ShareThisAmong the provocative findings of two recent surveys of religious faith is that a majority of Americans who claim to be atheists are inclined to pray, one-third of them "often." About the same number of atheists profess a belief in Satan, hell and demons. Half of them believe in angels and ghosts.Granted, we're not talking big populations here. Only about 4 percent of Americans claim to be atheists. Baylor University pollsters suggest that professing to be an atheist is often just a personal objection to organized religion.That still leaves us to ponder what it is that disbelievers seek through prayer, and to whom they pray. Perhaps the impulse to reach out through prayer may be even stronger than our intellectual assent to God's existence. Alas, we're back to the old cliche that there are no atheists in foxholes.A nationwide survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reveals yet another mystery: that one-fifth of people who say they are atheists also say they believe in God.Some other findings:-- Megachurches offer more intimate communities of faith than small congregations of fewer than 100 members. Megachurch members tend to witness to friends and strangers, participate in small study groups, act as volunteers and tithe their earnings.-- 45 percent of Americans report having had at least two mystical experiences in their lives. Conservative Protestants, women, African-Americans and Republicans are more apt to report such experiences.-- Faith versus superstition: The Baylor survey reports that holding the traditional Christian faith sharply reduces credulity. Beliefs in Bigfoot, UFOs, the occult and paranormal, haunted houses and astrology do not comfortably coexist with Christianity.-- Americans overwhelmingly believe in heaven. African-Americans, women, Republicans and Southerners are most prominent in that belief. Only 29 percent of Americans believe that anyone is excluded from heaven, Three-fourths of Americans also believe in hell, led by 92 percent of conservative Protestants.-- Americans as a whole are about evenly divided on whether churches should become involved in political issues. At the same time, 40 percent of Americans wish the government would do more to improve the morality of American life.-- Four-fifths of Americans believe in miracles -- that's more than believe the Scriptures to be the word of God (63 percent) or believe that heaven exists (74 percent).-- Two-thirds of adults with children living in their homes pray or read Scripture with the youngsters.-- Church attendance. Slightly fewer than two in five Americans (39 percent) worship weekly with a congregation.-- A majority of members of every faith report being "very satisfied" with their personal lives. However, fewer than half (47 percent) of members of traditionally African-American churches report that level of contentment.(David Yount's new book is "How the Quakers Invented America" (Rowman & Littlefield). He answers readers at P.O. Box 2758, Woodbridge, VA 22195 and dyount(at)erols.com.)
When atheists pray
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Garbage in, garbage out
The surveys are flawed, especially the Baylor survey. Baylor incorrectly defines "atheist" to mean someone who is CERTAIN that gods don't exist. The correct definition is someone who LACKS BELIEF in gods. There's a huge difference there. I'm an atheist, I lack belief, but I am not *certain*. According to Baylor I'm not an atheist, but I very well am and have been all of my life. If I had to place a bet, even betting my life, I would bet that there are no gods. But I can't be certain of it, as I can't be certain that there aren't evil trolls or unicorns or any other mystical magical creature that humans can dream up.
The Pew survey is also obviously screwed up, as they show that 21% of atheists believe in a god. If these people believe in a god, they are not atheists. Period.
The correct question to determine whether or not someone is an atheist is: do you believe that any gods exist ? Possible answers are 'yes' or 'no' only. No 'maybe' or 'not sure'. All those people who say 'no' are atheists. They lack belief. Why this is so difficult for the survey designers to grasp is beyond me. I suspect they have personal motive to undercount atheists. When you ask the correct question, as better-designed surveys have done, you find that between 10 and 20% of the US population are atheists, i.e., lack belief in gods.
Regarding this article's claim that a majority of atheists pray ... if you look at the actual Pew and Baylor survey results, only the Pew survey has any data regarding atheists praying. Only 10% of the so-called atheists claim to pray weekly, and they are probably among that strange group of "atheists" who believe in gods >:-), so it's highly unlikely (I would say mathematically impossible) for a "majority" of atheists to pray.
These surveys can be summed up by the common computing phrase: garbage in, garbage out.
Atheism
I am a devout Roman Catholic who brought my daughter up in the church. She also attended Catholic Grade School and High School. It is BEYOND ME how ANYONE cannot believe in God. It is also strange how those that claim to be Atheist still pray and claim to believe in the Devil. I mean, how can someone believe in Satan and not believe in God?
The world is becoming more and more troubled. It has changed to the point of not being recognizable. We need God more now than ever. And as far as seperation of church and state, that was not even an issue until 1947.This contridicted the vision of our founding fathers. George Washington tried to impress upon his felowcountrymen, in his farewell address that it was "Religion and Morality" that served as the foundation for our young nation.
/facepalm
"And as far as seperation of church and state, that was not even an issue until 1947.This contridicted the vision of our founding fathers."
"As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of all government to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith."
-Thomas Paine
"[I]n politics as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution."
"The [president] has no particle of spiritual jurisdiction. . . ."
-Alexander Hamilton
"The [Constitutional] Convention, except for three or four persons, thought prayers unnecessary."
-Benjamin Franklin
"[N]o religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."
-Article VI, Clause 3 of the Constitution
"The citizens of the United States . . . have the right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience. . . . [T]he Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support."
-George Washington
"Nothing is more dreaded than the national government meddling with religion."
-John Adams
Now, what was that you said?
religious atheists
"A nationwide survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reveals yet another mystery: that one-fifth of people who say they are atheists also say they believe in God."
If they believe in god then they aren't atheists you fucking retard.
Atheists don't believe in a
Atheists don't believe in a god or gods. Saying they do makes them deist/theist.
See, if this is why religion is laughed at, when it comes to people that don't share their beliefs, their understanding reverts to a childish level.
WTF
Yeah just because you have random friends claim they are atheists, doesnt mean thats what atheism really is defined as. When thinking of atheism, look at those who everyone knows about. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennet, James Randi, and Oh yeah Pz Meyers. Im sure they all believe in your magical interpretations as well. Oh and plus, just because christians reject astrology, doesnt make their bat shitty ideas any more real than unicorns.
this is stupid by far. you
this is stupid by far. you can not be atheist and believe in god. Ghosts are supernatural and not a god.
People are generally confused and muddled
I am an atheist. I don't believe in God. My children go to a Christian day school. I sang 'this little light of mine' with them tonight and had a great time. We were making a joyful noise. Slowly I will blend my beliefs with those that they are exposed to and let them know both worlds. I pray because it relaxes me, I know that no one is listening. For me it is a Christian meditative experience, just like when the Pipe Organ blasts out onward Christian soldiers. Its kind of cool. If you ask me how I can live with the contradictions of 'making a joyful noise', 'praying', and not in my wildest dreams imaging that any gods exist, I simply say that because I want to. If more people would be honest about why they go to Church, and were given the choice to be opened about their atheism, I think we would see more thoughful and happy folks who can embrace an odd contradiction in life. Christian silently swallow hundred of contraditions every day, I just have one to ponder aloud.
When an atheist prays...
"GOD DAMN IT!"