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August 11th, 2011
11:06 AM ET
Study: More educated tend to be more religious, by some measuresBy Jim Kavanagh, CNN People tend to become less religious as they become more educated, right? Not necessarily, according to a new study. After analyzing data from a large national survey, University of Nebraska-Lincoln sociologist Philip Schwadel found that people actually tend to become more religious - by some definitions, at least - as they further their education. “It all falls down to what you consider to be religious,” said Schwadel, an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “If it’s simply attending religious services, then no. Highly educated people are not less religious; in fact, they’re more religious.” “But if it’s saying the Bible is the literal word of God and saying that only one religion is the true religion, then they are less religious,” he continued. Schwadel used data from the highly regarded General Social Survey, a cumulative and nationally representative survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago biannually since 1972. Social scientists rely heavily on the “gold standard” General Social Survey, which provides cumulative data collected regularly between 1972 and 2010. His study will be published in an upcoming edition of the journal Review of Religious Research. Schwadel found that with each additional year of education: - The likelihood of attending religious services increased 15%. - The likelihood of reading the Bible at least occasionally increased by 9%. - The likelihood of switching to a mainline Protestant denomination - Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian USA or United Methodist - increased by 13%. Respondents to the General Social Survey were asked whether they believe in God without any doubts; with various levels of doubt; whether they have a different concept of God or a higher power; or whether they didn’t believe in any such thing, Schwadel said. “With more years of education, you aren’t relatively more likely to say, ‘I don’t believe in God,’” he said. “But you are relatively more likely to say, ‘I believe in a higher power.’” The findings makes sense to D. Michael Lindsay, president of Gordon College in Massachusetts and author of “Faith in the Halls of Power,” about the growing evangelical Christian elite. “The more educated a person is in their faith, the more cosmopolitan they are in their religious outlook,” he said. “They’re worldly in the very best sense of the term. They rub shoulders with people of different kinds of faiths every day and as a result they have different visions of what it means to express your faith in the public square.” “They’re more open-minded, but here’s the thing: They’re no less faithful.” But a leading voice for atheists says the study’s finding about education increasing certain measures of religiosity may be less straightforward than it appears. “There are plenty of people who go to church who are not believers,” said Ed Buckner, former president of the group American Atheists. “They go for all sorts of reasons. I don’t mean that they’re all frauds and deceptive, (but) they go for social reasons or (because) that’s what’s expected of them by their families or their peers. Sometimes they go so they can sell more insurance.” “But there are a lot of atheists in the pews, or at least people who are not committed to and probably haven’t even thought about and examined carefully the religious views that are being expressed in that church.” The finding that highly educated people gravitated toward mainline Christian denominations suggested class dynamics at work, Buckner argued. As people become more educated, he said, they move into the middle and upper middle class. “And as they do so,” he said, ”they move into more establishment situations regarding the society, which means they join the churches that are the churches of the elite, or at least of the middle class.” But Schwadel said respondents were discussing their actual beliefs, not just churchgoing habits. “What it all says to me is that religion matters to people of all education levels in the United States,” he said. “It’s just that, depending on your level of education, you behave and believe differently.” So why the widespread perception that intellectuals are less religious, even largely irreligious? Academics are at least moderately less religious than the general public, Schwadel said. “When we see these trends, we tend to exaggerate them,” he said. “Most people see a trend and they think everyone’s like that.” Lindsay thinks there’s more to it than that. “There has been a concentrated effort by a cohort of very smart people who treat religion as the panacea for the simple-minded,” he said. Bucker disputes that. “Do we think that anybody who doesn’t agree with us is an idiot or a fool? Well, some of us do think that,” he said of atheists. “But I don’t think it’s systematically true of everybody in the movement. “… I mean, I do think they’re wrong. Anybody who believes that there is a sky god out there who is going to do anything good or evil for us, basically anyone who thinks the universe cares about us, is making a mistake,” he continued. “In the words of Richard Dawkins, they’ve been deluded.” But some people’s religious beliefs are “deeply held and carefully considered,” Buckner said. “And I also realize that some atheists’ lack of religious beliefs are pretty superficial and they haven’t thought things through. “I have a lot more respect for a religious person who has really considered this, thought it through, read some books that disagree with their point of view and still accepts that position than I do for somebody who just unthinkingly rejects any particular point of view.” Lindsay said the study could help break down some of society’s religious barriers. “It’s a problem of perceptions because it fuels the idea that there’s some kind of deeply entrenched culture war where smart people are opposed to religious people, when in fact it’s far more complicated than that,” he said. “And in fact, the old divisions between deeply religious and irreligious probably don’t apply.” soundoff (1,651 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Next »
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A lot of these people are too busy to think of alternatives to their ingrained mythological beliefs. Religion is not necessary for happiness or morality. If people stopped to see how the world really works they would more likely figure this out.
