Number of Theist/Atheist/Agnostic People on boards

techdiver

Hi,

I always wondered about the census result still indicating that Ireland is still a predominantly religious (Catholic) country. There are the arguments that people just stick down a religion based on what they were raised rather than what they actually feel or practice.

I think it would be interesting to collect the statistics of boards users to compare with the census figures.

From wikipedia:

In 2011, 84.2% of the population identified themselves as Roman Catholic, 2.6% less than 5 years earlier, although the number of Catholics increased by 179,889.[1] The second largest Christian denomination, the Church of Ireland (Anglican), declined in membership for most of the twentieth century, but has more recently experienced an increase, as have other small Christian denominations. Other significant Protestant denominations are the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, followed by the Methodist Church in Ireland.

I am adding a poll with 3 options for simplicity.

1. Theist - Meaning, a belief in a higher being
2. Atheist
3. Agnostic

The Backwards Man

Yay!! A jam thread

I vote rhubarb!

Seachmall

I'm both an agnostic and an atheist.




As are most who identify as agnostic.




Oddly enough all theists are also agnostics but most just can't bring themselves to admit it.

Artful_Badger

Plenty of people still class themselves as Catholics even though they know its tradition rather than belief. Most young folks dont though. If the census shows a predominantly Catholic country then it could also be because Mammy and Daddy filled out the census before heading off to mass.

meemeemee

Surely many people who are "not religious" don't go as far as to consider themselves either agnostic or atheist.

o1s1n

Seachmall wrote: »

I'm both an agnostic and an atheist.




As are most who identify as agnostic.

I would also fall into this category, so there isn't a button for me to press :pac:

FatherLen

I don't believe in god or the afterlife but I call myself an agnostic...




....just incase

techdiver

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Plenty of people still class themselves as Catholics even though they know its tradition rather than belief. Most young folks dont though. If the census shows a predominantly Catholic country then it could also be because Mammy and Daddy filled out the census before heading off to mass.

I agree that many forms were filled out by mammy and daddy, but from my own anecdotal evidence (friends), many of them filled in Catholic even though they don't really believe or attend mass, apart from the usual of Weddings and Funerals.

Cienciano

I consider myself "atari jaguar". Unfortunately, not an option in the poll

seanie_c

What about Astronomy? Studying the cosmos.

Atheism is dogmatic when it uses dodgy science as evidence to prove a God doesn't exist when there really is no way of knowing right now for certain.

It just comes down to what you believe.

But no doubt Atheists will disagree with me . . .;)

DoctorEdgeWild

Bob Dole doesn't need this.

Artful_Badger

seanie_c wrote: »

What about Astronomy? Studying the cosmos.

Atheism is dogmatic when it uses dodgy science as evidence to prove a God doesn't exist when there really is no way of knowing right now for certain.

It just comes down to what you believe.

But no doubt Atheists will disagree with me . . .;)

Whether or not a being or beings had a hand in the creation of the universe we'll probably never know. But God/Gods and all the teachings associated with them are a human construct of that there is no doubt in my mind.

Paramite Pie

Atheist.

My dad filled out the census for me and my brother. We were annoyed when he admitted he put us down as Catholics. He doesn't even take it very seriously himself.... ugh... parents:pac:

Genghiz Cohen

seanie_c wrote: »

What about Astronomy? Studying the cosmos.

Atheism is dogmatic when it uses dodgy science as evidence to prove a God doesn't exist when there really is no way of knowing right now for certain.

It just comes down to what you believe.

But no doubt Atheists will disagree with me . . .;)

Only on your definition of atheist.

And anyone who says they can prove something ISN'T is deluding themselves.
You can't prove a negative.

Agnostic atheist here. Don't believe but don't claim to know.

Seachmall

seanie_c wrote: »

But no doubt Atheists will disagree with me . . .;)

In my experience the vast, vast majority of atheists agree that the existence of God is unknowable.

That's why the vast, vast majority of them are atheists.

techdiver

God damn it (pun intended!).

Just realised I left a "t" off "Theist" in the thread title!

seanie_c

seanie_c wrote: »

Atheism is dogmatic when it uses dodgy science as evidence to prove a God doesn't exist when there really is no way of knowing right now for certain.

No.

Galwayguy35

Seachmall wrote: »

Oddly enough all theists are also agnostics but most just can't bring themselves to admit it.

A mind reader as well are you, able to tell what other people think...

cletus van damme

How can one be atheist AND agnostic?

my understanding is that one believes in something but the other believes in nothing (in terms of higher powers )

i seek enlightenment.

Seachmall

techdiver wrote: »

God damn it (pun intended!).

Just realised I left a "t" off "Theist" in the thread title!

You can edit it by double clicking the surrounding box on the main forum listing.

seanie_c

Artful_Badger wrote: »

Whether or not a being or beings had a hand in the creation of the universe we'll probably never know. But God/Gods and all the teachings associated with them are a human construct of that there is no doubt in my mind.

I agree.

