Posts by jamesmahon

173

Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

by breakfast of champions in

jw
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.

jamesmahon

Mr Woods. I don't think atheists care. I know I don't. If my children professed a belief at any point in their life I would debate it with them, probably vigorously, but it is their right to decide. I would imagine given the posts on this and other threads most would feel the same.

I think the real questions to answer in this survey are more for beleivers. Why is it that people who are born in a faith find it so hard to identify with any other belief other than the one they were taught as a child? But maybe the FBPU (Farkel Board Police Unit) will jump on me for pulling this worn out thread off topic so better not ask this.

cofty - my original post on this (apparently a straw man) was a pre-emptive comment for those that were going to post that it is proof there is a god. It took until page 5 for sulla to come along and do this. Thanks Sulla. Now, back to my joyless, empty existence as an atheist.

22

For NFL fans

by jamesmahon in

so i got into the nfl in the early/mid 90s.

back then there were some great running backs - happening onto a lions game late on sunday night over here and seeing barry sanders was what got me into it.

but it seems the running game is dead.

jamesmahon

I did mean players having to play on both sides of the ball. I think there is something about watching how teams balance the skills in one part of a game with their weaknesses in others.

I have noticed there appear to be more pass interference calls - guess that is the reason why. Not sure that it makes the game better to watch though. I think watching a guy jink through a defensive line is one of the best things in the game. Maybe there is a link between the demise of the star running back and the growth in running quarterbacks (which I think is a good thing. Think it is great watching a quarterback like Vick and not knowing what he is going to do. Well, provided it does not involve dogs)

22

For NFL fans

by jamesmahon in

so i got into the nfl in the early/mid 90s.

back then there were some great running backs - happening onto a lions game late on sunday night over here and seeing barry sanders was what got me into it.

but it seems the running game is dead.

jamesmahon

So I got into the NFL in the early/mid 90s. Back then there were some great running backs - happening onto a Lions game late on Sunday night over here and seeing Barry Sanders was what got me into it. But it seems the running game is dead. Just a load of journeymen and no real stars like they used to be. Everything seems to be about the pass now.

I don't know enough tactically to work it out and have read some comments that this change had happened but without any description I could understand. Can someone tell me why and is it a permanent shift in tactics?

Also, I can't help thinking the game would be better single platoon. Know this would never happen, but think rugby and cricket are better for being single platoon sports. Anyone agree?

8

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

by jamesmahon in

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).

jamesmahon

I hope you put it safely back in some long grass. Or do you keep it in a cage next to your bed for your own pleasure when the nice woman is not at home?

8

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

by jamesmahon in

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).

jamesmahon

Ladybird book of the human body? I learned from the YPA book and watching the sex ed film in school of the family playing nude volleyball. As all families do. Perhaps I will suggest it tomorrow if the weather holds.

173

Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

by breakfast of champions in

jw
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.

jamesmahon

It was dismissed: either the study was flawed, or ir was just some random blog, or the researcher was dishonest, or the data are improperly collected, or the people answering the questionnaires lied, or they were too scared to tell the truth, or the people who stopped being atheist did not do so out of a genuine change of mind, or they weren't truly atheist to begin with. So really, what is there to discern?

Or that they decided themselves to believe in god and there was no pressure put on them to decide one way or the other. I think that covers the options really. Or of course that god is real and that is why people are drawn to belief.

173

Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

by breakfast of champions in

jw
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.

jamesmahon

Sab - I read science papers pretty much daily because of my job. I probably wouldn't though choice.

The scientific jargon to which you refer is actually an attempt to use very specific terms to avoid any wrong conclusions being drawn. I'm not sure what you mean by 'atheists spouting scientific information'. Sounds like you are already very biased. Do believers 'spout scientific information'?. Or is it just people reporting things that have been discovered through objective and replicable analysis that happen to disagree with what you are saying? Just dismiss them as 'spouting atheists' - it will make you feel better.

Your description of science apart from your last sentence I would broadly agree with. Someone has a theory (or opinion) that they then go out and find a way to test. If this generates information that proves their opinion /theory wrong then they or someone else comes up with another theory. This also happens if new information comes along that contradicts their opinion. To maintain your opinion is correct when there is evidence to the contrary or no evidence for support is dogmatic. There are some that call themselves scientists that may fall into this category. I would argue that there are more believers. Science itself is not religious. The scientific method of having a testable hypothesis that you are prepared to accept is wrong is the antithesis of religion.

81

How Did You Become An Atheist?

by NewChapter in

jw
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.

jamesmahon

I think the fact that belief is learned rather than innate behaviour is profound - although I did see a programme that suggested that genetically we may be predisposed to belief due to our need for pattern recognition and linking cause and effect. At least I seem to remember that was the conclusion. It is why we have to be so careful what we teach our children.

173

Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

by breakfast of champions in

jw
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.

jamesmahon

Well I would have believed him. I believe anyone who has a moustache. Even more so a beard - especially if it is a lady.

173

Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs

by breakfast of champions in

jw
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.

jamesmahon

I went through just to check James Penton wasn't posting and then wondered what his username might be.

Funny that theists don't feel the need to give themselves a different classification to not be associated with the many rabid nutters that are believers. Perhaps this is because there are so many different groups of believers that each have names. Suggest we atheists need to come up with our own groups so that believers can then appropriately pigeon hole us.

Disclaimer: Not all believers have either rabies or are nutters. Although best to avoid anyone that is frothing at the mouth.