Why do you think atheists are abundant on the Internet?

[Vykrel]

because you learn things on the internet.

 

[mellemhund]

I think you're slightly confused about the terminology here. Atheist means someone who purposefully believes that God/a god/gods DON'T exist. Whereas what your talking about is more of agnostic, where you just haven't given thought to it and don't care whether there is or isn't.

It is you who have it wrong. Atheist means not believing in god/gods. Agnostic refers to whether you think it can be truly known or will forever be unknowable. I bet you'd have a hard time finding a gnostic atheist.

The new use of agnostic is for the fence sitters and those who want the atheist numbers to seem smaller than they really are.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

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

Seriously? Intellectual? THE INTERNET?? I'm tempted to post that video twice, just to drive home the point.

So I will.


Unless you weren't actually serious, in which case you ignore everything above.

Anyway, it's more like "They both draw the socially awkward crowd", I think.

 

[Rathands]

Because in the beginning God said, 'Let there be light!' and the basement dwellers never forgave him for hurting their eyes.

 

[Riggin Scheer]

Y'know, it's the exact opposite where I live. Anyone who goes to church is pretty much branded as a moron

... Take me with you!

 

[KillerCane101]

Because the internet is of the devil!!!!

 

[KillerCane101]

Because the internet is of the devil!!!!

 

[VanTesla]

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:

Funny thing about Deism and America is many of the Founding Fathers where Deist. Yet there is still huge persecution against non-christians and many different versions of christian faith...

 

[Bravo 21]

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

Have to say this seems to be a fairly civil group, compared to some slightly more aggressive *cough*http://shelleytherepublican.com/*cough* groups. Quite honestly I can't tell if they are Trolling, or completely insane. not saying that there aren't crazy atheists out there, but I think that these people may just take the crazy cake
OT: I think it is just that Atheist's are more vocal on the internet, just my obsevation

 

[I Have No Idea]

Thats why i blame the organizations and not the followers.

That's exactly like what I just said. You're blaming the whole thing, rather than a few individuals who ruin it for everybody else.

 

[Denamic]

The internet is a ginormous ocean of information, and edumacation tends to breed atheism.
Also, because of anonymity, people who would not otherwise reveal themselves as atheists because of social pressure feel comfortable doing so online.
In addition, not all countries are as religious as America, and most people on the internet are not American.

 

[ATRAYA]

I am a Christian, and I think it's just because many of us are not very vocal. I WILL correct people when they say something that is not scientifically (or religiously, sometimes) accurate, but that's pretty much it; a lot of people don't seem to realize that science and Christianity actually go hand-in-hand, and are NOT bitter rivals - in a personified sense, of course.

But I don't really like to express my religious beliefs, because you can only teach people who are willing to learn. And ironically, most users in this vast, knowledge-filled web do NOT want to learn - they'll fight anything they can to the bitter end, because they're infallible. Can't teach someone that's infallible, right?

Sorry, it's hard not to preach, I was just answering the question. Believe what you wish, you clearly had some experience that led you to the decision you have made.

P.S.: There is no shame in changing your mind...

 

[VanTesla]

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:

Funny thing about Deism and America is many of the Founding Fathers where Deist. Yet there is still huge persecution against non-christians and many different versions of christian faith...

Exactly. It started when Thomas Paine threw down the gauntlet with the Age of Reason. Now anyone who is Deist gets persecuted because of Christian doctoring of history. It was to bury any argument Thomas Paine or Deism ever used, which are common arguments Atheists use now. They tried to convince people that Thomas Paine recanted at his death by making up some ridiculous story, and it worked. This fear and hatred of Deism went as far as Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Lincoln wrote an essay trying to defend Paine, only for his friend to burn it "to save his political career." It even went into the administration of Roosevelt, who called him a "dirty little Atheist."

This started a trend in historical revisionism dictated by Christianity. After all of this, after being nearly stamped out from history itself, Christians still claim they are the most persecuted people on Earth.

and that my friend is the irony of ignorant followers... By the way, was it Theodore or Franklin that said that?

 

[NaramSuen]

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.

Exactly, and especially on secular sites, your scrutiny isn't going to cause any alarm or distress, it will simply be treated as scrutiny. The majority isn't going to tell you you're wrong, or that what you're asking is a sin. They'll try to answer you, or they'll say that they were thinking the same thing.

Both of you hit the nail exactly on the head; it is the anonymity. I am not shy about saying that I am an atheist and I have had many one-on-one conversations with co-workers and acquaintances who were raised in a religious background. They have told me straight out that they would never dare raise doubts out loud in public for fear of being condemned.

 

[UrieHusky]

Oh I don't know, because the internet is a global service that brings people of hundreds of different parts of the world together and allows them to share thoughts and beliefs?

Why are christians so rampart on the internet?
Why are perverts so rampart on the internet?

Because it's the same as always it's just more condensed. Plus there's the fact that you can hold up a fort of anonymity making people more vocal.

Just imagine the internet as one massive city or a country and it will make more sense to you.

 

[Dominic Burchnall]

I suppose it's fairly easy to come across skepticism and rational argument. Upon typing anything with a religious slant into a search engine, you almost immeadiately come across two atheism and the theist viewpoint. An atheist can look at the non-logical arguments of the theist sites, and have his viewpoint re-enforced. A theist can look at the rational arguments of an atheist site will have their faith challenged, and can start using their brains a bit.

Also, could I ask for a bit of help? I am an atheist Englishman, currently studying at university. Could one of the American Escapists please tell me if the European stereotypes regarding conservative Christian attitudes towards known atheists are correct, namely that atheists are heavily shunned and criticised in day to day life for their disbelief, and if so, why? Or rather, what is there understanding of the cause?