Committed atheist found!

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Perhaps the decline in church going is simply reflective of the decline of religiosity in general, as is the case here in Scotland as the last census confirmed.

I wonder if only a committed atheist could detach corporate religion from the general decline of corporate activity.
I was waiting for someone to appeal to the census in the light of your colleague Professor Davey going on about the unreliability of Self Reporting. The census must be the most egregious case of self reporting. As you pointed out not all church or place of worship non-attendee is atheist so we'd have to look at definitions and evidence to guage the extent and there is always the suspicion of argumentum ad populum couched in there.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

But, either way, I can't see why the public in general would give a flying fuck.

Since that might be the normal status of the public over most things I wonder if that can be conclusive.

[Gordon]

I wonder if only a committed atheist could detach corporate religion from the general decline of corporate activity.
I was waiting for someone to appeal to the census in the light of your colleague Professor Davey going on about the unreliability of Self Reporting. The census must be the most egregious case of self reporting. As you pointed out not all church or place of worship non-attendee is atheist so we'd have to look at definitions and evidence to guage the extent and there is always the suspicion of argumentum ad populum couched in there.

I'd say the formal census is probably as reliable as any questionnaire can be, in that it is a formal survey (you have to complete is) and it is used for a range of purposes: it reflects the current situation, allows comparisons with previous census results and informs planning - I think I'm right in saying there is a census where you are.

Why are so so greatly troubled that there might be (shock, horror) atheists on the loose?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I'd say the formal census is probably as reliable as any questionnaire can be, in that it is a formal survey (you have to complete is) and it is used for a range of purposes: it reflects the current situation, allows comparisons with previous census results and informs planning - I think I'm right in saying there is a census where you are.

Why are so so greatly troubled that there might be (shock, horror) atheists on the loose?

What you have to remember Gordon, is, as a nation we are still getting over the shock of working men wearing caps during the King's speech.

[ProfessorDavey]

I wonder if only a committed atheist could detach corporate religion from the general decline of corporate activity.

What on earth are you on about!!

[Gordon]

What you have to remember Gordon, is, as a nation we are still getting over the shock of working men wearing caps during the King's speech.

In the cinema I always take my bunnet off.

[ProfessorDavey]

I was waiting for someone to appeal to the census in the light of your colleague Professor Davey going on about the unreliability of Self Reporting. The census must be the most egregious case of self reporting.

Sure the census can and has been criticised - most notably for its leading question (What is your religion?) which produces higher reporting of religion and in particular christianity than other surveys with more neutral questioning.

But the census, and similar surveys such as BSA are about subjective opinion, belief and interpretation. You cannot 'prove' that someone who ticks 'christian' isn't by checking against some factual definition. Attendance isn't like that at all - it is matter of fact, not a matter of opinion or belief. You are either in church or you are not - fact. And you can verify those facts by actually measuring people who actually are in church rather than just asking people whether they were in church. And the factual 'actual attendance' approach typically shows that real attendance (a matter of fact) is about half of claimed attendance.

[ProfessorDavey]

Maybe Gordon, but if there are Committed atheists going about don’t you think the public Should be as well informed as possible?

Why should the public be informed - sounds as if you consider someone being atheist as being inherently a risk to the public (which would be weird seeing as probably about one in three of the public are ... err ... atheist).

So what do you want to do about it - perhaps you think atheists should be required to wear a badge to indicate their atheism. Hmm, maybe that won't go far enough for you - perhaps in your mind they pose so much of a risk that they should be rounded up, deported or incarcerated. Maybe that isn't enough - perhaps you think they should be 'got rid of'.

Vlad's version of 1930s Germany?

[Gonnagle]

What, exactly, is this 'god' thingy that people are 'dodging'?

In discussions after your triumphant return, I'm not at all sure what you mean by 'God'. Our Alan is pretty explicit about what he means, as is Vlad, at least most of the time (don't mention simulated universes), but your good self, not so much (although I may have missed something).

You can hardly accuse people of dodging something that you can't define or explain...   

Dear Stranger,

Where have you been I missed you❤️ Anyway, God Dodging, yes I suppose it is a bit of a cheap shot, but that is exactly what you do in your arguments, you dodge, body swerve, avoid anything that is different or out of the norm.

And just to end, this young lady who wrote this article we a tenuously debating, which God is this committed Atheist trying to get closer to, is that what God Dodgers Atheists are trying to do.

Gonnagle.

