Atheists a minority?

[_DrW]

Many of these folks, however, continue to attend Church for the sake of their families and for purely social reasons.

of course they do, thanks for keeping your finger on the pulse of all these subtle demographics and insights into behavior. Of course, many people refuse to openly admit they believe in God, even though they do not attend church. Wow, i like your way of randomly drawing conclusions and promoting it as real substance.

FYI subgenius - I am an atheist and have been for many years, yet I have never stopped attending the LDS church. I even pay some tithing. I attend as a concession to my believing wife.

Just a sample size of one, I know, but there are a few others in my area like me.

Josh

Thanks for your comment. Welcome to the Board.

Your situation is in no way unique, or even close to it. I was in your situation for several years.

Membership over at PostMormon.org is approaching 7,000. I would say that the majority of these 7,000 are members (or former members) of the LDS Church who now do not believe in God. Many of them have resigned, of course, but many still attend Church for the sake of their families. Some do so openly as non-believers, but for many it is sort of a "Don't Ask - Don't Tell" situation.

[_subgenius]

On the whole atheism seems to be a sensible position based on the factual and evidentiary information available to mankind.

Plus it's 10% cheaper than Mormonism...

but the atheist retirement plan sucks

[_subgenius]

FYI subgenius - I am an atheist and have been for many years, yet I have never stopped attending the LDS church. I even pay some tithing. I attend as a concession to my believing wife.

Just a sample size of one, I know, but there are a few others in my area like me.

Josh

congratulations ?
not sure the purpose of your FYI, but my FYI in kind: i was an atheist and now i am not...i too know a lot of people like me...and like you, all in "my area"....which is the basic point of anecdotal evidence...ain't it?

[_Buffalo]

On the whole atheism seems to be a sensible position based on the factual and evidentiary information available to mankind.

Plus it's 10% cheaper than Mormonism...

but the atheist retirement plan sucks

Those of us who value deep slumber see it as a great package!

[_Buffalo]

i was an atheist

You must have been on the lowest end of the bell curve.

[_Themis]

i was an atheist

You must have been on the lowest end of the bell curve.

I think subgenious could be lying, but then there are those who in their younger years rebelled against family and theire religion. They usually do it over emotional reasons and not logic, so they may have professed things like God does not exist, but never really thought about it thoroughly. This would explain his lack of understanding about it. His new religious zeal can explain his bias and no real desire to learn about it now.

[_joshua_voss]

i was an atheist and now i am not...

Subgenius, I am curious - how/why did you become a believer?

Josh

[_subgenius]

i was an atheist and now i am not...

Subgenius, I am curious - how/why did you become a believer?

Josh

through inspection, investigation, and revelation. experience and cognition. it is an inevitable situation during a meaningful mature life.
my atheism was never founded in rebellion as some would speculate (and typically, an erroneous speculation). my atheism was always founded on good atheistic principles.....self-centered-ness and egotism.

[_subgenius]

I think subgenious could be lying

well, its obvious you think what you want, even regardless of the facts.

but then there are those who in their younger years rebelled against family and theire religion.

but then there are those that did neither, and those that did one or the other or both in their "older" years, and those that had no family but rebelled against school, or those that never were rebellious but always had a deep desire to yell at their car but never saw the sense in such an act.

They usually do it over emotional reasons and not logic,

according to all the clinical studies? or are you just "figuring"? is that how you "feel" about it? or do you have any of that fancy logic to support your claims here?

so they may have professed things like God does not exist, but never really thought about it thoroughly.

why? because the cool kids were atheists? smoking cigarettes and marxism, the tell-tale signs of a troubled youth. again, do you have any "logic" or facts, or is it all posits?

This would explain his lack of understanding about it. His new religious zeal can explain his bias and no real desire to learn about it now.

how can it explain that? atheism is quite simple and almost requires no understanding. God(s) do not exist. simple, all that logically follows from that requires that initial assumption. Now, if one does not have an accurate understanding of what they reject it is likely the atheist. many atheist would reject an incorrect notion of the nature of God and therefore maintain an erroneous position in subsequent criticism of their "false" God.

username=Themis? really?
i stand by my assertions about atheists and their ego and self-centered-ness.

[_Buffalo]

atheism is quite simple and almost requires no understanding.

And you still managed to not get it. Congrats!