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I am religious and believe in free will

70 (27.6%)

I am religious and do not believe in free will

10 (3.9%)

I am not religious and believe in free will

113 (44.5%)

I am not religious and do not believe in free will

61 (24%)

Total Members Voted: 249

[origamiscienceguy]

It appears that atheism is largely in the communist or previously communist countries. That would explain its recent rise and fall.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[Ghazkull]

seems a bit of a low projection on the Agnostic/Atheistic Front. Seeing as China makes up one sixth of the worlds population...also if we consider That in Scandinavia and Germany we have between 50 and 80% Agnostics/Atheists, the map seems kind of wrong.

[TD1]

It appears that atheism is largely in the communist or previously communist countries. That would explain its recent rise and fall.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

So with atheism there's a logical reason for its rise, but for Christianity it was God, not the point of a Roman sword?

[redwallzyl]

It appears that atheism is largely in the communist or previously communist countries. That would explain its recent rise and fall.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

So with atheism there's a logical reason for its rise, but for Christianity it was God, not the point of a Roman sword?

the Romans didn't force convert people. it spread through a combination of government encouragement through requirements to hold office and missionaries. in fact many of the barbarian tribes that invaded the roman empire had already been convert by missionary's. Charlemagne was the one doing force conversions but the church told him to knock it off because that's not how your supposed to convert people and he stopped.

[wierd]

...And n some me later, we had the Spanish inquisition...doing exactly that all over again.

[Antioch]

I answered atheist, though it is more a description of what I do NOT believe than what I do.

If asked for my convictions I would say that I am a freethinker.

What is freethought?

A quote by William Kingdon Clifford is often cited as a short summary of freethought: "It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freethought

How do you guys identify with the principles of freethought?

[Bohandas]

interesting article, if short.

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/12/25/460797744/a-religious-forecast-for-2050-atheism-is-down-islam-is-rising

[wierd]

It is why i identify as agnostic, and not atheist.

It is possible, if unlikely, that a divine entity exists outside of our universe. I cannot remove this possibility. As such, it would be a foolish assertion of blind belief on my part to say one either does or does not exist. When asked, I answer that I simply do not know, and given the nature of the problem, logically cannot know.

Hence hard agnostic.

[TD1]

It appears that atheism is largely in the communist or previously communist countries. That would explain its recent rise and fall.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

So with atheism there's a logical reason for its rise, but for Christianity it was God, not the point of a Roman sword?

the Romans didn't force convert people. it spread through a combination of government encouragement through requirements to hold office and missionaries. in fact many of the barbarian tribes that invaded the roman empire had already been convert by missionary's. Charlemagne was the one doing force conversions but the church told him to knock it off because that's not how your supposed to convert people and he stopped.

Bishops closed down temples left, right and centre. You couldn't get positions if you weren't Christian. There were killings of pagans. The  Temple at Delphi was burned down.

Numerous others. Maybe it wasn't state sanctioned (but, you know, in a lot of cases it was) but at the very least, the people themselves forced people to convert.

[Arx]

You know what would improve this argument? Citations.

[origamiscienceguy]

You know what would improve this argument? Citations.

YES! POSTING TICKETS FOR EVERYBODY!! 20 dollars for posting without a licence, and 30 for a second offence. Then +20 dollars for every offence after that.

[TD1]

You know what would improve this argument? Citations.

I don't have the book on me, but you can read Gregory's invective against Julian the Apostate for info on the burning of the Temple. Other various ancient sources too - maybe Suetonius? I can't recall. I did an essay on it a while back - if you really want citations, just look into it.

[Graknorke]

It is why i identify as agnostic, and not atheist.

It is possible, if unlikely, that a divine entity exists outside of our universe. I cannot remove this possibility. As such, it would be a foolish assertion of blind belief on my part to say one either does or does not exist. When asked, I answer that I simply do not know, and given the nature of the problem, logically cannot know.

Hence hard agnostic.

That's still atheist m8.

And Antioch, that whole sentiment is pretty close to the kind of thing that ends up with you being Wronger Than Wrong.

[penguinofhonor]

Well you don't see this often.

[Antioch]

Well you don't see this often.

NOBODY ANSWERED. I GOT IGNORED FOR 3 MONTHS.