If the whole world were atheist, would the world be a better place?

[Spiderman]

As much as I am disgusted with so much of what I see in abrahamic monotheism, I don't think the world would be better off without it.

A lot of people are kind and honest because they fear God. A lot of people are charitable and honest because they love God.

I know that there are many times I was honest and charitable because I believed that those actions were pleasing to Mother Mary, Denise Naslund, and God.

Furthermore, there is something transforming about prayer. I used to be a sociopath, now I greatly love people, am deeply compassionate, hate to see suffering, and haven't needed to be physically restrained in years. I give all the credit to a power greater than myself and the transformation received through prayer and meditation.

Would I be a worse person as an atheist? Absolutely! Been there, done that, it was a total **** show!

My question is for atheists. If the whole world was atheist, do you think the world would be a better place?

 

[Sanzbir]

No. Global hat quality would plummet. No more beautiful turbans, yarmulkes, or keffiyehs, we'd all be forced to wear trilbies!!

 

[sayak83]

As much as I am disgusted with so much of what I see in abrahamic monotheism, I don't think the world would be better off without it.

A lot of people are kind and honest because they fear God. A lot of people are charitable and honest because they love God.

I know that there are many times I was honest and charitable because I believed that those actions were pleasing to Mother Mary, Denise Naslund, and God.

Furthermore, there is something transforming about prayer. I used to be a sociopath, now I greatly love people, am deeply compassionate, hate to see suffering, and haven't needed to be physically restrained in years. I give all the credit to a power greater than myself and the transformation received through prayer and meditation.

Would I be a worse person as an atheist? Absolutely! Been there, done that, it was a total **** show!

My question is for atheists. If the whole world was atheist, do you think the world would be a better place?

Depends entirely on what kinds of ideologies replace them.

 

[Spiderman]

Depends entirely on what kinds of ideologies replace them.

Yes exactly, hence the reason for my question. 93% of the world believes in gods or spirits. So, the world is dominated by spiritual people.

If the world was dominated by atheism, do you think more dangerous ideologies would replace the current ideologies overall?

 

[LuisDantas]

As much as I am disgusted with so much of what I see in abrahamic monotheism, I don't think the world would be better off without it.

A lot of people are kind and honest because they fear God.

I very much doubt it. Fear is no substitute for morality.

A lot of people are charitable and honest because they love God.

I doubt this as well. If anything, I would be more inclined to believe that they express their virtue in ways that use the concept of God.

It is however true that many people find inspiration in some form of theistic worship. I don't particularly believe that they would be worse off if they had never learned of such worship, though.

(...)

Would I be a worse person as an atheist? Absolutely! Been there, done that, it was a total **** show!

Frankly, that is surprising to read.

My question is for atheists. If the whole world was atheist, do you think the world would be a better place?

I can hardly harbor any doubts on that regard.

Actually, letting go of Abrahamic monotheism alone would be a great, decisive improvement.

 

[osgart]

it's a spin of the wheel. no doubt there would be other ideologies though.

naturalism has it's own ideology. they preach it in droves right here on RF. it seems to be a demand for conformity.

 

[Spiderman]

I very much doubt it. Fear is no substitute for morality.



I doubt this as well. If anything, I would be more inclined to believe that they express their virtue in ways that use the concept of God.

It is however true that many people find inspiration in some form of theistic worship. I don't particularly believe that they would be worse off if they had never learned of such worship, though.



Frankly, that is surprising to read.


I can hardly harbor any doubts on that regard.

Actually, letting go of Abrahamic monotheism alone would be a great, decisive improvement.

I don't entirely agree with you, but I still love your posts, Luis. If there was no abrahamic monotheism, I agree that the world would be a better place... However I can't fathom that atheism would make better people.

The Bible condemns Pride, lust, anger, covetousness, Envy, sloth, and gluttony. A lot of people try to fight the urges to indulge in those vices because of their faith.

 

[Revoltingest]

I think it would indeed be better.
But we'd still manage to find things to kill each other over.

 

[Quintessence]

Doesn't this sort of question kind of boil down to "do you believe that the world would be a better place if everyone agreed with me" sort of ego stroking?

 

[Mister Silver]

My question is for atheists. If the whole world was atheist, do you think the world would be a better place?

Overall, yes.

 

[Spiderman]

Doesn't this sort of question kind of boil down to "do you believe that the world would be a better place if everyone agreed with me" sort of ego stroking?

Not necessarily, but I guess it would be if there was a general consensus that Gods didn't exist, would the world be better off?

That doesn't mean people agree with each other on everything, just that issue. People would find other things to kill each other over I'm sure.

