Why do you think atheists are abundant on the Internet?

[I Have No Idea]

Well, why? I'm not entirely sure, and it makes me curious. My thought is that either it's just simply that the vast majority of internet dwellers (forumites, Youtubers, etc.) are atheists, or there's a bigger religious population than everybody think but they're much less vocal.

I have nothing against atheists, by the way.

Also, I wasn't sure whether to put this in the Religion section or here since it's Internet-talk as well. So if I'm wrong, feel free to move the thread mods. Apologies.

 

[gigastrike]

I think it's because they both draw the "intellectual" crowd.

 

[Ickorus]

There's probably as many if not more religious people on the internet, they just aren't as obnoxious and loud.

(The obnoxious and loud religious people don't use the internet so much)

 

[DEAD34345]

I think it's more the areas of the internet you go to. Youtube, 4Chan and here are all godless hives of scum and villainy, so it stands to reason most people would be atheists.

You need to check out places like [link]http://www.christianforums.com/[/link]. You know, the god-fearing hives of scum and villainy.

 

[AVATAR_RAGE]

No clue maybe we religious people are less in your face about it. Though the only people I can say for sure are religious on the internet are very in your face.

 

[Darkmantle]

I think that the anonymity of the internet allows people to state their beliefs without being judged or vilified by their real life peers/family. Many a closet atheist is on the internet because their religious parents (for the sake of example) would not approve of their choice. That would explain why there are less open atheists on the net than IRL.

 

[theonecookie]

I think its got something to do with you average internet user being more logicly inclined rather than spiritually inclined

Although that is changing every day it was just that more atheists picked it up sooner , that and the internet allows you to freely form an opinion rather than having one shoved down your throat

 

[MaoExE]

Atheists aren't more abundant, just easier to find. All the religious groups on the internet usually don't just broadly say "I believe in such and such"

So in the end you don't know anyone's religion who doesn't state it because you'd be surprised by the variety in religion.

 

[YawningAngel]

I'm fairly sure that it's because the younger generation simply doesn't much care and coincidentally is also the internet's main user base. Certainly, in the UK, most people under 25 or so would be atheist by my definition, and I've no reason not to think my experience is representative. By contrast, society in general tends to be older and more conservative, hence more religious.

 

[MasterOfWorlds]

There's probably as many if not more religious people on the internet, they just aren't as obnoxious and loud.

I think this is fairly close to the truth. I'd also attribute it the fact that more and more people claim to be atheist nowadays, and it only makes sense that it would translate onto the internet.

 

[Woodsey]

Depends on where you look.

There's a relatively young demographic on this site, and ironically that seems to mean people are less likely to believe in a god.

 

[I Have No Idea]

Atheists aren't more abundant, just easier to find. All the religious groups on the internet usually don't just broadly say "I believe in such and such"

Yeah, that's what I mean't to say. Not more abundant, just easier to see.

 

[Jacco]

I think it's more the areas of the internet you go to. Youtube, 4Chan and here are all godless hives of scum and villainy, so it stands to reason most people would be atheists.

You need to check out places like [link]http://www.christianforums.com/[/link]. You know, the god-fearing hives of scum and villainy.

There's probably as many if not more religious people on the internet, they just aren't as obnoxious and loud.

(The obnoxious and loud religious people don't use the internet so much)

You, my friends, win an internet.

Now.

Fight to the death for it so we may all enjoy the ruthless bloodshed.

OT: I agree with the Lunncal (who I just sentenced to mortal combat) in that Atheists tend to be more vocal on the internet which makes it seem like there are more of them. Its the same thing with crazy religous people: they are vocal in real life and thus it seems like they are the majority (they are not, but thats a different debate).

 

[Nerdstar]

a certain amount of anonymity helps. where as in a real world forum there's a possibility of being shunned and discriminated against on the Internet under the cloak of anonymity atheist are free to voice themselves without fear of reprisal, the Internet has become a church of sorts where they can preach there word(oh, the delicious irony)

 

[Jakub324]

Atheists are everywhere, and more vocal about their lack of belief than theists are about their belief.

 

[SageRuffin]

Atheists? Not really.

Plain old idiots? Scores of them on both sides. Need I remind anyone about the one lady saying how earthquake and subsequent tsunami that wrecked Japan was "God purging the non-believers"?

 

[The Floating Nose]

Maybe because they like to feel important and trying to shove their atheism down religious people's throat by saying things like "Im an atheist there for, i am automatically smarter than you har har har". Ahtiest on the internet really like to feel like intellectuals on the internet. Like, you know, that fat piece of shit "Amazing Atheist" and that...guy who cut his arm on a live chat just for attention "Fake Sagan" (don't believe me ? check out "fakesagan fails 2" on youtube it's kind of creepy.

 

[Mallefunction]

Because Atheists are so few in number (at least in America), they tend to stick to places where they wont be persecuted. You cannot be harmed through a computer screen. Despite what society says, anything other than Christianity and Judaism is taboo. Even being a Deist is enough to spawn persecution, and wide spread fear. It kills your social life, and reputation.

The internet gives a persecuted minority to have a voice without fear. At least that's how I see it.

Also this video seems to explain it better:

Pretty much this. Being Anon allows people to speak their mind without fear that family and friends will abandon them or start fights with them.