[Stranger]

Dear Stranger,

Where have you been I missed you❤️ Anyway, God Dodging, yes I suppose it is a bit of a cheap shot, but that is exactly what you do in your arguments, you dodge, body swerve, avoid anything that is different or out of the norm.

And just to end, this young lady who wrote this article we a tenuously debating, which God is this committed Atheist trying to get closer to, is that what God Dodgers Atheists are trying to do.

Gonnagle.

Wow, just wow. I'm rummaging around in the Axminster looking for my lower jaw. I asked you specifically to define what you thought people were dodging, which you totally dodged by accusing me, without evidence or any examples, of dodging something that you seem desperate to avoid defining.

You just couldn't make this shit up. Well, I couldn't, it seems to be second nature to you. This must be the one of the most blatant examples of doublethink I've ever actually seen in my life.

Can you define the 'God' you think people are dodging? Because if you can't (or won't) then your accusation is literally meaningless; just nonsensical gibberish.

[Sebastian Toe]

Maybe Gordon, but if there are Committed atheists going about don’t you think the public Should be as well informed as possible?

How do you propose that the public be well informed?
Go back to public information films?
Newspaper adverts?
A poster campaign on the sides of busses... that's one of your favourites?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

How do you propose that the public be well informed?
Go back to public information films?
Newspaper adverts?
A poster campaign on the sides of busses... that's one of your favourites?

Don’t know...How about Satnav? ....”In 500 yards, at the committed atheist, turn left”

[Sebastian Toe]

Don’t know...How about Satnav? ....”In 500 yards, at the committed atheist, turn left”

Ah, I see now...you want all of them to be marked somehow so they can be recognised for navigating purposes.
That's a bit 1930s isn't it, Herr Vlad?

[ProfessorDavey]

Don’t know...How about Satnav? ....”In 500 yards, at the committed atheist, turn left”

Must be terrifying for Vlad with his bizarre mindset. Every third person you meet likely to be an atheist - which supermarket checkout queue to choose just in case the checkout person is an atheist!! You'll likely never know as atheists are unlikely to make it known, just quietly getting on with their lives relaxed with their lack of belief in god.

And for every church going christian there are probably 6 atheists. But, of course you'll know exactly who those one in 20 who regularly attend church.

As the old adage goes:

Q. When I meet someone new, what should I do to find out whether they are a churchgoer without seeming to pry?

A. You won't have to do anything - they'll make sure you know they go to church within the first 30 minutes of meeting.

[Gonnagle]

Don’t know...How about Satnav? ....”In 500 yards, at the committed atheist, turn left”

Dear Vlad,

Well I don't know! It does have a certain ring to it, "Just popping down to the committed for a quick pint" wonder what kind of Decor they would have

Gonnagle.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Must be terrifying for Vlad with his bizarre mindset. Every third person you meet likely to be an atheist - which supermarket checkout queue to choose just in case the checkout person is an atheist!! You'll likely never know as atheists are unlikely to make it known, just quietly getting on with their lives relaxed with their lack of belief in god.

And for every church going christian there are probably 6 atheists. But, of course you'll know exactly who those one in 20 who regularly attend church.

As the old adage goes:

Q. When I meet someone new, what should I do to find out whether they are a churchgoer without seeming to pry?

A. You won't have to do anything - they'll make sure you know they go to church within the first 30 minutes of meeting.

All I asked was "what is a committed atheist". I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Dear Vlad,

Well I don't know! It does have a certain ring to it, "Just popping down to the committed for a quick pint" wonder what kind of Decor they would have

Gonnagle.

Indeed Mr G, Done up like a Wethergodexistsornotspoons.

[Maeght]

All I asked was "what is a committed atheist". I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.

That's not all you asked though - you also asked 'but if there are Committed atheists going about don’t you think the public Should be as well informed as possible?' That is what has prompted the replies you are seeing.

[ProfessorDavey]

All I asked was "what is a committed atheist". I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition.

Says the person who wants atheists to be identifiable in public. Pot and kettle.

[Gonnagle]

Says the person who wants atheists to be identifiable in public. Pot and kettle.

Dear Prof,

Good idea remember back in the day the wee badges going around, always reminded me of the star trek emblem, happy days

Gonnagle.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Says the person who wants atheists to be identifiable in public. Pot and kettle.

No, I'm only joking.
In any case I said committed atheists, not your usual common or garden, bog standard, humdrum, beige atheist.

[Gordon]

No, I'm only joking.
In any case I said committed atheists, not your usual common or garden, bog standard, humdrum, beige atheist.

What about republican atheists - should the public be especially worried about them?