Atheism in the USA

glatt · 08-04-2014, 09:35 AM

I question the self-reporting of "absolutely certain."

I think people who consider themselves religious are going to under-report their struggles with faith. If you check a box that says you aren't "absolutely certain," that's a very official act and God's gonna know. It's not some secret thought nagging you in the back of your mind. You are standing up and being counted, and if God really exists, you will burn in Hell for your lack of faith. So I think the only people who will check that box are the ones who are fairly confident that there is no God to send them to Hell. The people who are on the fence are going to be afraid of pissing God off, so they won't check that box, just to be on the safe side.

So I think the number of secret doubters is way higher than what's reported.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-04-2014, 10:47 AM

The flaw in your reasoning is, you assume everyone who believes God exists, believe God monitors every thought, and every action, of every person.

glatt · 08-04-2014, 11:04 AM

It's true. I did assume that.

sexobon · 08-04-2014, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

The flaw in your reasoning is, you assume everyone who believes God exists, believe God monitors every thought, and every action, of every person.

God only does that with atheists.

Gravdigr · 08-04-2014, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sexobon

God only does that with atheists.

Hee.

08-04-2014, 10:47 AM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The flaw in your reasoning is, you assume everyone who believes God exists, believe God monitors every thought, and every action, of every person. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

08-04-2014, 09:35 AM	#1
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I question the self-reporting of "absolutely certain." I think people who consider themselves religious are going to under-report their struggles with faith. If you check a box that says you aren't "absolutely certain," that's a very official act and God's gonna know. It's not some secret thought nagging you in the back of your mind. You are standing up and being counted, and if God really exists, you will burn in Hell for your lack of faith. So I think the only people who will check that box are the ones who are fairly confident that there is no God to send them to Hell. The people who are on the fence are going to be afraid of pissing God off, so they won't check that box, just to be on the safe side. So I think the number of secret doubters is way higher than what's reported.

08-04-2014, 11:04 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	It's true. I did assume that.

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