Atheism and the internet
From Conservapedia
In 2007, WorldNetDaily featured a column by Chuck Norris concerning atheism and the internet which declared:
| “ | Atheists are making a concerted effort to win the youth of America and the world. Hundreds of websites and blogs on the Internet seek to convince and convert adolescents, endeavoring to remove any residue of theism from their minds and hearts by packaging atheism as the choice of a new generation. While you think your kids are innocently surfing the Web, secular progressives are intentionally preying on their innocence and naivete.
What's preposterous is that atheists are now advertising and soliciting on websites particularly created for teens... YouTube, the most popular video site on the Net for young people, is one of their primary avenues for passing off their secularist propaganda.[1] | ” |
Atheism internet outreach efforts, however, have been very ineffective.
Ineffectiveness of global internet atheism outreach
See also: Global atheism and Decline of atheism and Atheist Population and Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
The popular technology magazine Wired made the observation that atheists tend to be quarrelsome, socially challenged males which is an indication that as a whole the atheist community has a poor public image on the internet (see also: Atheism and women).[2]
The internet is a global medium which growing rapidly in usage throughout the world.[3] In 2011, the American Spectator citing research published in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research reported that atheism is on the decline as a whole in terms of adherents.[4]
The American Spectator declared:
| “ | The report estimates about 80,000 new Christians every day, 79,000 new Muslims every day, and 300 fewer atheists every day. These atheists are presumably disproportionately represented in the West, while religion is thriving in the Global South, where charismatic Christianity is exploding."[5] | ” |
Ineffectiveness of New Atheism internet outreach
See also: Ineffectiveness and weakness of atheist internet outreach and Christian internet evangelism and Evidence for Christianity
Stephen Prothero wrote an article in 2008 concerning the ineffectiveness of the New Atheism which also applies to atheism internet evangelism.
In a March 10, 2008 USA Today article Stephen Prothero stated the following regarding the impact of the "New Atheism":
| “ | Numbers lie, but they also tell tales untrustworthy and otherwise. So the key question stirring around the much discussed U.S Religious Landscape Survey released in late February by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life is what tale does it state about the state of the union.
For some, the story of this survey, based on interviews in multiple languages with more than 35,000 adults, is the strength of American Religion. Not too long ago, I wrote that American atheism was going the way of the freak show. As books by Christopher Hitchens and other "new atheists" climbed the best seller lists, I caught a lot of flak for that prophecy. But atheist make up only 1.6% of respondents to this survey....[6] | ” |
A prime reason for the ineffectiveness of the New Atheism and internet atheism is the shallowness of its material. For example, even atheist philosopher Michael Ruse stated that Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion made him "embarrassed to be an atheist".[7]
Atheism internet evangelism contrasted with Christian internet evangelism
See also: Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian and Christian internet evangelism and Evidence for Christianity
Global Media Outreach is the internet evangelism arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI). Recently, Global Media Outreach has seen a dramatic increase in the results of their internet evangelism efforts. [8] In addition, in August of 2010, Global Media Outreach announced it is combining forces with Joni and Friends International Disability Center to recruit Christians with disabilities who would like to spread the gospel and minister to others via the internet. By combining forces with Joni and Friends, Global Media Outreach benefits by having access to some 650 million people with disabilities worldwide.[9]
In 2006, Alan Beeber of CCCI predicted that internet evangelism will result in more conversion that all other forms of evangelism for CCCI combined.[10]
Unlike Christianity, which is supported by a large body of sound evidence (see: Christian apologetics), atheism has no proof and evidence supporting its ideology. Also, there have been notable atheists conceding there is compelling evidence for the existence of God and becoming ex-atheist. As a result, atheism often relies on asserting fragile assumptions that are contrary to the existing evidence.[11] In addition, atheists/skeptics do have a tradition of making assumptions that later have proved errant.[12]
Please also see: Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian
Embarrassing incident concerning the website of the American Atheists
See also: American Atheists
A Question evolution! campaign blog declares about the website of the American Atheists organization:
| “ | The popular Christian YouTube video creator Shockofgod just released a hilarious video entitled Proof atheism & evolution are stupid.