Frued died in an insane asylum. Do you think he died "happy" and contented?
One glance at this article reveals the many, many problems with this study. It first confuses correlation with causation, implying that more education leads to an increase in religious faith.
A larger problem is that it never defines what it means by each additional year of education, and what it means to say that one is "15% more likely to attend religious services." Each additional year after high school? After first grade? Does "attend religious services" mean once or twice a year or every week? What is the base percentage that was started with and how this this calculation of an increase made? In other words, do 60% of all people attend once a year if they have a high school degree, but 90% of those who have attended college for two years attend a religious service? Clearly not. And clearly calculations need to be explained.
So does the practice of taking raw data from the General Social Survey: a survey such as this lacks the necessary controls to answer the question at hand. Were those who attended religious colleges or evangelistic "colleges" such as Oral Roberts U removed from consideration? Were people who attended theology school included?All of these groups actively choose to avoid a secular education based on their religious beliefs. If included in the survey, they skew the results to form a circular argument.
Moreover, what is meant by "education"? An associates degree for a trade? A business degree from an on-line, non-accredited "college" advertised on buses? These degrees may require considerable skill and knowledge, but they do not require prolonged study in the sciences or humanities.
Finally, the implication seems to be that people with Ph.D.s are more likely to be religious than those with only a high school education. My personal experience leads me to think otherwise, but I have not made a formal study. Neither have the people discussed in this article about this study, which lacks the bare necessities for an objective, accurate examination.
@The lionly lamb
Typical theist, disregard the rational and start insulting when an obvious flaw is found in anything religious. That makes you look sad and ignorant. He wasn't being a pessimist, he was being skepitcal, which is how everyone should be about everything. This article is as flawed as Jake said, many of those things I noticed myself.
And by everything I mean anything that obviously has left out important information and the like.
Interesting study. Speaking from personal experience, I found that my faith grew as I became more educated but I always attributed that to age and maturity. Maybe it was a desire to learn, grow, reach out and expand while honing my moral compass. Christopher Dycha
God lives...forever.
Currently missing in Africa..but hes alive and well in the wealthy catholic church...good ole god eh..
Just a figment of your imagination. Wake up and join the real world.
I wish god would stop amusing himself by tsunamis and tornadoes. Uncovering bodies and debris is getting old.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see the teacher's mind?
TOMMY: No.
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school, she must not have one!
from the web
-----–
You forgot the rest
LITTLE GIRL: This is why Atheists are stupid
TOMMY: Hold on
(Tommy walks over and hits the teacher with a club. He then proceeds to cut the brain out of the teacher)
TOMMY: Schizo here is the brain and we can all see it. Now where is your God?
-------------------------–
OOOPPPPPSSSSSSS!!!!!There is more!
LITTLE GIRL:(Upon seeing TOMMY like a maniac holding the poor teachers brain) EEHHWWWW! THAT'S GROSS!!! You must be an ATHEIST, that's the typical thing they can do just to further their cause.
That's funny as it portrays two very real sides of atheists:
1) They're too bloody stupid to see the inherent design in everything about them.
2) They're bloodthirsty monsters who will kill without blinking (just like their leaders: Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot, etc.).
