As an atheist since age 20, let me tell you the number of times I committed a crime because without God there was nothing stopping me!

@SW-User I went very well this is my last response you completely misunderstand but if he has it is and should Yourself avoid it thank you for your time we can still be friends

@SW-User You make it sound as though there is some sort of organized atheist movement to which atheists belong. I can assure you that none of the people in my circle who I am certain are atheists, none belong to any such organization. I don't recall making any claims at all unless you regard a request for proof as an unreasonable claim. The vast majority of atheists do not spend much, or indeed any, time thinking about religion much less making claims about it.

It's just a few of us who get irritated enough by people claiming things for us who feel a need to push back.

@SW-User The problem is, some people want to organize and make it a doctrine, which is ridiculous. Where does that leave all the people who simply don’t believe in any deity or god, the way most people don’t believe in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy ? No one is accused of hating those entities just because they aren’t real to them ?

@Bumbles I do believe you were bashing people of faith in your post. I think you meant it that way!

@SW-User The theist has an incentive to behave according to the tenets of their religion. That's not necessarily the same thing as what everyone else would regard as good.

@specman I'm sorry you took it that way.

@RuyLopez I love cookies.

@Bumbles

blah blah blah blah blah

@pdockal At least you know how to spell blah. Now go home and get your shine box.

@Bumbles

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

@SW-User Perhaps, although it’s not an assumption. I asked a question and then used the word “seem” which signifies “based on available information.”

@Bumbles you seem like you're trying to be an ass right now

@SW-User Not my intention, but I understand why you might think that.

@Bumbles I guess that depends on what you think that number might be we have heard a lot about the Catholic Church and some about the Southern Baptist, and certain Mormon sects
And if you look at the history of religion across the world, you will find many many accounts of holy man, abusing children, women, and often justified by something like well, she was asking for it clearly.

@SatyrService Oh, yes, big indeed with the Catholic Church. I don't think others come close. I read your response incorrectly.

@Soossie I just did another scan with a different search engine. It seems that if you combine those two words atheist and pedophile you get many articles about a certain controversial unbeliever speaking in ways that seem to diminish pedophilia as a criminal act. I also saw in the same search dozens and dozens of articles about religious leaders taking advantage of young people.
I may have to ask some AI. But from what I am learning AI tend to tell you what they think you are interested in hearing not necessarily anything like a clear statistical analysis. I for one use a statistical tool and some of my work. It’s called a Benford analysis and what it does is examines collections of numbers that are supposed to be random or even supposed to be specific to some need. A beneford Analysis allows you to look at any collection of numbers and see if they are artificially produced it’s not hard to do works like a charm

@Soossie But those who don’t believe in a god are not being held up as claiming to be"supported by a higher power". When they are kind and charitable, it’s not with any hope of reward or fear of punishment from an omnipotent being. Likewise, when someone who believes harms a child, can they doubt that the god they believe in will judge them harshly ? 🥺

@SatyrService

I don't see any reason for that... what so ever.
Pedophilia, at least for me, is still a biological and psychological phenomena (to cover the entire nurture vs nature debate). I don't see any reason why religion, or the lack there off, would increase the level of people that are sexually attracted too children that didn't go through puberty. Not one.

I think part of the answer why you make this reflection, is one that is rooted in Schmittian politics and projection. An idea based on "we" vs "them"... where "we" are the good guys and "them" are the enemy and thus some form of "evil". And the idea that "I'm an atheist", thus the good guy, and therefore bad phenomenas either don't occur or are a regretable exception in my own in-group, while the other group is kinda fucked up and thus bad stuff happens way more with those people.

And if you say this:


It feels that you are also influenced by a media culture. If a random pedophile gets caught, the media will not mention their religious affiliation at all. Unless that media type, is already falling in the dimensions that I mentioned before and are playing on "we" vs "them" narratives. But the affiliation will be mentioned if it's relevant... like when it happens in an institution like a church. The cases in churches that have come up, can't be explained in the media without mentioning the institution. While atheist ussually don't have institutions like this, and their religious affiliation in the media have 0 contribution to the broadcasting from their crimes. If the perception of "the other" is already negative, it's a tendency to give more weight to the bad example that enforces prior believes. Also in times when broadcasting of this sort is higher, it reinforces the prejudice. Or as Kahneman wrote:

@BabyLonia Oh, ugh.

@SomeMichGuy but i am aware that this abuse has happened in all areas of the christian church