# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/61 "2014-08-31T06:14:47Z")
I was listening to a Bible Radio creationism show the other day. The “scientist” guest was explaining that the human skull changes shape, all through a person’s life. Over time, the skull gets longer, and the brow ridges get a little heavier. Now, he said, extrapolate this to the 900 year life-span of mankind as the Bible says was enjoyed by the early generations after Adam… Yep! He explained Neanderthal skulls! They’re just Methuselahan skulls! Isn’t that just so elegant? The Bible explains everything, if only you heed it, and interpret it literally. I’m sure Darwin would have recanted everything if he’d only heard this one guy on the radio! ---
**Author:** ![nachtmusick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@nachtmusick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nachtmusick)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/62 "2014-08-31T06:18:35Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Because the majority of posters on this board have a critical and more scientific leaning outlook. I don’t think the board is actually ‘overwhelmingly atheist’ btw…I’d guess that it’s a higher percentage than the population at large (in whatever country you care to compare it too), but it’s still less than 50%. Just a WAG on my part though. In terms of numbers of members the Dope may not be “overwhelmingly” atheist, but from the perspective of a Theist or any other non-atheist (aathiest?) trying to have an honest discussion about the Larger Questions the Dope comes across as overwhelmingly atheist. So why does that happen? As stated, it’s “Because the majority of posters on this board have a critical and more scientific leaning outlook.” In other words, the Dope is a community united more by skepticism than atheism. No self-respecting skeptic would accept any religious tenet without question, but that does not mean that skeptics are atheist. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/63 "2014-08-31T06:37:11Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > There is also the fact that the board, myself included at times, tends to be hostile to people who fall outside of certain groups (atheists, liberals, pseudoskeptics, etc). So I’m sure a lot of religious people just keep it to themselves to avoid being treated rudely. > [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > If that were the case then why did he start this thread? Dude’s been a member since 2009 after all. Read the OP’s public profile. It should answer all of your questions. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/64 "2014-08-31T11:27:46Z")
> [@DingoelGringo](#): > > This is my favorite. If you believe that humans were made by something greater and it has to be that way because how else could it be then the next link on the logic chain would be to say that who made the creator of man then It would have to be something greater than the creator of mankind/ Wouldn’t it if you are following your own logic? I have made several atheist over the decades starting in high school at age 17 51 years ago. I have always wondered that if there is a supreme being there would first have to have a place for it to exist, so how did the place get there? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/65 "2014-08-31T11:35:54Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Yes, and the “something can’t come from nothing” arguments are just as totally irrelevant as Lawrence Krauss’ “something _ **can** _ come from nothing” arguments based on quantum fluctuations in vacuum, because empty space isn’t “nothing”. It is, for one thing, space – something that didn’t exist before the BB, and which has a whole host of interesting properties. The whole argument becomes a silly semantic one rather than a testable scientific hypothesis, beginning with the fact that “prior to the BB” doesn’t mean anything since the BB **created** space-time. It also created matter, energy, and the laws of physics by which we understand the universe, so it makes no sense to try to use those laws to describe preconditions for the BB that created them. All our ruminations about such preconditions are entirely speculative and more philosophy than science. I myself am just amazed and grateful that we know as much about the origin of the universe as we do. It’s the result of science at its very finest. This reminds me of a quote from Augustine that he states it is impossible for the earth to be round. What was unknown then is now a known fact. And where was the dome over the heavens, I wonder if it was plastic? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/66 "2014-08-31T14:45:26Z")
Augustine knew that the Earth was round. So did pretty much any educated person in the Western world since 300 B.C. Where are you getting your information?: > **[Flat Earth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Earth)** > > Flat Earth is an archaic and scientifically disproven conception of the Earth's shape as a plane or disk. Many ancient cultures subscribed to a flat-Earth cosmography. > The idea of a spherical Earth appeared in ancient Greek philosophy with Pythagoras (6th century BC). However, most pre-Socratics (6th–5th century BC) retained the flat-Earth model. In the early 4th century BC, Plato wrote about a spherical Earth. By about 330 BC, his former student Aristotle had provided strong empirical evide... ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/67 "2014-08-31T14:58:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Yes, and the “something can’t come from nothing” arguments are just as totally irrelevant as **Lawrence Krauss’** … I read that as “…totally irrelevant as Lawrence, Kansas…” and was about to jump in and support you wholeheartedly! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/68 "2014-08-31T15:34:07Z")
And as usual, the OP posted this and never came back. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/69 "2014-08-31T15:46:05Z")
> [@nachtmusick](#): > > In terms of numbers of members the Dope may not be “overwhelmingly” atheist, but from the perspective of a Theist or any other non-atheist (aathiest?) trying to have an honest discussion about the Larger Questions the Dope comes across as overwhelmingly atheist. > > So why does that happen? As stated, it’s “Because the majority of posters on this board have a critical and more scientific leaning outlook.” In other words, the Dope is a community united more by skepticism than atheism. No self-respecting skeptic would accept any religious tenet without question, but that does not mean that skeptics are atheist. Yes, exactly. Just like the environment isn’t exactly fertile for any woo or CT, it’s skeptical of religion as well, at least from the perspective of an uncritical and accepting of dogma viewpoint. Or catma for that matter… ---