On the video, he first did a Google search at Google USA for the word "atheism". The #1 search result for atheism was for the website of the American Atheists organization and they misspelled the words "separation" and "church" on the main page title tag for their website. The title of their website reads: "Supporting Civil Rights for Atheists and the Seperation of Curch and ...". Did the American Atheist organization's webmaster go to one of the many evolution indoctrinating public schools with a high drop out rate? It appears so! Is it any wonder that the American Atheists organization has been silent concerning the 15 questions for evolutionists of the Question Evolution! Campaign? Besides being poor spellers the American Atheists organization's staff is probably poor when it comes to science as well![13] | ” |
Christian websites with a large focus on the topic of atheism
Four of the more notable defense of Christianity websites which have a large focus on the topic of atheism are: True Free Thinker, the Creation Ministries International resources on atheism, the Fixed Point Foundation website, and Atheism Analyzed.
YouTube atheist TheAmazingAtheist on rape
See also: Atheism and rape and Atheism and women and Elevatorgate
TheAmazingAtheist is YouTube's most subscribed to YouTube channel produced by an atheist and as of February of 2012 it had over 280,000 subscribers. In 2012, he viciously told a rape victim "you deserved it" and told her that her rapist "deserved a medal". He also told her that she should try to relive the rape in her mind.
Christian apologist Marian Grinbank wrote concerning TheAmazingAtheist's comments directed towards a rape victim:
| “ | A frightening consideration is that it may very well be this personage’s worldview which leads him to such depths of malice...
He also told another woman: "You’re lucky it wasn’t me. I’d have busted your ******* nose and raped you." And has also offered a graphic descriptions of how he would rape a rape victim again. This is in keeping with his modis operandi which, sadly, is a manner whereby some people get and keep a lot of attention. Of course, it is pathetic that some people are so very desperate for attention that they seek it regardless of whether it is good, bad or ugly. This particular Atheist is the organizer of a group, aptly, called The Atheist Scum United and refers to himself as “God of the Godless,” “subhuman,” and “scumbag.” Could not have said it better ourselves. But the belligerence does not stop at his victimization of rape victims but he also takes aim at the dead. He has referred to people who committed suicide due to bullying as having been "weak." What such a person needs, truly needs, is love and prayer because they are obviously hurting very, very badly.[14] | ” |
See also: Elevatorgate
Demographic data of atheism websites
Prominent general atheist websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women
The website run by the organization American Atheists organization has significantly less women trafficking their website according to Alexa and Quantcast.[15][16] The Internet Infidels website, the Secular Web, has significantly less woman trafficking their website according to Alexa and Quantcast.[17][18] The British Website New Humanist Magazine receives significantly less traffic from women according to Alexa and Quantcast.[19][20] Atheist Ireland also has significantly less women trafficking their website according to Alexa (there is no web traffic data from Quantcast).[21]
New Atheism websites appear to receive significantly less traffic from women
The four most prominent writers of the New Atheist movement are Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett. Like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris has his own website. According to the website tracking firms Alexa and Quantcast women frequent the website of Samharris.org and richarddawkins.net significantly less than men.[22][23][24][25]
Internet atheism and quarrelsome, socially challenged males
Survey data and website tracking data of prominent atheist websites indicate that in the Western World, atheism appears to be significantly less appealing to women.
In 2007, Vox Day wrote:
| “ | It's not just a figment of my imagination, it seems atheists truly are socially autistic by their own report. Asperger's Syndrome is a disorder described as "autistic psychopathy" by its discoverer, Dr. Hans Asperger. Those with the disorder tend to be intelligent, socially awkward and difficult to converse with. They are also likely to be male.
