21% of American atheists don't know what "atheist" means

[Elok]

http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

This caught my eye when it was mentioned in the Religion section of todays WaPo. At first I thought it was a joke or taken out of context, but on closer inspection...no. 21% of atheists in this study have some sort of belief in God. Of those, six percent believe in a "personal God," i.e. something like Jehovah. So, um, discuss, I guess.

[Traianvs]

What is there to discuss?

Most people are idiots, and believers in particular

[Elok]

Eat me

I imagine we could discuss what peculiar circumstances could cause a person to define himself as an atheist who believes in God.

[Traianvs]

This is informative



Though the graphs merely state the obvious

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Elok
Eat me

I imagine we could discuss what peculiar circumstances could cause a person to define himself as an atheist who believes in God.

I can't possibly fathom that really. Perhaps they included the mentally challenged fellow men in the survey?

OR

Perhaps they're people who are raised in very religious contexts, so they probably have never truly learned what an atheist is. That 21% might think it just means someone who doesn't pray or goes to church.

Sounds stupid I know, but heh what else could it be

[Lorizael]

Re: 21% of American atheists don't know what "atheist" means

This was my exact quote when I read this a little while ago.

I don't understand how people can be so dumb.

[Seedle]

Originally posted by Traianvs
Perhaps they're people who are raised in very religious contexts, so they probably have never truly learned what an atheist is. That 21% might think it just means someone who doesn't pray or go to church.

Sounds stupid I know, but heh what else could it be

That's not stupid, that's a good guess. I know many people who would consider a non-church goer or a believer in a non-personal God an atheist. I've gotten into arguments about this actually.

[Lancer]

Just for yucks, were there any born again athiests?

Sadly I'm thinking that the 21%, while not overly endowed with brain cells, are a whole lot more in tune than the 79%.

[Impaler[WrG]]

The surveys breakdown of the 21% figure was as follows

6% Personal God, 12% Impersonal Force, 3% Don't Know

Your blatantly exaggerating when you state 21% don't know what "atheist" means as your including both the 'Impersonal Force' and the Don't Know segments. The 'Force' answer is perfectly consistent with atheism, though the Don't Know answer is arguably agnosticism it could indicate a stance that "god can't be disproved, thus I can't say for sure".

The 6% probably believe their is a personal god but DON'T believe the god of any mainstream religion is that god. Such people often call themselves "Spiritual', the closest survey category would be "Religious unaffiliated". These folks would likely put themselves in that category if it was explained to them. I'm afraid your simply trying to twist the survey into a slander upon atheists.

[Lancer]

Anyone that needs proof of God has a tough path ahead.

[tinyp3nis]

6% are obviously megalonomaniacs who think they are god themselves.

At first I thought it was a joke or taken out of context, but on closer inspection...no.

What was this closer inspection? Putting on glasses? It's easier to just keep them always on like me

[Seedle]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
I'm afraid your simply trying to twist the survey into a slander upon atheists.

Interesting, I took it as a slander upon Americans. Although "slander" is actually a stronger term than what would describe my thinking. So I actually took it as an oberservation upon Americans.

[Lancer]

I'm sure they were just screwing will the poll takers.

[Agathon]

They're American atheists. What do you expect?

Hell, some of you still believe you're free.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
The 'Force' answer is perfectly consistent with atheism

Not really.

Unless this 'Force' being referred to is actually something like gravity or electromagnetism.