jamesmahon

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Posts by jamesmahon

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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  I thought it was addressed to me. Oh well.
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  81

  How Did You Become An Atheist?

  by NewChapter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since there seem to be a number of threads in this spirit, i'd like to ask how others became atheists.

  for myself, i learned some things that made me understand the bible wasn't true.

  i looked deeper, and it became even more unlikely.

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  jamesmahon

  I think your question is slightly wrong NC. But this is because I have work to do so am in a bored and pedantic mood. The question should not be "why did you become an atheist?" but rather "why did you return to being an atheist?"

  I was born without belief. I became a believer because that is what I was taught to believe. I then relinquished that belief to return to my original state when I learned how to think like a child and ask questions again.
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  8

  I don't think I have been educating my lad properly...

  by jamesmahon in

  1. social
  2. family

  just been looking at book about the human body with my 8 year old boy and got to an 'interesting' part.

  "dad, what is a penis?".

  "erm, the appendage between your legs" (i do try to use proper words with him so was surprised he asked).

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  jamesmahon

  Just been looking at book about the human body with my 8 year old boy and got to an 'interesting' part

  "Dad, what is a penis?"

  "Erm, the appendage between your legs" (I do try to use proper words with him so was surprised he asked)

  "Oh. I thought that was called a peanut"

  Reminded me that until the age of 14 I thought that a common term for oral sex was a 'hedgehog'. It seemed to visually make sense as well. Fortunately I found out the truth before I first asked for one.

  Now contemplating what must have been going through his head when we last shared a bag of nuts.

  Went on with book that then described how babies are made.

  "That sounds messy". OCD from mother is clearly genetic.
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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  how can it be that parents who have chosen the super-rationalist, evidence-based rationality, etc., etc., etc., fail to convey a simple, scientific, rationalist, etc., etc., approach to the universe on to their children?

  The problem in the question is that this is not the question that the survey asked. Struggling to find the actual question but guessing it may either have been as simple as "Did you grow up in a family where your parents were atheist?" or may have been a bit more vague "Did you grow up in a house where there was no professed belief in god or great spirit?"

  What they will not have asked would be:

  "Did you grow up in a household where your parents were super rationalist and compelled you to believe that the universe and everthing in it has been explained by science?"

  I suspect there are people that will have grown up in families that did not attend church, parents did not profess any belief or just did not convey any belief they had onto their children. This is very different than say how i imagine Richard Dawkins raised his children.

  Some people see the complexity of the universe and this leads them to believe in god(s). Some hear voices in their heads that lead them to believe in god. Some feel they are guided by spirit and this leads them to believe in god. Some hear the words of others that lead them to believe in god.

  I am a rationalist. Show me objective evidence that god exists and I will believe. He does not speak to me, I feel no spirit direction, I see the complexity of the universe and see no need or room for god and no one has come close to convincing me. I guess god just does not like people like me. Oh well, she can join the queue.
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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  You are free to take all the offense you want, but what I have often seen among atheists can be likened to a religious fervor

  As opposed to religious people I suppose who are always silent about their beliefs. Guess if he had brought up how he supported obamacare or socialism you would have remained completely silent? Because of course it is the height of rudeness to dare to challenge someone on their religious views as opposed to their political.

  'Often seen'? What, as opposed to often seeing 'In god we trust' on the back of banknotes and having that as you national motto? That isn't religious ferver at all is it?
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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  That would be Mahon's law number 3.

  So, are you as serious as a timing belt failure on your ferrari or as serious as the chain snapping on your rolls?
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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  Would this be a Ferrari you would own? (just asking)
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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  Are you serious?
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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  James Woods. On what grounds should I apologise to you?
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  173

  Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  article 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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  jamesmahon

  BTS - If you are to explain the atheist figures you also have to address the other stats in the survey. It is not a straw man. My comment was harsh so I apologise. Note to self. Think then post don't post then think.