Based on Wired magazine's observation that atheists tend to be quarrelsome, socially challenged men, to say nothing of the unpleasant personalities of leading public atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Michel Onfray, one could reasonably hypothesize that there is likely to be a strong correlation between Asperger's and atheism. It's by no means a scientific test, but it is interesting to note the coincidence that 59 of the virulent atheists over at Dr. PZ Myers place report an average score on the Asperger's Quotient test of 27.8. And this does not include the two individuals who actually have Asperger's but did not report any test results. The test notes that "Scores over 32 are generally taken to indicate Asperger's Syndrome or high-functioning autism". The average male score is 18, the average female score is 15. By way of comparison, I scored 14... Obviously, more comprehensive and scientific tests would be advised before any definite conclusion can be reached...[26] | ” |
In 2010, the Christian apologetics website True Free Thinker wrote:
| “ | Scienceblogger Chad Orzel described the commentators on PZ Myers ' Scienceblogs.com site Pharyngula, and other Scienceblogs.com commentators, as "screechy monkeys."[27] | ” |
Of course, there is no necessity to assert that atheists are more likely to have Asperger's Syndrome. The historical militancy of the atheist/evolutionist community and the ideas their ideologies have often engendered provides more than enough explanatory power to explain the origin of the quarrelsomeness and other social deficiencies of many in the atheists/evolutionist population (see: militant atheism and social effects of the theory of evolution ). In fact, it is arguably the best explanation for the quarrelsomeness and other social deficiencies of many in the atheist/evolutionist community. In addition, ultimately the decision to reject or be reconciled with God is a matter relating to the grace of God and free will and nobody is forced into atheism due to a physical condition.
Richard Dawkins' battle with online fans
In February of 2010, the news organization The Telegraph reported Richard Dawkins was "embroiled in a bitter online battle over plans to rid his popular internet forum for atheists of foul language, insults and 'frivolous gossip'."[28] Given that Wired Magazine and Vox Day declared for various reasons that atheists tend to be quarrelsome, socially challenged men, it is not surprising the online dispute was bitter. In addition, Richard Dawkins has a reputation for being abrasive.
Christian thwarting of atheist cyberbullying
see also: Atheistic bullying
There is a widespread problem with atheist cyberbullying on YouTube toward Christian and creationist YouTube channels. CreationWiki has developed a web page entitled Creationist YouTube video designed to show creationists how to thwart atheist/evolutionist cyberbullies. Also, one popular Christian YouTube channel, shockofgod, was shut down several times by atheist cyberbullying through false reports but he was able to thwart their cyberbullying using some effective tactics.[29]
Christian YouTube channel Shockofgod and atheism
See also: Shockofgod
The YouTube channel shockofgod is a popular Christian YouTube channel which offers various critiques of atheism plus offers various satires of atheism and humorous quips about atheism. Shockofgod caused a great deal of consternation among YouTube atheists by asking them the question "What proof and evidence do you have that atheism is accurate and correct". There have been atheists who have left atheism and mentioned that shockofgod's YouTube channel was helpful.[30]
Classic quotes from the Christian YouTube channel shockofgod
See also: Attempts to dilute the definition of atheism and Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution
- I received another email about someone becoming a Christian and leaving atheism... Now as you guys know, the atheist community on YouTube and also on radio and TV...They are in panic mode. It is obvious. Everyone on YouTube can see that this question that we are asking atheists that they cannot answer is really panicking the atheist community....Here is the question and then we will get to these awesome emails of atheists leaving atheism because the atheists cannot provide proof and evidence that atheism is accurate and correct...The question is: What proof and evidence can you provide that PROVES that atheism is accurate and correct?...You see I left atheism because the lack of proof and evidence that it is accurate and correct. The proof and evidence is for Jesus Christ.[31]
- "We are getting atheists leaving atheism. They are like dropping like flies. They are realizing...You know what? Atheism is madness. There is no proof and evidence that atheism is accurate and correct."[32]
- "An email from an atheist: 'There is no proof and evidence that atheism is accurate and correct. Happy now?' Ha! Ha! Ha! And he goes on and on about Santa Claus. Oh atheists, feel the sting."[33]
- "The hostility I am getting over this question is unbelievable...It's like..picture this...Atheism is a clown and it did not know it. And then I got the clown and I walked it over...I forced it to look itself in the mirror. And it sees itself in all its red hair, big nose, big shoes, polka dot glory."[34]
- "You atheists, I love you, but it must feel very embarrassing to be involved in something where there is no proof and evidence that it is accurate and correct."[35]
- "The Atheists Experience Show has failed. Dprjones has failed. Well, you know they're atheists. They're used to failure...Every atheists has failed."[36]
- "What proof and evidence can you provide as an atheist that atheism is accurate and correct. Game over atheists. You have nothing. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Game over."[37]
Internet atheism and obesity
See also: Atheism and obesity and Internet atheism and obesity
As noted earlier, atheists are very active on the internet. In 2009, an Australian university study was done concerning the association between leisure time internet and computer use with being overweight and/or obese and also sedentary.[38] The study concluded: "These findings suggest that, apart from nutritional and physical activity interventions, it may also be necessary to decrease time spent in sedentary behaviors, such as leisure-time Internet and computer use, in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity."[39]
According to the Gallup Organization, "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."[40] Please see: Atheism and obesity
Picture of an overweight PZ Myers
PZ Myers is an atheist biology professor and active blogger who writes a blog entitled Pharyngula. A 2010 picture taken in Australia shows PZ Myers drinking ale/beer and he had excess weight in his abdominal area.[41] A 2009 picture of a significantly overweight PZ Myers can be found HERE. In 2010, PZ Myers had health problems related to his heart.[42] In addition, medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.[43][44] Given PZ Myers' biological training and the wide dissemination of the harmful health effects of being overweight in terms of cardiovascular health and brain function, it is unfortunate that preventative medicine was not used in greater measure in terms of his health.[45][46][47] PZ Myers' inattention to diligently implementing the recommendations of medical science is not entirely surprising given his vehement advocacy of evolutionary pseudoscience. There have been a number of notable evolutionists who have been overweight.
