Several atheists here at iMDB say that it is only logical an sensible to not believe in any sort of God, and those with religious beliefs are just ignorant fools. Then why does the percentage of people that hold some sort of belief in a deity or spiritual realm far outweigh those who do not? Before the 19th century there was hardly such a thing as atheism. Has most of the world been total dupes up until the "glorious enlightenment" period of the late 19th century when the ideas of Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Charles Darwin were popularized?
[Blake4014's response]
The reason why is because the media and education system is spreading lies, and disorting and removing God from public view on purpose for the benifit of the elite.
24 comments
Well, I think it would logically follow that most of humanity is not rational, if you assume the aforementioned atheists' assertion (alliteration ahoy!)
It is entirely possible for most of the human race to be wrong. For instance, if only one religion is true, and no world religion comprises a majority of the human population, then most people on Earth are wrong. But following your logic, those people who are wrong would be right, because the majority is logical and sensical. In the calculus, the truth is like Schroedinger's cat.
Or, to paraphrase Douglas Adams, logic disappears in a puff of logic.
So the majority of people throughout civilization, who were uneducated farmers that would follow anything, outweigh the most intelligent minds of our century who, despite their personal beliefs, do not say that a god does not exist, but simply say there is no proof of such? Well hey I know of a huge following that believe Aliens have taken them on their spaceships and done experiments on them. How could they all be wrong?
But seriously, this is beyond idiotic. The media and EDUCATION system (which would exist even if it still taught your nonsense) are supposedly lying to people, but a 2000 year old church which has existed to make money and exercise power does not? Nevermind it's inability to constantly teach "the word of god" in an exact manner throughout this long period of time or it having originally formed a council to decide which material would make the bible and which would not. Considering people believe the bible is completely the word of god, how could mere mortals decide what of his teachings are important enough for the average follower to read about throughout the ages? ... You know, you're right. That good for nothing education system and it's ability to make you look at the facts and think about them for yourself is only out to empower a select few who exist only the deluded little mind of the second fellow.
It started a bit earlier than the 19th and the people you mention, but otherwise the answer is FUCKING YES!
"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because if there be one, He must approve the homage of Reason rather than that of blindfolded Fear." -Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to Peter Carr, Aug. 10, 1787
Yeah, because all of those 'christians' just picked that particular religion, right? It's funny that superstitious and barbaric folks weren't more learned on the ways of the universe. You fucking dolt.
Think for a second that discoveries of little things like, the earth isn't the center of the universe, and that there is no evidence of most things in the bible had something to do with it? Who is going to be more enlightened, folks in the 20th century, or some european peasant living BEFORE THE ENLIGHTENMENT? Just maybe, if the threat of torture and death for oneself and family wasn't hanging over people's heads, then maybe there would've been more atheists! Fuck man, people were still being imprisoned a hundred years ago, and witches stopped being burned or hung around the same time. I'm sure American 1690's 'atheist churches' would've been real popular places to hang out, huh?
If rome and the x-tian nuts weren't forcing the word of jesus down people's throats and washing it down with boiling water, maybe people's minds would've receptive to the discussion at least, of no god.
Until the 19th century, your religion and torturous death walked hand in hand.
Just because a majority of persons believe something to be true, that is no assurance that is is actually true. Remember, eat shit, 300 billion flies can't be wrong.
Yes, examination of the evidence has helped me understand that there is no god and that those who believe in a god, whatever be their percentage in the population, are wrong.
People don't believe in gods because of evidence, they believe in gods because that belief makes them feel better. It makes some feel better to continue a familiar system, one in which they were likely raised. It makes them feel better to go along with a culturally lauded group. It makes them feel better to believe, even falsely, that they aren't going to really die and that they will see dead friends and family again. There are many other reasons, but that should be enough for now.
The people who most fear the "elite" are the sediment of society. The bottom layer who don't think well or have much in the way of useful skills; people who can't ever hope to be thought of as one of the "elite" and probably owe their livelyhood to the "elite." Sadly, it's often the educated persons and thinking persons, the innovators, deep thinkers and philosophers who are attacked first by the disgruntled.
Actually, since they'd be mostly farm communities and really no education except what you learned at home. I think 200 years ago you'd be lucky if half the population ever heard your Christian story. The further you go back, the less likely.
C'mon ! A thousand years ago, Most the population never saw a church or preacher of Christianity.
Here, in France, we have a rather long tradition of atheism, that became mainstream back in the 18th, actually.
And reality is not a democratic process. Because the majority believe in something does not make it real.
"Then why does the percentage of people that hold some sort of belief in a deity or spiritual realm far outweigh those who do not?"
Maybe most people are ignorant and are indoctrinated or possibly fear/shame mongered into their religion?
"Before the 19th century there was hardly such a thing as atheism"
This might have something to do with the fact that anyone who declared themselves to be an atheist in 17th century England would have been in trouble.
They tried to prosecute Thomas Hobbes for atheism for example.*
*whether or not he was actually an atheist is debateable though it is possible he was.
"The reason why is because the media and education system is spreading lies, and disorting and removing God from public view on purpose for the benifit of the elite"
"Religion is the opium of the masses" ring any bells with you????
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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