**Author:** ![orangeapples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@orangeapples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orangeapples)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/70 "2014-08-31T17:34:09Z")
> [@DingoelGringo](#): > > You can always throw in “If monkeys turned into people why are there still monkeys?” Actually taught in the church affiliated school where my nephew went 20 years ago, and he still says it with a smirk on his face as if it made sense. “_That’s not my culture and heritage!_” _O Brother, Where Art Thou_ quote for those who don’t know the reference. I reject the notion of ‘overwhelming’ atheism. True, witness threads like this are quite often brought down and savaged by the godless pack that runs in these parts, but there are plenty of threads that explore religious matters beyond fly-by witnessing. Those threads contain a lot of interesting back and forth and earnest discussion about issues central to faith and a lack thereof. So I reject the notion of ‘overwhelming’ atheism. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/71 "2014-08-31T17:44:53Z")
> [@orangeapples](#): > > I reject the notion of ‘overwhelming’ atheism. True, witness threads like this are quite often brought down and savaged by the godless pack that runs in these parts, but there are plenty of threads that explore religious matters beyond fly-by witnessing. Last poll here was, IIRC, less than two out of three declaring as atheist, and more than one out of three as theist. So not evenly divided, but, yeah, not overwhelming. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/72 "2014-08-31T18:56:03Z")
Of course, it is a standard tactic of the creationist movement to accuse anyone who refuses to spread misinformation about science of being an atheist. The actual religious beliefs or lack thereof are irrelevant. Just another place where the creationist movement routinely bears false witness. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/73 "2014-08-31T19:18:02Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Last poll here was, IIRC, less than two out of three declaring as atheist, and more than one out of three as theist. So not evenly divided, but, yeah, not overwhelming. [Let’s get an update](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732676). ---
**Author:** ![Killing\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/76d3ee/32.png) [@Killing\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Killing_Time)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/74 "2014-08-31T19:34:23Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > There is also the fact that the board, myself included at times, tends to be hostile to people who fall outside of certain groups (atheists, liberals, pseudoskeptics, etc). So I’m sure a lot of religious people just keep it to themselves to avoid being treated rudely. I know I’m not a long-term member, but I have looked at this site quite a bit over the years, and I’m not sure that I agree. If I, as an atheist, posted a thread questioning Christian beliefs with a couple of ham-handed arguments, I don’t imagine I’d get a particularly warm response either. Imagine: \*\* Why Is This Site Overwhelmingly Christian? It’s impossible to walk on water. You would sink to the bottom. If God loves us unconditionally, why is there suffering?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/75 "2014-08-31T19:47:37Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Yes, exactly. Just like the environment isn’t exactly fertile for any woo or CT, it’s skeptical of religion as well, at least from the perspective of an uncritical and accepting of dogma viewpoint. Or catma for that matter… I prefer Yo Yo Ma. In any case, I think people can find the arguments in the OP a crock irrespective of their level of faith. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/76 "2014-08-31T20:12:12Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > I have always wondered that if there is a supreme being there would first have to have a place for it to exist, so how did the place get there? We’ve had this discussion before; you’re simply wrong. There are lots of answers for this naïve riddle. You might as well say, “Before something can exist, its constituent particles must exist.” What is God made up of? Where did his “atoms” come from? It sounds profound, but it’s really just simplistic. The same reasoning “proves” that the universe can’t exist, because first there has to be a place for it to exist in – and that would be part of the universe, right? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/77 "2014-08-31T20:16:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I read that as “…totally irrelevant as Lawrence, Kansas…” and was about to jump in and support you wholeheartedly! “One of the ‘best lil’ college towns’ in the country” (_Rolling Stone_, August, 2005) and the home of “the most vital music scene between Chicago and Denver” (_New York Times_, February, 2005). Apparently it’s better proof than Krauss ever provided that you can create something from nothing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/78 "2014-08-31T20:35:30Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > “One of the ‘best lil’ college towns’ in the country” (_Rolling Stone_, August, 2005) and the home of “the most vital music scene between Chicago and Denver” (_New York Times_, February, 2005). Apparently it’s better proof than Krauss ever provided that you can create something from nothing. 😃 Ignorance fought.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/79 "2014-08-31T20:53:53Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Too bad nobody did much in the responses except act smug, mock the OP, link to acomic strip, and name check thermodynamics. If this place is actually about fighting ignorance, then this thread is a SDMB failure. If this place is about patting ourselves on the fanny over how smart we believe ourselves to be, then 10/10. Edited to add: njtt added a worthwhile post while I was typing. So what? It’s not like he’s going to ever read it. He’s _certainly_ not going to respond to any of it. ---
**Author:** ![Killing\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/76d3ee/32.png) [@Killing\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Killing_Time)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2014, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938/80 "2014-08-31T21:01:39Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > We’ve had this discussion before; you’re simply wrong. There are lots of answers for this naïve riddle. > > You might as well say, “Before something can exist, its constituent particles must exist.” What is God made up of? Where did his “atoms” come from? > > It sounds profound, but it’s really just simplistic. The same reasoning “proves” that the universe can’t exist, because first there has to be a place for it to exist in – and that would be part of the universe, right? Actually, I’ve never heard that as an argument on its own - only as a way of refuting an argument, e.g.: Argument: “The universe must have come from somewhere, therefore it had to have a creator” Refutation: “IF it is true that all things must have a creator, then who created God?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-this-site-overwhelmingly-atheist/696938.md?page=5)