Freedom From Religion Foundation and American Atheists organizations and Dan Barker

petermoore

I have been doing some research recently in regards to the atheist/agnostic/skeptical community in the USA. I ran across some puzzling data and I thought some feedback might be helpful.

Here is the data:

http://www.conservapedia.com/User:Conservative/ffrf

I have 4 questions for people. 1) How many members do you think the Freedom From Religion Foundation has? 2)How many members do you think the organization American Atheists has? 3)Why do you think the web traffic as given by Alexa is about the same for Freedom From Religion Foundation as it is for the organization American Atheists? 4) How prominent is Dan Barker in the atheist/skeptical community?

Also, consider this:

The media coverage on the Madalyn Murray O'Hair (ex leader of the American Atheists) affair wasn't exactly flattering even in the very liberal NY Times:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...wanted= print

Also, this article was not exactly flattering for the organization American Atheists:

WHO SPEAKS FOR ATHEISM? The Problem of American Atheists, Inc. by Howard Thompson, Editor of The Texas Atheist newsletter
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Foru...whospeaks.html

Even the liberal Wikipedia website did not seem to reflect on Madalyn Murray O'Hair and the organization American Atheists. (see: the article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O'Hair ).

So given the above, why do the organizations Freedom From Religion Foundation (associated with Dan Barker) and American Atheists have a similar amount of web traffic according to Alexa?

Zillah

You use American spelling. This makes me suspicious. You reference conservapedia as if it were not a biased piece of crap*. This makes me more suspicious. Finally, you twice specify that two sources are "liberal", almost as if its a dirty word. My suspicions increase.

Most of your questions seem like they would have been answered during your research. Could you cut to the chase please?


*My mother delighted in hiring unrepentant criminals to work in her atheist office. She particularly enjoyed hiring convicted murderers <-lulz

Rev Hellfire

I must admit I'm curious as well.
Perhaps if the poster gave their own answers to the questions and why they are at all relevant to us over in Europe it might all become clear. Although though I suspect this is a drive by posting.

Dades

petermoore wrote:

I have been doing some research recently in regards to the atheist/agnostic/skeptical community in the USA. I ran across some puzzling data and I thought some feedback might be helpful.

We've all come across puzzling data on Conservapedia. Though mostly it's just puzzling how some contributors manage to put their pants on in the morning.

However, I echo the suspicions above and the thread will be closed unless something exceptional happens soon...

the_syco

I may be niave here, but the pope is in charge of the catholic church, but as an atheist is someone who doesn't believe in god, how can someone be a leader of a group, when there is no group?

Dades

Check out this:
http://www.ex-christian.net/index.php?showtopic=18859&hl=

And even BETTER this:
http://www.evolutionfairytale.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t1462.html

His entry for Atheism includes such classic sub-headers as:

- Atheism and Communism
- Atheism and Mass Murder
- Atheism and Immoral Views

Go figure.

Zombrex

So, wait .. the cops knew that internal affairs were setting them up ...

petermoore wrote:

I ran across some puzzling data and I thought some feedback might be helpful.

I don't think anyone here is a member of American Athiests or the Freedom from Religion Foundation, so I'm not quite sure what feedback we can give you.

petermoore wrote:

1) How many members do you think the Freedom From Religion Foundation has?

They claim to have 10,000 members.

petermoore wrote:

2)How many members do you think the organization American Atheists has?

They claim to have 2,200 members.

petermoore wrote:

3)Why do you think the web traffic as given by Alexa is about the same for Freedom From Religion Foundation as it is for the organization American Atheists?

No idea.

petermoore wrote:

4) How prominent is Dan Barker in the atheist/skeptical community?

Compared to Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens et al, not very.

petermoore wrote:

Also, consider this:

We were supposed to be considering something ... ?

petermoore wrote:

The media coverage on the Madalyn Murray O'Hair (ex leader of the American Atheists) affair wasn't exactly flattering even in the very liberal NY Times:

I would imagine not, she was nuts.

petermoore wrote:

So given the above, why do the organizations Freedom From Religion Foundation (associated with Dan Barker) and American Atheists have a similar amount of web traffic according to Alexa?

Again, no idea. I'm not sure what you think web traffic means.

Dave!

Oh cool, that Dan Barker guy spoke at 'the God debate' in my college last week!

Fallen Seraph

I have never heard of any of the people or organisations mentioned by the OP before.

Why is an irish atheism board an appropriate place to ask questions about the "American Atheists"? Especially when you yourself are american?

Zillah

The Atheist wrote:

Check out this:
http://www.ex-christian.net/index.php?showtopic=18859&hl=

And even BETTER this:
http://www.evolutionfairytale.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t1462.html

His entry for Atheism includes such classic sub-headers as:

- Atheism and Communism
- Atheism and Mass Murder
- Atheism and Immoral Views

Go figure.

Oh fantastic! My spidey senses are as sharp as ever.

Zombrex

Fallen Seraph wrote:

I have never heard of any of the people or organisations mentioned by the OP before.

Why is an irish atheism board an appropriate place to ask questions about the "American Atheists"? Especially when you yourself are american?

Hit & Run TBH .. doubt we will see this poster again ... in his own mind he probably has "enlightened" all of us to our wicked ways ...

5uspect

The Atheist wrote:

Check out this:
http://www.ex-christian.net/index.php?showtopic=18859&hl=

And even BETTER this:
http://www.evolutionfairytale.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t1462.html

His entry for Atheism includes such classic sub-headers as:

- Atheism and Communism
- Atheism and Mass Murder
- Atheism and Immoral Views

Go figure.

Looks like he's punting this article all over the web!

Zombrex

The Atheist wrote:

And even BETTER this:
http://www.evolutionfairytale.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t1462.html

"The very act of denying God means they accept there is a God to deny.

Now, an atheist may counter by saying that because I deny the existence of three-headed, Elvis-singing aliens, I really do believe in three-headed, Elvis-singing aliens. However, the big difference is that we're talking about the God of the universe here, not whimsical fancy."

ROFL

Seriously ... who the f**k are these idiots?

Dave!

Wicknight wrote:

"The very act of denying God means they accept there is a God to deny.

Now, an atheist may counter by saying that because I deny the existence of three-headed, Elvis-singing aliens, I really do believe in three-headed, Elvis-singing aliens. However, the big difference is that we're talking about the God of the universe here, not whimsical fancy."

ROFL

Seriously ... who the f**k are these idiots?

LOL

karen3212

I think it was trying to inspire some kind of nervous shaking, where is your reverent awe-inspired fear, after all USA number one.

Dades

Okay, we've all had a chance to rant. Closed!