Number of modern scientific fields started by Christians: All of them.
Number of scientific fields started by Atheists: Evolution and Astro-Biology... Wait, they're both make-believe, not science.
Sincerely,
Job
Don't worry, Job. Atheists are no more bloody than christians, possibly less so. But if your ignorance comforts you, go ahead and hide from reality.
Evolution was basically started by Darwin who had a degree in theology. How is he an atheist?
Job..what inherent design.? you have all the same parts as a tree, worm, virus..either your god had a shortage of parts to use, or we came from the same parentage. There is so much info to support evolution...You have seen it I am sure, but to understand it would undermine the faith you have.. so you chose to ignore it your choice. Not sure what you mean by blood thirsty... it was your early pagan ancestors who enjoyed a good sacrifice to the gods..and you still had either blood sacrifice or assisted suicide..depend who you spin it.. in the story of your current god
Wow, JOB, you are pretty insecure in your beliefs aren't you?
Actually tallulah, the Atheist leaders of the 20th century did more killing than any religious wars in history....combined.
Part 6 – Updating Prayers- 101=================================================
The Apostles' Creed 2011: (updated by yours truly based on the studies of NT historians and theologians during the past 200 years)
Should I believe in a god whose existence cannot be proven
and said god if he/she/it exists resides in an unproven,
human-created, spirit state of bliss called heaven???
I believe there was a 1st century CE, Jewish, simple,
preacher-man who was conceived by a Jewish carpenter
named Joseph living in Nazareth and born of a young Jewish
girl named Mary. (Some say he was a mamzer.)
Jesus was summarily crucified for being a temple rabble-rouser by
the Roman troops in Jerusalem serving under Pontius Pilate,
He was buried in an unmarked grave and still lies
a-mouldering in the ground somewhere outside of
Jerusalem.
Said Jesus' story was embellished and "mythicized" by
many semi-fiction writers. A bodily resurrection and
ascension stories were promulgated to compete with the
Caesar myths. Said stories were so popular that they
grew into a religion known today as Catholicism/Christianity
and featuring dark-age, daily wine to blood and bread to body rituals
called the eucharistic sacrifice of the non-atoning Jesus.
Amen
Lol, slow down on the caffeine, Lionly.
🙂 "frankie" I usually only have on mug early in the morning and then it's soda after soda,,,,,,,,,,, But I do feel like having another mug oh joe! 🙂
Zombody please help! the "loinly lamb" has taken over the planet with his "ovulatory comments"
Rest assured, the people on his street corner and in his local park thank us for keeping him busy and entertained.
@ help! and Maybe,,,,,,,,,,,,,Your comments put a smile on me,,,,,,,,,, 🙂
That's interesting. While studying for a PhD in Physics, I find the thought of a higher power patently silly. The conclusions they draw in the study are paradoxical. It would seem that the more one studies and learns, the less of a need there would be for a "divine power" to explain the unknown, which is shrinking on a daily basis. I guess all those bush people and aborigines have more in common with the educated than was suspected. Perhaps the educated should further educate themselves in the fallacies propagated through the ages in the name of their religions.
Well there’s your problem. Your studying for a PHD in physics Most of the “educated” people they talk to were liberal arts majors
Can Physics explain what triggered the Big Bang? Until it can, the educated will continue to believe in a higher power. It is basic scientific law that everything must be created. Why can't that apply to the entire universe?
Onlooker, can theists explain what triggered God? Until they can, the educated will continue to discount a higher power. It is basic scientific law that everything must be created. Why can't that apply to God?
Because God is eternal. God is the great creator. He transcends scientific law. I'm sorry if this response comes off as annoying and naive, but it is extremely difficult to verbalize God. We can't comprehend his sheer awesomeness.
First, there were gods – fire, lightning, water, light, darkness. Then, man made discoveries. Fire was controlled and used for cooking and heating. Canoes, boats, ships and canals used the water for transportation and irrigation. Weather and the seasons were understood. So, as man learned more, gods became less important. So, rather than many lesser gods, one supergod was created by man to explain what he didn't understand, and his need diminishes daily.
