Is this just a coincidence?

[Cyberius]

Ok, first of all i apologize if this has been done before. I DID USE THE SEARCH, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I didn't find anything that answered my questions.

Is it just a coincidence that a majority of gamers are Athiest/Agnostic?

Is it the gaming from an early age that causes this to happen or is it just that we are drawn to the gaming community for some other reason.

Just curious to see what you think.

 

[Lukeje]

Where's your evidence that the majority of gamers are athiestic or agnostic?

 

[wordsmith]

More people are becoming athiests/agnostics, so it makes sense for more gamers to be.

To do this properly you would need to compare it to another hobby such as football or fishing, and by that reckoning Athiests are no more likely to be gamers than anything else.

 

[Cyberius]

True true, and as for evidence, it's purely circumstantial. But looking through various polls, surveys ect. many of the people tend to lean more some form of unreligion.

 

[Captain Blackout]

Well, as a fundamentalist Christian (at least on some days) I can say serious gaming is frowned upon by some religious circles. Might that have something to do with it?

 

[ThePoodonkis]

I consider myself a gamer, I also believe in some form of God.
Video games haven't changed my belief, nor has my belief tried to tear me from gaming. They have never seemed to try to.
Unless I'm just playing the wrong games/going to wrong churches...

 

[DarthHK]

In my opinion, yes this is a coincidence. Despite what Jack Thompson may have said we did not all huddle together in a cave with a 2 liter bottle of Mountain Dew and say "Hey, let's make GTAIV the new god! Those dang Christians will sure feel a kick in the rear!" Lots of gamers I know are Atheist. Others are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and well... any other religion you can think of.

 

[Cyberius]

Wow, i've never really heard of it being actually frowned upon.

Also, i mean no offence to anyone who belongs to any religious group. I understand that there is still a very large number of gamers who belong to, believe in, and worship various gods.

Also, Captain Blackout, what do you mean be fundamentalist Christian (don't post, i don't want the trolls to start in :\. If you could pm me that'd be sweet)

 

[wordsmith]

it's brilliantly set out and explained here:
http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=what+is+a+fundamentalist+christian

 

[Cyberius]

Lots of gamers I know are Atheist. Others are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and well... any other religion you can think of.

Indeed. Most of my friends are Christians, Evangelicals, protestant ect.

Recently i've just noticed that many more are dropping there beliefs due to.... well i don't really know why. I'll have to ask them about that...

 

[cystemic]

i think a lot of gamers a atheist is because atheists are usually people with a pretty bleak outlook on life and enjoy violence and that sort of thing. it's the blood and gore that attracts people like that. personally im atheist but i dont play games just for the blood and gore,but most of the counterstrike/quake/gta etc fans i know love the violence

 

[Lukeje]

True true, and as for evidence, it's purely circumstantial. But looking through various polls, surveys ect. many of the people tend to lean more some form of unreligion.

Ah right, I was just wondering if there was anything specific to make you come to this conclusion. Though there does seem to have been an increase in the number of vocal non/not quite-believers in 'recent' times in most areas. Maybe this is just because there is less fear of a 'religious backlash' for saying that you don't believe?

 

[antipunt]

Where's your evidence that the majority of gamers are athiestic or agnostic?

^this

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Ok, first of all i apologize if this has been done before. I DID USE THE SEARCH, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING. I didn't find anything that answered my questions.

Is it just a coincidence that a majority of gamers are Athiest/Agnostic?

No. It is just that internet communities tend to have more atheists.

More people are becoming athiests/agnostics, so it makes sense for more gamers to be.

There are 1 and half billion atheists on earth according to census data, that means 4 and a half billion who are in some way religious. Possibly. I am unsure of which side agnostics are on in that data.

 

[Cyberius]

I already answered that.

EDIT: That's really interesting, now im kind of curious as to how many people would be considered athiest say... 10-20 years ago as opposed to today.

 

[BeeRye]

Useless thread without some sort of statistical basis for the original statement.

 

[Gamine]

I dont think so..maybe in the US and European countries

ALL the people i know who game, are either Christian or Muslim

Religion HAS NO Effect on gaming, maybe on the type of game but it still doesnt affect gaming..

 

[Cyberius]

Considering the rest of the threads that i've seen that've been locked for the excessive flaming 4 posts in, i'd say this one is doing pretty decently. And i'd appreciate it if you'd give you opinion on what it is we're talking about, and the go on your way.

EDIT: Gormourn, if you could plz NOT make insinuations(sp) about other religions, that'd be helpful. Like i said, i don't want this to become an all out flame war like every other thread.

 

[cuddly_tomato]

Though there does seem to have been an increase in the number of vocal non/not quite-believers in 'recent' times in most areas. Maybe this is just because there is less fear of a 'religious backlash' for saying that you don't believe?

Works both ways. A fair number of people will keep their religion secret out of fear of an anti-religious backlash, especially on forums and other internet communities.