this insulting of others has to stop right now. No more, of any kind. Warning issued. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/544 "2014-09-26T16:14:35Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Spoken like a true drunk in a bar at 1:45 a.m. I also don’t drink. No pancreas. But keep firing those random shots. You might accidentally hit something sooner or later. ---
**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, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/545 "2014-09-26T16:23:13Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Dougie, I don’t care about your beliefs. But this insulting of others has to stop right now. No more, of any kind. > > Warning issued. :Sigh: I confess. Point taken. I find it difficult to control myself when I encounter four-letter words in replies from people who are supposed to be sustaining intelligent discussion. Somehow I have never been able to reconcile the two. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/546 "2014-09-26T16:36:58Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > From the way you write, your inkwell must have a skull and crossbones on it. > Do you make hateful comments like that to anyone you meet who has a Bible with them? Or do you save your offensive comments for the safe isolation of the message board? Really? I thought I kept it quite neutral. ---
**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 26, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/547 "2014-09-26T16:41:11Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > :Sigh: I confess. Point taken. I find it difficult to control myself when I encounter four-letter words in replies from people who are supposed to be sustaining intelligent discussion. Somehow I have never been able to reconcile the two. What about post #537? No attack-Just a second attempt at a request for a clarification on your part. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/548 "2014-09-26T16:45:41Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > > [@Latro](#): > > > > And this is what I don’t get in non-literal believers. > > You recognise it is a bundle of old books, written between some 2600 and 1900 years ago, riddled with errors and contradictions with lots of influence from other religions and older versions of itself. Exactly what you would expect if written by people in some backwater, that had only just mastered the art of iron smelting. > > > > Yet they cling to the idea that this book is “holy” and that amidst this mishmash is hidden God’s special message to mankind. If you just read it right. > > Do you make hateful comments like that to anyone you meet who has a Bible with them? Or do you save your offensive comments for the safe isolation of the message board? There is _nothing_ hateful in what Latro wrote there. That you somehow took offense at this says quite a lot. ---
**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 26, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/549 "2014-09-26T17:01:07Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > {…} I find it difficult to control myself when I encounter four-letter words {…} > [@Latro](#): > > {…} this {…} what {…} some {…} with {…} with {…} lots {…} from {…} what {…} some {…} that {…} only {…} just {…} iron {…} they {…} idea {…} that {…} this {…} book {…} holy {…} that {…} this {…} just {…} read {…} Need I say more sir? :mad: 😉 CMC fnord! ---
**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, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/550 "2014-09-26T17:18:02Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > Really? > I thought I kept it quite neutral. Do you think so now? ---
**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, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/551 "2014-09-26T17:21:31Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > There is _nothing_ hateful in what Latro wrote there. That you somehow took offense at this says quite a lot. "Written by people who had only just mastered the art of iron smelting. " If that isn’t hateful it makes Latro out to consider himself some kind of superior being. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/552 "2014-09-26T17:21:34Z")
I see you taking a lot of offense, dougie, and not giving a lot of answers. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/553 "2014-09-26T17:21:50Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > :Sigh: I confess. Point taken. I find it difficult to control myself when I encounter four-letter words in replies from people who are supposed to be sustaining intelligent discussion. Somehow I have never been able to reconcile the two. Just concentrate on the questions they ask you and answer them. When they ask you to back up what you say, do so. That’s what sustaining intelligent discussion entails. When you respond with off-topic asides and dated comments, it makes you look evasive and doesn’t contribute to their enlightenment. You want them to understand your point, right? ---
**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 26, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/554 "2014-09-26T17:38:10Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > Just concentrate on the questions they ask you and answer them. When they ask you to back up what you say, do so. That’s what sustaining intelligent discussion entails. When you respond with off-topic asides and dated comments, it makes you look evasive and doesn’t contribute to their enlightenment. You want them to understand your point, right? He is not practiced in debate. He seems to be accustomed to receiving sermons, and does not know how to react when his audience challenges his sermonizing and rhetoric. I am hoping he can drop the immediate defensive reaction and be taught how to address a point. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/555 "2014-09-26T17:38:56Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > "Written by people who had only just mastered the art of iron smelting. " If that isn’t hateful it makes Latro out to consider himself some kind of superior being. My knowledge about the world and how it works, is indeed vastly superior to what some ancient from 2500 years ago would know. Ancient doesn’t mean ‘very wise’, or that they held some secret knowledge, now lost. They knew _less_ than us. Far less. What is incorrect about "Written by people who had only just mastered the art of iron smelting. "? Why would you think \*they \* were somehow superior? Btw Lots of people call yours a Bronze-age religion. I was being kind enough to note that indeed the Iron age had just begun when they started to write the bible. ---
**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, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/556 "2014-09-26T17:42:26Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Need I say more sir? :mad: > > 😉 > CMC fnord! Yes, you need say more. Like whether that was an attempt at humor. If so, it was a grievous fault… ---
**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, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/557 "2014-09-26T17:46:35Z")
> [@Latro](#): > > My knowledge about the world and how it works, is indeed vastly superior to what some ancient from 2500 years ago would know. > > Ancient doesn’t mean ‘very wise’, or that they held some secret knowledge, now lost. > They knew _less_ than us. Far less. > > What is incorrect about "Written by people who had only just mastered the art of iron smelting. "? Why would you think \*they \* were somehow superior? > > Btw Lots of people call yours a Bronze-age religion. I was being kind enough to note that indeed the Iron age had just begun when they started to write the bible. First things first! Why would YOU think writers were, in any era, ex-iron smelters? (Oh: and please note Job 26:7.) ---
**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 26, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/558 "2014-09-26T17:55:46Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > First things first! Why would YOU think writers were, in any era, ex-iron smelters? (Oh: and please note Job 26:7.) He is not talking about the INDIVIDUALS who wrote the books of the Bible. He is talkggn about their CULTURE. Jinkies! If I haven’t known you all these years I would think you were being deliberately obtuse ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/559 "2014-09-26T17:56:00Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > First things first! Why would YOU think writers were, in any era, ex-iron smelters? (Oh: and please note Job 26:7.) You really have no idea what I am saying have you? Also, if you are going to quote, please include the quote. ---
**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 26, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/560 "2014-09-26T17:56:06Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > First things first! Why would YOU think writers were, in any era, ex-iron smelters? (Oh: and please note Job 26:7.) “He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.” Noted and dismissed, as it has nothing to do with the topic of this thread, and I don’t even want you to try to tie it to this conversation-we have enough hijacks going on as it is. Is there a reason why you will not answer my question about whether you think that anyone that doesn’t take the Bible literally holds it in contempt? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=27) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=29)