Certainly not implying I believe in the bible, Qur'an, Torah, Talmud or any other religious mumbo jumbo text.

But I don't accept Atheists explanation for the creation of Universe either as it's just more of the same.

Seachmall

cletus van damme wrote: »

How can one be atheist AND agnostic?

my understanding is that one believes in something but the other believes in nothing (in terms of higher powers )

i seek enlightenment.

Gnosticism deals with knowledge.

Theism deals with belief.

It's possible to believe something without having absolute knowledge of it.


I, for example, believe there is nobody alive that is genetically identical to me but without examining the genes of every living person I can never know that.


Likewise, I believe there is no sentient creator but confess I have no evidence of it.

My belief is the result of applying logic and reason, but not, unfortunately, the result of analysing empirical evidence.

seanie_c wrote: »

But I don't accept Atheists explanation for the creation of Universe either as it's just more of the same.

You say "Atheists" but I think you mean "Scientists". Y'know, the folk that collect and analyse evidence to reach conclusions (i.e. it's not just more of the same).

Artful_Badger

seanie_c wrote: »

I agree.

Certainly not implying I believe in the bible, Qur'an, Torah, Talmud or any other religious mumbo jumbo text.

But I don't accept Atheists explanation for the creation of Universe either as it's just more of the same.

Atheists dont have an explanation I dont think. I dont anyway. I just go along with current scientific knowledge which as far as I'm aware can tell us what likely happened from the big bang on. What caused the big bang or existed before it if anything though is anyone's guess and I have never heard anyone speak of what caused it as fact other than those attributing it to God.

seanie_c

Deleted User wrote: »

No.

No what? Please don't start talking about the 'Big Bang'

It's just really annoying to hear someone tell me how the universe was created using dodgy science. I feel like I'm back in primary school listening to a teacher read the book of Genesis.

Ghost Buster

seanie_c wrote: »

What about Astronomy? Studying the cosmos.

Atheism is dogmatic when it uses dodgy science as evidence to prove a God doesn't exist when there really is no way of knowing right now for certain.

It just comes down to what you believe.

But no doubt Atheists will disagree with me . . .;)

Not all atheists give a fiddlers about science much (Me)
But I do know enough science to know its impossible to prove a non existence so Im guessing the science geek atheists also know this.
Now you know this to.
So is this bit over now?

Ush1

Funny enough I was just filling out a form for the Coombe hospital which asked religion and the options included 'Atheist' and 'None'?

Ghost Buster

seanie_c wrote: »

I agree.

Certainly not implying I believe in the bible, Qur'an, Torah, Talmud or any other religious mumbo jumbo text.

But I don't accept Atheists explanation for the creation of Universe either as it's just more of the same.

They dont have one. They simply dont believe in gods.....
Atheists and scientists are different......

Seachmall

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

A mind reader as well are you, able to tell what other people think...

I don't need to be a mind reader to know that people don't know the unknowable.


A theist can tell me they "know" that there is a god but I'll just conclude that they don't know what knowledge is.

Duckworth_Luas

Ush1 wrote: »

Funny enough I was just filling out a form for the Coombe hospital which asked religion and the options included 'Atheist' and 'None'?

My aunt, Sister Carmencita, is a none!

Holsten

Agnostic/Atheist/Don't care... whatever.

Duggy747

I don't believe in anything which also counts in me not believing it's not butter.

forgotten password

tekno dj

seanie_c

Seachmall wrote: »

You say "Atheists" but I think you mean "Scientists". Y'know, the folk that collect and analyse evidence to reach conclusions (i.e. it's not just more of the same).

Yep, and scientists are not infallible.

Scientists once thought the milky way was our entire universe and they were wrong.

Our models of the universe and its origin are only as good as our knowledge of it today and I'm so sorry If I don't accept the dogmatic beliefs of some Atheists being absolute fact.

Scientists are using primitive instruments to read the universe and then pretend to have an answer how it was created. It's silly.

Jimoslimos

Poll should have 4 options;

Gnostic Theist
Agnostic Theist
Agnostic Atheist
Gnostic Atheist

Most would fall into the two middle agnostic categories, believe/don't believe but don't claim to have any special knowledge one way or another.

WinnyThePoo

Agnostic myself..but I don't care about religion and I don't care to think of it all too much. I too find loud atheists annoying and often or not insulting to me, because I'm "sitting on the fence". I'm not sitting on the fence..i really don't care.

Ghost Buster

seanie_c wrote: »

Yep, and scientists are not infallible.

Scientists once thought the milky way was our entire universe and they were wrong.

Our models of the universe and its origin are only as good as our knowledge of it today and I'm so sorry If I don't accept the dogmatic beliefs of some Atheists being absolute fact.

Scientists are using primitive instruments to read the universe and then pretend to have an answer how it was created. It's silly.

Your posts are willfully stupid i think.
You started out by purposely confusing atheists and scientists and when this runs out of steam you create straw men about scientists so you can shoot down statements which no one have made.
And now we are onto to atheists beliefs...yawn....... What are they then?..... (I think i can guess but fire ahead:rolleyes:)

Artful_Badger

seanie_c wrote: »

Yep, and scientists and are not infallible.

