Actually... it didn't take very much to show that the article was wrong. According to their source, 70% of Atheists change denominations. That's where the 30% number comes from. However, another 20% change to other types of non-religious, which would put the retention rate up to 50%.
TheClarinetist
JoinedPosts by TheClarinetist
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173
Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs
by breakfast of champions inarticle found here.. .
those who grow up in an atheist household are least likely to maintain their beliefs about religion as adults, according to a study by georgetown university's center for applied research in the apostolate (cara).only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.
this "retention rate" was the lowest among the 20 separate categories in the study.. there were 1,387 atheists (weighted) in the survey.
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173
Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs
by breakfast of champions inarticle found here.. .
those who grow up in an atheist household are least likely to maintain their beliefs about religion as adults, according to a study by georgetown university's center for applied research in the apostolate (cara).only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.
this "retention rate" was the lowest among the 20 separate categories in the study.. there were 1,387 atheists (weighted) in the survey.
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TheClarinetist
I've downloaded the data set and am looking into it, as I believe the source from the article is biased.
EDIT: Finding software is going to be a b*tch, so I may have to give up... But I'll at least make a valient effort.
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7
France paying Watchtower millions in illegal taxation
by moomanchu ini must admit the jw are good at getting and keeping their money.. france ordered to pay millions for illegal taxation of jehovahs witnesses.
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http://www.jw-media.org/.
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TheClarinetist
When I first read your subject, I thought that the Watchtower was taxing France. They sure are moving up in the world. lol
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21
I messed myself up...
by MC RubberMallet inthe past few weeks have been hectic.. but i went through an experience that has messed me up since.. i met up with an old friend one day who i know went apostate.
it was a really bad day for me, which was really bad for me since i've been taking ttatt as a speed bump but still moving along in life with an ok adjustment.
he since brought a really nice house, cars, new job, everything he always wanted without feeling guilt.
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TheClarinetist
MC RubberMallet: I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience. If the depression sticks around for more than a couple weeks, you may want to consider seeing a mental health professional, but you probably don't have anything to worry about.
While it would definitely be adviseable to stick with your gut on not doing anything for a while, I wouldn't be so quick to completely rule out smoking marijuana in the future. Get over your bad feelings from the bad trip, give it some time, and maybe try it (in much more controlled doses) at some point in the future if you're comfortable.
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45
Can Atheists Be "Religious"?
by AGuest init appears so (may you all have peace!):.
http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.
http://www.factschurch.com/.
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TheClarinetist
Only a matter of time, dear FHN (the greatest of love and peace to you, dear one!). Only a matter of time.
I'll believe it when I see it. lol
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45
Can Atheists Be "Religious"?
by AGuest init appears so (may you all have peace!):.
http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.
http://www.factschurch.com/.
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TheClarinetist
I still don't think they're the best example and that calling that particular group a religion isn't quite accurate.
Taken from the same FAQs:
How we got started.
- The First Church of Atheism was born out of necessity. Created by Paul and Jacki McMaster, the FCA is the first society of its kind. Dedicated solely to ordainingatheists so that they too may perform ceremonies previously performed by religious men. When Paul and Jacki were wed, they hired a non-denominational minister to perform the ceremony. They requested that the ceremony be entirely faith neutral, as they were both devout atheists. To their dismay, the ceremony that the minister submitted for their approval was littered with references to, and direct statements about, god. They pulled out a red pen and started editing, paring down the ceremony into a 2 minute long affair.
For the next year, they would laugh about that story, telling their friends about the “non-denominational” minister who read them their vows in a Friar Tuck shirt, complete with collar. While funny, this also says something tragic about the state of our society when it comes to atheists. Non-denominational means generally Christian. For atheists, this is impossible to accept.
- The First Church of Atheism was born out of necessity. Created by Paul and Jacki McMaster, the FCA is the first society of its kind. Dedicated solely to ordainingatheists so that they too may perform ceremonies previously performed by religious men. When Paul and Jacki were wed, they hired a non-denominational minister to perform the ceremony. They requested that the ceremony be entirely faith neutral, as they were both devout atheists. To their dismay, the ceremony that the minister submitted for their approval was littered with references to, and direct statements about, god. They pulled out a red pen and started editing, paring down the ceremony into a 2 minute long affair.
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45
Can Atheists Be "Religious"?
by AGuest init appears so (may you all have peace!):.
http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.
http://www.factschurch.com/.
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TheClarinetist
Very simply, atheisim is an absence of belief.
Unless you put an "in a divine power" at the end of the sentence, Atheism is anything but. The beliefs held by atheists may not be unified, but they are still there. In fact, I am 99.99% sure that you can find something you believe in.
The real question here *as far as I can see* is worship and ritual, which are largely missing the lives of atheists (not that we actually miss them), but even then there are always exceptions.
EDIT: I should mention that I divide religion into religion and spirituality, where spirituality deals with emotions similar to the emotions brought on by religion, namely awe and reverence. I think that a lot of atheists (based on my experience and reading) are spiritual with regard to their conception of the universe and nature.
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Can Atheists Be "Religious"?
by AGuest init appears so (may you all have peace!):.
http://firstchurchofatheism.com/.
http://www.factschurch.com/.
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TheClarinetist
The First Church of Atheism was created for the reason of creating ordained atheist ministers. It is illegal in the United States for an atheist to perform a wedding ceremony. To get a "atheist wedding", you have no choice, before the First Church of Atheism, but to get married by a judge. This fact is toned down on the website because doing otherwise would basically un-ordain all of their ministers.
The FACTS Church you could make an argument for, and I would agree that someone who joined them according to what they say on their website would be considered religious, and that the church itself could be considered a religion.
There are also branches of atheistic paganism and satanism.
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41
How do you deal with your "down" time?
by compound complex inby that, i don't mean so much what you do in your leisure time but how you manage the freedom to choose what you will or will not do.
off the wt treadmill, i no longer feel guilty about what is now my neglect of theocratic activity; however, after a nonstop week such as i have just lived through (barely), i am doing nothing, going nowhere, and accepting no new obligations (for the moment).
i can stare at the sky, enjoy the beautiful day and not worry that demons are rushing to fill the void in my empty skull.. you?.
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TheClarinetist
Sex, drugs, and classical music. Also, video games and Netflix.
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30
How important are birthdays?
by Disillusioned Lost-Lamb inextremely, cause it's mine!.
go shorty it's my birthday.
gonna party like it's my birthday.
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TheClarinetist
Happy birthday