One of the reasons I’m no longer a believer is that study after study showed there isn’t much difference between Christians and atheists when it comes to behavior.
Here’s an interesting story about a study in Austria that shows church-goers steal more newspapers than others. Thanks to Epiphenom via The Atheist Spot.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Jenny // Jan 26, 2009 at 6:42 am
Ya think that could be because 86% of the population are churchgoers?
How ’bout the stats of 100 Atheists v. 100 Churchgoers. Heck – make it really fair and only use “non-Catholic” churchgoers… everybody knows that Catholics can do whatever they want as long as they ask for absolution from their local priest!
Do you really think Atheists behave the same as Christians (not Catholics) — Christians? What are their philanthropic stats? Just wondering…
2 cassi // Jan 27, 2009 at 1:47 am
I don’t think that 86% of the population going to church is relevant here. The chart says that the churchgoer population, whatever its size, pays 22 eurocents less, on average, for a newspaper. That’s 22 eurocents less than the overall average payment.
I’m not sure if I believe in God anymore. I used to, but lately I’ve been finding the atheist arguments more convincing than the God arguments. Let’s call me an atheist for the sake or argument. As an atheist, I tend to think that, if there’s no God out there taking care of us, all the more reason for us to take care of each other. So I consider the philanthropic stuff I do to be quite important and worthwhile, even without God.
3 Tim Stroud // Jan 27, 2009 at 2:15 am
People are just people.
It seems to fly in the face of reason to say that believers do not act significantly different than non-believers. Believers want to be seen as set apart, as significantly different, from non-believers in faith, thought and action.
And the stereotypical atheist is a promiscuious, self-absorbed libertine. And drinks too much to boot!
But, in truth, modern, mainstream Christianity does not require an intensity of faith, or a strict code of behavior.
And modern atheists find it easy to conform to the standards of societal behavior without any requirements to promote religion.
4 Do Christian and atheists act differently? | williamlobdell.com // Jan 27, 2009 at 2:56 pm
[...] wonderful mother, encouraging friend and kick-ass Ironman triathlete — commented on a recent post that church-goers steal more newspapers than others. She asks: Do you really think Atheists behave [...]
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