@onlooker – You established an argument based on everything must be created (which is not demonstrably true in any sense), but then dismiss your own argument when applied to God by a pure definitional fiat. We might never know what produced the singularity which expanded into the known universe, but there's no evidential or logical reason to leap to a supernatural causation.
Onlooker...that's just a guess right to support your view.. you woud'nt have something as pesky as, say, proof would you?
Sorry, OnLooker, but if you want us to believe "God" can be eternal but the universe can't you will have to explain "eternal." This may sound facetious, but it isn't. If "God" has no beginning because "He" always was, when did time even begin? You say it is impossible to define "God" using physical laws and explanations because "He" is somehow outside them, but this is flat out ridiculous. If "He" can somehow affect the physical universe, "He" must have some means of doing so that can be observed and measured. "He" has neither of these.
Until there is actual evidence that can conclusively point to a supernatural creator, it is an argument without merit.
However if everything must be created, then all of the matter in the universe would have to be created as well. In that case all of it would have to have come about out of nothing.
Mere existence. That is the basis of my faith in God.
Lonley Lion etc.. reading your posts sounds like you were educated at some religious school where they made up words along with the myths they taught you...All we want is evidence of your god you claim as your own.... which one are you subscribing to ...but your bombastic rantings have little substance and most certainly no evidence. The idea of language is so that human beings can communicate with one another.
@The Lionly Lamb of The Gods Does Roar
You tend to speak above people not to them. Please, come down off your horse. I'm melting at your words.
Here is a challenge for you: can you come up with an idea, and not just windy cheeky words to route this present world situation, or come up with a plan to do so, and then put it in operation?
True, you can continue to use your high sounding vocabulary but such wording will not change the planet Earth, it will not change the economic condition of this place, nor will it cure the sick., etc, etc, etc.
What I offer you is the real solution, in simple English.
And please get back with me when you do find that solution, because I'm melting at your words.
The Lame Lion speaks "above" people? Bwahahahaha!!!! The Lame Lion writes like an 8th grader who just received her first thesaurus for her birthday. Unintelligeible rubbish is unintelligible rubbish. The hypernominalizations alone are hilariously imbecilic.
@John R.
Hey buddy, I hope that you are doing well.
"Hypernominalizations"... Wow, you are hitting my NLP & Linguistics buttons !!!
Say it brother !!!
Peace...
@Peace2All
Yes, it's me, we had nice conversions here earlier. =)
I wanted to follow up on the questions you asked:
1) Gwen Olsen who worked for a leading Pharmaceutical company for 15 years is now giving the inside secrets exposing them for what they are and, is now touring the country giving a public symposium about this trickery.
You may choose to visit the links, if you'd like:on youtube- "Pharma Not in Business of Health, Healing, Cures, Wellness" or http://www.myspace.com/psychtruth
2 Many scientists refuse even to consider the possibility of an intelligent Designer because, as Lewontin writes, “we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.” In this regard, sociologist Rodney Stark is quoted in Scientific American as saying: “There’s been 200 years of marketing that if you want to be a scientific person you’ve got to keep your mind free of the fetters of religion.” He further notes that in research universities, “the religious people keep their mouths shut.”
Scientific American, “Scientists and Religion in America,” by Edward J. Larson and Larry Witham, September 1999, p. 91
Peace, bro =)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In physical cosmology, fractal cosmology is a set of minority cosmological theories which state that the distribution of matter in the Universe, or the structure of the universe itself, is a fractal. More generally, it relates to the usage or appearance of fractals in the study of the universe and matter. A central issue in this field is the fractal dimension of the Universe or of matter distribution within it, when measured at very large or very small scales.
The use of fractals to answer questions in cosmology has been employed by a growing number of serious scholars close to the mainstream[citation needed], but the metaphor has also been adopted by others outside the mainstream of science, so some varieties of fractal cosmology are solidly in the realm of scientific theories and observations, and others are considered fringe science, or perhaps metaphysical cosmology. Thus, these various formulations enjoy a range of acceptance and/or perceived legitimacy.
http://www3.amherst.edu/~rloldershaw/stars2/menu.html (Below is a brief summation copied and pasted from the aforementioned web site.)
