If Everyone in the world was atheistic would there be more or less crime

[The_Fire]

Maybe he thinks that the whole of Scandinavia is situated above the polar circle, and that we only occasionally get a glimpse of the rest of the world through our TVs and computers, when the connection is good in our igloos

If we were talking about Suomi, perhaps or Northern Greenland, but the rest?
I guess it would be a big suprise for DOC as well that we don't have polarbears running amuck in the streets of Copenhagen during the period of the year when the sun never rises..........

 

[Francesca R]

DOC, if what you believe is true, can you explain why atheist make up less than 1 percent of the prison population?

Presumably, theists feel duty-bound to turn themselves in.

 

[The_Fire]

Presumably, theists feel duty-bound to turn themselves in.

Try that one when talking to an overworked cop......or judge....

 

[-Fran-]

If we were talking about Suomi, perhaps or Northern Greenland, but the rest?
I guess it would be a big suprise for DOC as well that we don't have polarbears running amuck in the streets of Copenhagen during the period of the year when the sun never rises..........

Now, now don't ruin his fantasies of an eternally frozen winter wonderland directly under the North Pole where all people eventually kill themselves because we are so isolated, or kill each other because we are such atheistic sinners

 

[Tricky]

DOC does make a very compelling case for keeping theism around. It appears that the only thing that is preventing these theists from going on a murderous crime spree is their fear of being punished by God. What mayhem we would have if suddenly some evidence emerged that convinced them that this restraint was not actually in place? As DOC describes it, none of them have any actual morals of their own and must rely on the threat of Hell to keep them in line.

Fortunately, we would have more experienced atheists around who have been functioning morally for a very long time without needing such incentives. Hopefully there would be enough of them to keep a rein on the maurauding, newly freed former theists. Still, as a safeguard, it might be wise to train more to be atheists to protect us against these savage theists in case their leashes are ever released.

 

[Furi]

Now, now don't ruin his fantasies of an eternally frozen winter wonderland directly under the North Pole where all people eventually kill themselves because we are so isolated, or kill each other because we are such atheistic sinners

Not to mention all your igloos are filled with meatballs, vodka, porn and flatpack deathcore Abba albums.

In fact remembering getting dragged around Ikea by my Ex or being presented with 6 Flat pack shelf units I can understand any proportionately higher suicide rate

first we get za chocolate zen ve get ze moose,
Hurdy Gurdy Bork bork bork

 

[The_Fire]

Now, now don't ruin his fantasies of an eternally frozen winter wonderland directly under the North Pole where all people eventually kill themselves because we are so isolated, or kill each other because we are such atheistic sinners

*Pull a puppy eyes look*

Why not? If I can't have my fantasy of the US being a place of hatefull christian fundies burning witches and killing gay people why can he have his?
It not fair! I'm telling my mom.....

 

[86kam]

In order to make any sense or answer this question accurately, one has to show if atheism or theism was at the least a factor for committing crime. Why does one commit a crime? Because they're poor? They believe or don't believe? They are a sociopath or psychopath? I could be wrong, but crime's that are committed due to religious reasons are far less than let's say perhaps poverty, addictions, greed, or psychological disorder. One must also show how much crimes were committed due to atheism. For example, how many bank robberies were committed in order to help fund some atheist movement? Or violence against others because they were NOT atheists?

Seems the OP is asking whether atheists lack the morals that would facilitate them committing crimes. Well every stat that I've seen regarding prison populations have the believers, usually Christians, at the top of the list followed by Muslims. At the bottom or near are the non-religious and/or atheists, how would the OP explain this?

 

[Tricky]

In order to make any sense or answer this question accurately, one has to show if atheism or theism was at the least a factor for committing crime. Why does one commit a crime? Because they're poor? They believe or don't believe? They are a sociopath or psychopath? I could be wrong, but crime's that are committed due to religious reasons are far less than let's say perhaps poverty, addictions, greed, or psychological disorder. One must also show how much crimes were committed due to atheism. For example, how many bank robberies were committed in order to help fund some atheist movement? Or violence against others because they were NOT atheists?

Seems the OP is asking whether atheists lack the morals that would facilitate them committing crimes. Well every stat that I've seen regarding prison populations have the believers, usually Christians, at the top of the list followed by Muslims. At the bottom or near are the non-religious and/or atheists, how would the OP explain this?

The same as always. Those guys in prison claiming to be Christians aren't True™ Christians.

 

[Mobyseven]

crime would remain the same.

Not true. It would drop - after all, once us evil Atheists have butchered the believing population of the world, who are we gonna kill then? Eachother? Don't make me laugh, you and I both know that no weapon can harm us - we sold our soul to Athe for that exact benefit!

 

[joobz]

Not true. It would drop - after all, once us evil Atheists have butchered the believing population of the world, who are we gonna kill then? Eachother? Don't make me laugh, you and I both know that no weapon can harm us - we sold our soul to Athe for that exact benefit!