New Atheism's leadership and problems with being overweight
see also: New Atheism leadership and problems with being overweight
The term New Atheism which first appeared in the November 2006 edition of Wired magazine, is frequently applied to a series of six best-selling books by five authors that appeared in the period between 2004–2008. These authors include Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, Victor J. Stenger and Christopher Hitchens.[48] 3 out of 5 of these leaders of the New Atheism movement have had issues with being overweight as can be seen HERE and HERE and HERE PZ Myers is also a leader within the New Atheism movement and as noted earlier, Myers has had problems with being overweight.
Hippocrates was an early advocate of the health benefits of exercise and also nutrition (see also: Nutritional science).[49] On the other hand, PZ Myers and a significant amount of other New Atheists leaders, seem to lack a full appreciation of the importance of nutritional science, exercise science and the latest findings of medical science (see: New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight}.
There are a number of plausible explanations concerning the significant problems the New Atheism leadership has had with being overweight.
PZ Myers' visit to the Creation Museum
In August 2009, PZ Myers led a group of over 300 atheist and agnostic students on a tour of the Creation Museum.[50] During the visit, Myers had noticeably greater difficulty than others climbing on and off a dinosaur model due to the fact that he was overweight and out of shape.VIDEO
YouTube atheism and obesity
TheAmazingAtheist
As noted earlier, atheists are very active on YouTube. [51] As of December of 2010, the most popular YouTube channel run by an atheist is TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel which has over 175,000 subscribers. TheAmazingAtheist YouTube channel is produced by an overweight atheist.[52] In one video, TheAmazingAtheist exclaimed "Why am I so fat?"[53] The popular Christian YouTube producer Shockofgod posed the question "What proof and evidence do have that proves that atheism is accurate and correct?" to TheAmazingAtheist and he was unable to provide any proof and evidence supporting atheism.[54]
Matt Dillahunty
Matt Dillahunty currently serves as the president of the Atheist Community of Austin. In addition, Mr. Dillahunty also serves as a host of the internet radio show "Non-Prophets Radio" and of the Austin television cable access show "The Atheist Experience" which rebroadcast shows on YouTube. As of April 21, 2011, the Atheist Experience show had over 30,000 YouTube subscribers.
Matt Dillahunty was raised a Southern Baptist but now likes the works of non-Christians such as Robert Ingersoll, Voltaire and the atheists Dan Barker, Richard Dawkins and Farrell Till.[55]
Mr. Dillahunty also promotes himself via Facebook and Twitter.
Recently, the popular Christian YouTube channel Shockofgod produced a humorous video which featured Matt Dillahunty entitled Why does atheism leave us hungry for truth?.