“In 1989 a fractal cosmological model predicated that Planetary Nebulae shapes would bear a strong resemblance to visual representations of electron probability densities in the atom. The latter refer to the probabilities for finding the electron at a given location with respect to the nucleus of the atom.”
I'll bite Icee liecee, if you go and read up on "My" studies of Word 1st and come back here and project your witticism of such readings toward me then, I will oblige you and read some of your "direct-me-to here" laments. OKEE DOAKEE?
@Reality
you said: "Part 4, Christian Economics 101:
Apparently you also get your news from the "National Inquirer" and "Star" magazine..you are such a hoot! Thanks for providing the comedy
Me doeth thibks Icee wizee and real reality are as one mind! But, really oh copy-N-paste Reality, most people come here to read other's words of witticisms and most could care less one way or the other regarding the on-line otherly-places webbie nettie rants and raves you do so objectively want for someone to squander away thie frugal time spent chasing here and reading there netacisms!
Religion played a major role in the American Revolution by offering a moral sanction for opposition to the British—an assurance to the average American that revolution was justified in the sight of God. As a recent scholar has observed, "by turning colonial resistance into a righteous cause, and by crying the message to all ranks in all parts of the colonies, ministers did the work of secular radicalism and did it better."
Copied from wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_religion_in_the_United_States#America_as_a_religious_refuge:_17th_century
@The Lionly Lamb of The Gods Does Roar
You believe things you read on Wikipedia that ANYONE can edit...Meaning anyone can edit it to make it say what they want, and want others to believe?
Wikipedia is not a very trustworthy source of information, wouldn't you agree?
Iceman, you really need to curl up to the fire a little more often and read the good book because you seem to be growing into an iceberg with horn-alities unbecoming your talent-laden-less yet futile rantings only viewede by others to be as a bombastions' falsehood. To Think that anything being posted there is not carefully Scrutinized by honest peer based enclaves is sheer retardedness on your part! Thank you though for being a concerned person of much dubiousness.
Iceman, you really need to curl up to the fire a little more often and read the good book because you seem to be growing into an iceberg with horn-alities unbecoming your talent-laden-less yet futile rantings only viewede by others to be as a bombastions' falsehood. To Think that anything being posted there at "wikipedia.com" is not carefully Scrutinized by honest peer based enclaves is sheer retardedness on your part! Thank you though for being a concerned person of much dubiousness.
(I added "wikipedia.com" to my edification of my prior posting)
Onlooker.. what you describe is evolution.. of which you are a product. Life is struggle, and there are losers as well as winners. Your god is also the same.. some pray and the request is "answered", others pray and die waiting unfortunately ...it is coincidence of course. I love life and see beauty in all things, and abhor mindless killings and deaths especially from disease. Truly no difference between atheists and the religious.. you just gather in one spot on Sunday or Friday or Saturday ...we dont.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=P9b0PJDDof4
So why does evil exist again? becasue God wills it so? What will you worship? good and evil? or just good?
@LT
Everything was good at Eden when life was eternal till we disobeyed God and ate of that "fruit'
From that time on we knew what was Good and what was Evil, and it continued that is how you come to know Good and Evil.
There is hope for you in Christ who went through pain and suffering on the cross so that mankind can be redeemed and one day have that Life Eternal. God is Good and he has offered hope of eternal life, it is upto you to make that choice.