Oh that's right. I forgot about the packs we all made while attending the church of atheism.

 

[Mojo]

DOC, if what you believe is true, can you explain why atheist make up less than 1 percent of the prison population?

Presumably, theists feel duty-bound to turn themselves in.

No, it's because most of the atheist criminals are smart enough not to get caught.

 

[joobz]

But in my opinion, if everyone in the world (rich, poor, and middle class) was atheistic and believed there was nothing after death, I would have to believe there would be more crime in the world.

This is interesting.
You have effectively negated your own faith by claiming it is equal with others. You know, this view is rather achristian and goes against one of the main commandments, thou shalt have no gods before me.

 

[aggle-rithm]

First of all, let me point out I'm not saying people who claim to be Christian or Jewish or any other theist belief don't commit crimes. And I'm not saying that there aren't some very ethical atheists out there. But in my opinion, if everyone in the world (rich, poor, and middle class) was atheistic and believed there was nothing after death, I would have to believe there would be more crime in the world.

If I believed that there was only one shot at life, that there were no other chances after this, I wouldn't want to spend it in jail.

 

[aggle-rithm]

For example, think of a poor neighborhood in your area. Now take away all the churches in those poor neighborhoods, because if everyone was atheistic there would be no church going.
And if you take away those churches you'll also have to take away any charity work done by those churches. I have to believe if you took away the churches and charity work those churches do, crime would increase in that area.

If I believed that poor, starving children were going to have untold riches after they died, I wouldn't worry too much about them. The sooner they starve to death, the sooner they get untold riches. However, if I believed that they had one and only one shot at life, I would be much more likely to want to help them.

 

[aggle-rithm]

(Oily hands are only useful when masturbating).

And then, only if you undo the zipper BEFORE applying the oil.

 

[bokonon]

Yes, but a very good way to make the best of it is to have a lot of money. A quick way to get a lot of money (if your poor and uneducated) is to rob a bank. Sure you might get caught and ruin your life by going to jail, but that would be your only punishment. Theists would also have to worry about 2 punishments -- this life and the afterlife.

But Christian theists know that the only requirement for heaven is to accept Jesus, who forgives all sins. So while the atheist realizes that he's potentially throwing away a large chunk of the only life he'll ever have (unless, like Charles Manson, he enjoys life behind bars), the theist Christian can rationalize that, even if he's caught, he can look forward to an eternal reward if he repents. I think this probably accounts for a large percentage of the jailhouse conversions we're always hearing about.

I don't think it would have any effect on crime. People turn to crime out of stupidity, laziness, or desperation, and none of those is really affected by a belief in a deity.

 

[Foster Zygote]

And I'm not saying that there aren't some very ethical atheists out there.

What you are implying is that those ethical atheists are a minority among atheists. Tell me DOC, why are atheists under-represented in the U.S. prison population? If atheists are more likely to commit crimes then why aren't they more likely to go to prison?

 

[DOC]

DOC, if what you believe is true, can you explain why atheist make up less than 1 percent of the prison population?

http://www.skepticfiles.org/american/prison.htm

Well there could be several reasons for this. One is maybe a higher percentage of atheists are college graduates than the average population and as the your atheistic website reported

"Dr. Christian, Superintendant of the NY State Reformatories, checked
22,000 prison inmates and found only 4 college graduates."

Also I'll give a spiritual answer. We live in a mostly secular (some would say sinful) world. Murder and crime is a way of life in America and could get worse as the economy worsens -- just watch your nightly news. One could make a argument that atheists are more at home in this secular environment and better able to adjust, thus the less need to commit crime. Its no secret that the rich have gotten richer at the expense of the middle class. This is great for the rich. But negative for everyone else. Just watch the news. Things seem to be getting worse. Maybe payday is coming for our secular ways.

Also it stands to reason that your more likely to get paroled if you put down your a Christian on the prison questionaires, so why not put down your a Christian even if your an atheist. It's likely that some jail house conversions are phony in order to get out earlier.

 

[Furi]

Joobz post mad me look again at this.

I would have to believe there would be more crime in the world.

Why would you have to believe that there would be more crime in the world? couldn't we just try it and observe the results pleeeeease

As has been pointed out previously (in this thread and any of the other thinly disguised "Atheist = Moral Vacuum" type threads), people who do not believe in a forgiving ceiling cat or eternal life tend to value life a lot more because of this, they also tend to be a little more tolerant towards others than your typical fundy bibble babbler,

Does a religious person promoting the idea that a particular religion or lifestyle is evil count as a "hate crime"? or do they only come into effect if they are against people that believe in the same flavour god as xians.

Just think of all the "crimes" that are against Islamic or other religious laws, sort of like your suicide is a crime remnant, law only because it snuck in through catholic influence, maybe we should add abortion, contraception and my personal favourite Blasphemy. (Does Jesus sit to the right or left of Allah I forget), the moment religion is removed all of these crimes are also removed.