What if most US citizens became atheists?

Oddity · Post by **Oddity** » 2003-02-20 11:16am

Let's pretend that, through a miracle of titanic proportions, the vast majority of US citizens wakes up one day and say: "From now on I'm going to be an atheist."

What would happen? Would things take a turn for the better or worse?

Post by **Colonel Olrik** » 2003-02-20 11:20am

We would consider letting you join the E.U

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-02-20 11:22am

I actually don't believe that would be a good thing in itself. If someone is raised to live a moral life because they fear some guy in the sky is watching them, then they won't be prepared when that fear goes away. I fear a lot of people will not be able to handle the freedom of thought at first, and problems will result.

Also, don't forget about all those televangelist who would need to find a new line of work, but have no actual job skills.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-02-20 11:24am

I think it might be a serious problem. If it’s done suddenly, you'd have tons of weak people looking to replace religion with something else... those other things might not be so good.

Add to that, the apparent lack of understanding about right vs wrong. The typical argument I hear is that atheists have no morals... it seems they think God determines that right/wrong and institutes it through a "fear of punishment" system. Is religion keeping many of these people in check? ....

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-02-20 11:56am

Depends on whether they turn into well adjusted atheists or messed up ones.

In my experience there seem to be two kinds of atheists:

The ones that learned atheism and humanist values either as a child or as an adult. These tend to be the more adjusted atheists and the more moral ones.

Then there are those that simply lost their faith in whatever religion. They tend to be drifting in the wind and no clear cut values.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-02-20 12:20pm

Well to quote Shrubs daddy, they shouldnt be considered Americans......so....I guess Canada gets to become a lot bigger?

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-02-20 12:26pm

Keevan_Colton wrote:Well to quote Shrubs daddy, they shouldnt be considered Americans......so....I guess Canada gets to become a lot bigger?

Noooo! Keep your ex-fundies there! Maybe ship them to Leichenstein, just not here.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-02-20 12:29pm

Zoink wrote:
Keevan_Colton wrote:Well to quote Shrubs daddy, they shouldnt be considered Americans......so....I guess Canada gets to become a lot bigger?
Noooo! Keep your ex-fundies there! Maybe ship them to Leichenstein, just not here.

I'm socttish and we've had enough non-ex-fundies exported to here already....

Admiral Johnason · Post by **Admiral Johnason** » 2003-02-20 05:43pm

I would not be phased and there would probably be an underground revolutionist movement to restore religion.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2003-02-20 05:50pm

We would consider letting you join the E.U

But the EU is becoming Fundytised or don't you remeber that story weeks back about changing your Documents to reflect Calthoic Values?

And depends what Atheists they are

IE-
Clear Thinkers-The information does not support the thesis of a invisble man in the clouds

Drifters-GOD IS DEAD YAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGH!!!!!!, Maybe I'll become a goth

Teenages-God sucks, fuck off

Not to overgenerlise but that looks like what I just did

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-02-20 06:08pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:I actually don't believe that would be a good thing in itself. If someone is raised to live a moral life because they fear some guy in the sky is watching them, then they won't be prepared when that fear goes away. I fear a lot of people will not be able to handle the freedom of thought at first, and problems will result.

Also, don't forget about all those televangelist who would need to find a new line of work, but have no actual job skills.

Sure they can, they have the bullshitting skills necessary to become New Ages gurus or UFOlogists, or something.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-02-20 07:31pm

No change.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-02-20 07:49pm

Mr Bean wrote:
We would consider letting you join the E.U
But the EU is becoming Fundytised or don't you remeber that story weeks back about changing your Documents to reflect Calthoic Values?

And depends what Atheists they are

IE-
Clear Thinkers-The information does not support the thesis of a invisble man in the clouds

Drifters-GOD IS DEAD YAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGH!!!!!!, Maybe I'll become a goth

Teenages-God sucks, fuck off

Not to overgenerlise but that looks like what I just did

The clear tihnkers could increase religous freedom, and overall make America a more equal place. The Drifers and Teenagers improve anything much.

Morat · Post by **Morat** » 2003-02-21 02:06am

I think we would still have the same amount of stupidity and hatred as before, but it will just be focused in different ways. Thus, the overall situation of the US probably wouldn't improve or worsen all that much.

Neko001 · Post by **Neko001** » 2003-02-22 01:50am

I wouldn't care. Why? Because I live far away from the US, and I give a crap about what goes on there.

GrandMasterTerwynn · Post by **GrandMasterTerwynn** » 2003-02-22 01:55am

Howedar wrote:No change.

I agree. If tomorrow morning, the typical American decided he or she no longer believes in God, then the typical American is still going to be the stupid, under-educated, apathetic sheep in manskins that those of us who vote have every right to insult because we're the ones making the decisions and they're the ones going "baaaaah." And besides, how many Americans are really that deeply religious? For many, it seems to be a thing of going through the motions.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-02-23 01:10am

Neko001 wrote:I wouldn't care. Why? Because I live far away from the US, and I give a crap about what goes on there.

Oi, Neko, if you have nothing constructive to add to a thread, stay out of it.

SWPIGWANG · Post by **SWPIGWANG** » 2003-02-23 01:20am

Nothing happens as people drink another beer, go to work and admire their rifles.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-02-23 01:22am

I think we should ask ourselves first, is there anything GOOD that religion contributes to a society? Based on that, we could debate this further.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2003-02-23 01:23am

Idiocy runs far too rampant in this little corner of the world. Though a little honesty on the parts of the population would be refreshing.
Honestly the school system here is so poorly run and so underfunded that they can't produce that many people for our little service and corporate based economy.
I'd still move to Canada.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-02-23 01:25am

SyntaxVorlon wrote:Idiocy runs far too rampant in this little corner of the world. Though a little honesty on the parts of the population would be refreshing.
Honestly the school system here is so poorly run and so underfunded that they can't produce that many people for our little service and corporate based economy.
I'd still move to Canada.

You sure you posted to the right thread?