By questioning evil it is not going to go away..is it? the question more is what is the hope for the evil we see? and that hope is in Christ.
sd.,
Eve & Adam
Christians are screwed up in the head.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUVXEmJRGns
The spokesperson in this video is missing the real relativisms and many verses of scripture that does not concede or accepts humanly endorsed Christian ethics and moralities. It is a truth -be-known revelation that GOD is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10) For one to be persuaded that “natural catastrophes” are somehow GOD-Made is sheer ludicrousness of the nth degree! The “wavelength” of this spokespersons’ voiced augmentations are blatantly charismatic and even a little hypnotic. He, (speaker) knows only that which is but a secularism’s mindset and should be filed away in file ‘13’. This speaker does so wreak of unsighted forebodences of things yet to become. As I have watched rather intently the speaker’s renditions, I am aghast at his melodramatic tenacities the belittle and bemuse. As a charlatan of secularism and atheism is he, nothing more and nothing less. “My Kingdom is Not of this world” by GOD! (John 18) That so said, I am bound to conclude that secularists will manifest themselves along with atheists to be compartmentalized and thru such unitedness, destabilize the American values’ system of religiously born, righteous and ethical moralisms. Our Nation was so born from many secularists’ needs to utilize Christendoms’ abilities to round up the people to revolt and break away from the British empire’s grips in 1776 and in so doing we have now become the floundering nation that is now viewed by many folks here and abroad. For such a subtle hypocrite like this spokesperson to parlay his witticisms upon the masses is but another parlor trick used by many of histories’ secularists and even atheists. For such a dopamine as he is, I shall stand on My Beliefs that, “The King of all the Gods and Goddesses is My Lord and Savior of many lost souls and His name is Christ Jesus!”
Ronald McDonald is Lard!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q16KpquGsIc
(My above posting I have thusly edited to ease my mind and put my Word in better order}
The spokesperson in this video is missing the religious relativisms and many verses of scripture that teaches on and about humanely-endorsed Christianized ethics, scruples and moralities. It is a truth -be-known revelation that GOD is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10) For one to be persuaded that “natural catastrophes” are somehow GOD-Made is sheer ludicrousness of the nth degree!
The “wavelength” of this spokespersons’ voiced augmentations are blatantly charismatic and even a little hypnotic. His hypnotic speech does remind me of the guy (Warren Jeffs) who just got Life plus 20 years in prison. He, (speaker) knows only that which is but a secularism’s mindset and should be filed away in file ‘13’. This speaker does wreak of unsighted forebodences of things yet to become.
As I have watched rather intently and repeatedly, the speaker’s oratorical renditions, I am aghast at his melodramatic tenacities that do belittle and yet bemuse. As a charlatan of secularism and atheism he is nothing more and nothing less.
“My Kingdom is Not of this world” by GOD! (John 18) That so said, I am bound to conclude that secularists will ever manifest themselves along with atheists to be compartmentalized and thru such unitedness, destabilize the American values’ system of religiously born and bred righteous ethics, sound scruples and relative moralisms.
Our Nation was declared and so born on July 4th, 1776 from many, “then times“, secularists who needed to utilize Christendoms’ abilities to round up the people to revolt and break away from the British empire’s grips. In so doing we have just recently become as a “floundering nation” now viewed today by many folks here and also abroad.
For such a subtle hypocrite like this spokesperson to parlay his witticisms upon the staged masses is but another parlor trick used by many of histories’ high-society secularists and yes even low swinging atheists. For such a dopamine as he is, I shall ever stand on My Beliefs that, “The King of all the Gods and Goddesses is My Lord and Savior, redeemer of many lost souls and His name is Christ Jesus!”
The true horror of Atheism is hopelessness. Their is no purpose, no meaning to life. Why should we care if millions of children die? In an objectively insignificant universe, none of this matters. This isn't to say that children dying doesn't matter, because it certainly does. But what I'm asking is why be moral if there is no judgment? Why give a damn?
We make our own purpose for the improvement of society you nihilistic christards.
Onlooker, I'm sorry that you need some sort of celestial parental unit to find meaning in life. To those of us who are aware that we will live just this once, life is a precious thing. That includes the lives of others. I have great pity for those of you who put off living in this life because you're banking on an afterlife for which there is not an ounce of proof.
But why continue onward if one struggles? Surely not everyone lives an amazing life. Most people face many hardships. And realistically we won't achieve many of the life-long dreams that we've held as a child so why continue onward? To hold this empty happiness that will most likely get sapped by the time we perish back into nothingness?