Scientists once thought the milky way was our entire universe and they were wrong.

Our models of the universe and its origin are only as good as our knowledge of it today and I'm so sorry If I don't accept the dogmatic beliefs of some Atheists being absolute fact.

Scientists are using primitive instruments to read the universe and then pretend to have an answer how it was created. It's silly.

Can you show me which scientists are claiming to know how the universe was created ? I've read a lot of popular science books and have a keen interest in cosmology and the like and I have never heard a scientist say anything of the kind.

Scientists also never claim anything as fact. They deal with whats most probable based on the results of what they have been able to test. And in my book choosing that over ignorance or fantasy is a no brainer.

We are also not using primitive instruments. Some of the things scientist have access to these days are immensely accurate. And the huge recent advancement in how we are able to manipulate matter and energy is a pretty clear indication that they weren't far off the mark even if the models they are working off are wrong.

Catholic.

Galwayguy35

Seachmall wrote: »

I don't need to be a mind reader to know that people don't know the unknowable.


A theist can tell me they "know" that there is a god but I'll just conclude that they don't know what knowledge is.

When you hop down of that high horse you might realise that you can't say for certain that there is no life after death either.

People can spend their whole life arguing about it but the reality is none of us know.

Sulla Felix

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

Agnostic myself..but i don't care about religion and i dont care to think of it all too much. I too find loud atheist annoying and often not insulting to me, because i'm "sitting on the fence". I'm not sitting on the fence..i really dont care.

If you're not an atheist you're a theist. It's a defined dualism, so theres no maybe or none of the above option.

o1s1n

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

When you hop down of that high horse you might realise that you can't say for certain that there is no life after death either.

People can spend their whole life arguing about it but the reality is none of us know.

Indeed - but then why think there is when you cannot know for certain?

If you come from a logical point of view (which is all we really have) then there is no evidence to say that there is life after death. Therefore the default position needs to be 'there isn't any' - those claiming that there is need to provide some sort of proof.

Which they can't. So we'll endlessly go around in circles debating the fact :pac:

Zubeneschamali

seanie_c wrote: »

Scientists are using primitive instruments to read the universe and then pretend to have an answer how it was created.

Thinking the Universe was "created" is a religious idea, and while there are a minority of scientists who are religious, I've never heard of one who claimed that science proved their religious ideas.

salacious crumb

It's a question of belief. Nobody from any side of the argument can prove the existence or non existence of any god or gods.
I do not believe in any gods so I say I am an atheist.

Galwayguy35

o1s1n wrote: »

Indeed - but then why think there is when you cannot know for certain?

If you come from a logical point of view (which is all we really have) then there is no evidence to say that there is life after death. Therefore the default position needs to be 'there isn't any' - those claiming that there is need to provide some sort of proof.

Which they can't. So we'll endlessly go around in circles debating the fact :pac:

It's a belief in something more, if I happen to hold that view I don't see why it should bother anyone else what i believe in.

Many hardline atheists seem to be obsessed with Christianity, I find this somewhat strange.

Turtwig

Agnostic atheist ignostic but more importantly: awesome!

FreshKnickers

I believe firmly that I may be agnostic perhaps.

Turtwig

FreshKnickers wrote: »

I believe firmly that I may be agnostic perhaps.

You can't know for certain though.

/gets coat.

Zubeneschamali

salacious crumb wrote: »

It's a question of belief. Nobody from any side of the argument can prove the existence or non existence of any god or gods.

If, for example, the Catholic god existed, it would be easy to prove, since he is supposed to answer prayers and work miracles.

But in order to preserve faith, he has to hide and only do it when no-one is looking.

Faith is important because shut up.

Rubeter

seanie_c wrote: »

Atheism is dogmatic when it uses dodgy science as evidence to prove a God doesn't exist when there really is no way of knowing right now for certain.

The amusing thing about this utterly incorrect (and illogical) statement is that it is the religious who use dodgy science to "prove" the existence of a god.

Seachmall

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

When you hop down of that high horse you might realise that you can't say for certain that there is no life after death either.

People can spend their whole life arguing about it but the reality is none of us know.

I've said twice, I think, in this thread that I don't know, can't know and make no claims to know.

That's exactly my point; it is impossible to know.

Therefore everybody is an agnostic. Regardless of whether they can bring themselves to admit it or not.

o1s1n

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

It's a belief in something more, if I happen to hold that view I don't see why it should bother anyone else what i believe in.

Many hardline atheists seem to be obsessed with Christianity, I find this somewhat strange.

It doesn't bother me, but perhaps I find it intriguing and just wish to know more? Discussing belief and why people believe certain things isn't a bad thing - sure didn't the lord himself go from town to town doing just that?

Many 'hardline athiests' enjoy discussing and debating Christianity as it was the religion they grew up with (and rejected) - again, there's nothing wrong with that either.