 

[Revoltingest]

Doesn't this sort of question kind of boil down to "do you believe that the world would be a better place if everyone agreed with me" sort of ego stroking?

No.
Atheists disagree about everything except the existence of gods.
Commies v capitalists....tree hugging v strip mining....bacon v tofu...etc, etc.

 

[sayak83]

Yes exactly, hence the reason for my question. 93% of the world believes in gods or spirits. So, the world is dominated by spiritual people.

If the world was dominated by atheism, do you think more dangerous ideologies would replace the current ideologies overall?

I have no reason to believe that non-theistic ideologies would be any worse or better than theistic ones. Currently less religiosity is positively correlated with high national and social development in nations, while in the heydays of Communism the situation was the reverse. So theism or non-theism alone is a poor predictor of this.
Are you a religious person? Global survey (3RD PRESS RELEASE- THE END OF YEAR SURVEY), WIN/Gallup International, worldwide survey, religion

 

[Nakosis]

My question is for atheists. If the whole world was atheist, do you think the world would be a better place?

I suspect it'd be about the same. We'd just have 1 less ideology to use as an excuse for our behavior.

 

[Spiderman]

I have no reason to believe that non-theistic ideologies would be any worse or better than theistic ones. Currently less religiosity is positively correlated with high national and social development in nations, while in the heydays of Communism the situation was the reverse. So theism or non-theism alone is a poor predictor of this.
Are you a religious person? Global survey (3RD PRESS RELEASE- THE END OF YEAR SURVEY), WIN/Gallup International, worldwide survey, religion

I question that link, because I've read other sources that say only 7% of the world is atheist or agnostic.
There are a lot of people that would not answer they are religious, but who are indeed spiritual and believe in some sort of spirits or gods. A lot of Buddhist don't believe in God but they do believe in spirits. A lot of spiritual people though would not identify themselves as religious people. I would not consider myself a religious person, because I've thrown out Dogma.

 

[LuisDantas]

I don't entirely agree with you, but I still love your posts, Luis. If there was no abrahamic monotheism, I agree that the world would be a better place... However I can't fathom that atheism would make better people.

It seems so obvious to me. Atheism makes people more honest (at least when compared to people who believe in an afterlife and in a supernatural force guiding them to rewards and/or punishments there).

The Bible condemns Pride, lust, anger, covetousness, Envy, sloth, and gluttony. A lot of people try to fight the urges to indulge in those vices because of their faith.

So I am told. I stand unconvinced.

What I have seen of the Bible and of the Qur'an shows them to be of rather questionable religious value. Half of the time they seem to be encouraging vice and moral corruption without even noticing it.

 

[LuisDantas]

Doesn't this sort of question kind of boil down to "do you believe that the world would be a better place if everyone agreed with me" sort of ego stroking?

That is very much a real factor, but it also asks about the perceived consequences of a what-if scenario.

Granted, that kind of question can only be tentatively answered, if that much.

 

[LuisDantas]

I question that link, because I've read other sources that say only 7% of the world is atheist or agnostic.

And that is something else to consider. To a considerable extent, the distinction between atheists and agnostics, and even between the two joined groups and theists, is ultimately arbitrary. Lots of people are only nominally Christians, for instance, and even then mostly because they would rather keep family and friends satisfied than be honest about their own beliefs or lack of same.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

My question is for atheists. If the whole world was atheist, do you think the world would be a better place?

Yes, but not because everyone was an atheist, but because there would be no toxic religions. Religions that have no impact on outsiders are no problem. Religions that help people live well are welcome. The Hindus seem to benefit from their religion as best I can judge from this venue. The same seems to be true with the Baha'i, the pagans, Wiccans and a few others, although many of the latter may be atheists that enjoy the culture of the belief system they identify with more than having god beliefs. The Jews also seem to be pretty bright and decent.

But of course, that's not the face of religion I see, which is an organized, politicized movement to promote bigotry, ignorance, submission, a sense of self-worthlessness, and a tireless effort to inject religion into the lives where it is unwelcome using the government.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Yes exactly, hence the reason for my question. 93% of the world believes in gods or spirits. So, the world is dominated by spiritual people.

If the world was dominated by atheism, do you think more dangerous ideologies would replace the current ideologies overall?

Personally, I'm more concerned with the process than the end result.

If everyone were skeptics, I do think the world would be a better place, and a world of skeptics - IOW, people who care about the truth and try to base their beliefs on reason - would end up atheist.

OTOH, I can imagine lots of scenarios where people don't believe in gods but do believe in all sorts of wacky or harmful things.