Doc Vestibule wrote under my initial post to "Duh" stating on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 1:55 pm, "Lionly attended the Don King School of Oratory where he earned his Masterlifical Degreenification in Engloment.itudinationous Speechinarianism."
A much better statement would have been written thusly Doc Vestibule, "The Lionly One did attend a Don Juan School of efficacism where he learned and the earned a Majisterial Doctorate Degree in how to plaspheme the Blasphemer back to whence they belong which is at the bottom wrungs of the ladder of genetical therapuetics!" 🙂 & 🙁 = 🙂 + 🙂 & 🙂
Listening to religious nuts try to convince me that I should believe in God is like listening to my parents convince me that santa cluase exists. But now I am all grown up.
But if there is no santa clause, how did the gifts get under the tree?
Ironically, there's more evidence for the historical Santa (Nicholas of Myrna) than there is for Jesus.
Atheism fails to adequately explain the existence of eternal, unchanging truths, for it rejects the existence of an eternal unchanging mind. Atheism cannot offer man any eternal significance whatsoever. Temporary meaning in life is insufficient, for our accomplishments die with the death of the universe - there is no ultimate purpose in a universe void of God
Give it a rest...you are just coming off as an idiot.
You have no friends.
Why must there be purpose or eternal significance? Religion, in this sense, is a way to make us feel better about the face that we are, in cosmic terms, very insignificant.
And the ultimate purpose for christians is to sit in church for the rest of eturnity prazing god for being good. Makes nothingness look pretty good
stevie7
If there is no eternal significance for life what is the purpose and meaning for life???
What does life have to have some grand purpose or meaning? Life has whatever meaning you want to give to it. There is no universal Grand Meaning – and there doesn't need to be. Any attempts to find a Grand Meaning are just what I said before – a way for people to cope with the realization that we are cosmically insignificant.
@stevie7
if life has no meaning ,how do i know the question you are asking is meaningful- if everything in this world is meaningless??????
What is this need for an "ultimate purpose" or an "eternal significance"? You'll be dead in a few decades. Nothing can stop that. There is no ultimate purpose in the multiiverse. It exists. People feel the need to find a reason for why they are here. Newsflash: there isn't one!
closing..again why? yours is just an opinion...To make up a supernatural being and then believe that is the answer is no closer to the truth than being sneezed into existence by a giant goat... which of course, everyone knows.. is the real truth.
While atheists only comprise 2.5% of the entire irreligious (not the entire earth's) populace, I'm not sure if there's 2.5% of them are (like) Stevie7, who can give a straight to the head answers and will not resort to insulting and name callings when gets ran out of valid arguments.
Do any of you atheists of secularisms dementiveness have any idea regarding a science based theory called "FRACTAL COSMOLOGY"? Have any of you fool-hardened atheists of secular dominions ever heard of or read upon the "God Gene"?
Until you do investigate such ideologies and gain some insights I will consider your posts of being just what they are which are idiosyncratic damnations of insolence and I will treat you thusly with my writings of disdainment!
Looks like someone found a thesaurus.
You are probably fat and poor. Jesus probably didn't come back to life and probably never will. Get over it.
"Looks like someone found a thesaurus."
Unfortunately, they didn't locate a dictionary because there are two spelling errors. Using what you think might be big words doesn't make you intelligent anyone can use a thesaurus. 😉
Paul- which year of people magazine/forbes richest list did you make it to the top 10?
that way we alteast let us have the privelage of having exchanged some benevalent comments on this blog
The Lionly Lamb of The Gods Does Roar
.....your posts of being just what they are which are idiosyncratic damnations of insolence and I will treat you thusly with my writings of confusion!
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I bet you will
Lonley lamb... what does your post prove.. using a net program to generate random words is not really evidence of intelligence. The "god gene" is just a word used to describe a chemical pump, which of course genes are...you sound like you are addicted to the chemical it releases though. Its does not mean that Thor put it there.