See also: Atheism and Mental and Physical Health and Physical and mental health related problems associated with obesity
Some of the medical conditions associated with obesity include: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, arthritis, cancer, sleep apnea, reproductive problems in women and varicose veins.[56] In addition, medical science research indicates that excess weight impairs brain function.[57]
According to the Mayo Clinic some of the symptoms associated with obesity can include:
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Secular Web website
The Secular Web, owned by Internet Infidels, is one of the principal websites for those who advocate atheism, agnosticism and skepticism on the internet. Christian apologist JP Holding wrote: "The Secular Web has a few intelligent people, but overall has long been a haven for every skeptical know-it-all to pronounce judgments upon matters outside of their expertise."[60] Although JP Holding has written rebuttals of the more well known members of the skeptical community such as David Hume[61], Friedrich Nietzsche[62] and G.A. Wells[63][64], Holding has also written rebuttals of lesser well known members of the secular community who publish and/or are featured on the Secular Web such as:
- Earl Doherty [65]
- Richard Carrier [66]
- Dan Barker [67]
- Stephen Carr [68]
- Jeffery Jay Lowder [69]
- Acharya S [70]
- Kyle Gerkin [71]
- Farrell Till [72]
Dissension at the Internet Infidels forum
See also: Richard Dawkins' battle with online fans and Pharyngula
In 2007, it appears as if the Internet Infidels forum had a significant amount of internal dissension which caused some forum members to depart.[73]
Videos on atheism
Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution
Conservapedia produced a number of satires and comedic material that focuses on the topics of atheism and evolution which have been cited by conservative websites:
See also
General articles and resources:
Specific topics:
- Atheism and Mental and Physical Health
- Atheism and mass murder
- Atheism and uncharitableness
- Atheism and deception
- Atheism and suicide
- Atheism appears to be significantly less appealing to women
- Atheism and marriageability
- Western atheism and race
- Racial demographics of the Richard Dawkins' audience
Satire and comedy:
- The atheist and evolutionist helpline - satire
- Comedy and satires concerning atheism and evolution (large collection of comedy/satire concerning atheism and evolution)
- Atheists say the darnedest things! - satire
References
- ↑ http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789
- ↑ http://voxday.blogspot.com/2007/08/socially-autistic-atheist.html
- ↑ http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
- ↑ http://spectator.org/archives/2011/02/28/thriving-christianity
- ↑ http://spectator.org/archives/2011/02/28/thriving-christianity
- ↑ American Faith: A Work In Progress by Stephen Prothero, USA Today, March 10, 2008, page 11A
- ↑ http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/47052/?page=3
- ↑ http://www.globalmediaoutreach.com/about_us.html
- ↑ http://theundergroundsite.com/index.php/2010/08/christian-organizations-join-forces-to-train-disabled-for-internet-evangelism-13255
- ↑ http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth11.html
- ↑ [More proof that atheism is stupid. American Atheists organization badly embarrasses itself]
- ↑ Atheist victimizes rape victim
- ↑ http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/atheists.org
- ↑ http://www.quantcast.com/atheists.org
- ↑ http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/infidels.org
- ↑ http://www.quantcast.com/infidels.org
- ↑ http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/newhumanist.org.uk
- ↑ http://www.quantcast.com/newhumanist.org.uk
- ↑ http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/atheist.ie
- ↑ http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/samharris.org
- ↑ http://www.quantcast.com/samharris.org
- ↑ http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/richarddawkins.net
- ↑ http://www.quantcast.com/richarddawkins.net#demographics
- ↑ http://voxday.blogspot.com/2007/08/socially-autistic-atheist.html
- ↑ http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/pz-myers-and-pavlovs-monkeys
- ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7322177/Richard-Dawkins-in-bitter-web-censorship-row-with-fellow-atheists.html
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kax-zAJxi-U
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6wQRzor6Vc
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkpKs4oSBf0
- ↑ http://www.jmir.org/2009/3/e28/
- ↑ http://www.jmir.org/2009/3/e28/
- ↑ http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx
- ↑ http://www.flickr.com/photos/reuvenim/4426093513/
- ↑ http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010/08/thats_not_a_heart_its_a_flaili.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+scienceblogs%2Fpharyngula+%28Pharyngula%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
- ↑ http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/41/18/25.1.full
- ↑ http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/08/25/as-waistlines-widen-brains-shrink.html
- ↑ http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/content/41/18/25.1.full
- ↑ http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/08/25/as-waistlines-widen-brains-shrink.html
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21121834
- ↑ http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger/battle.html
- ↑ http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/pe/exs190web/exs190history.htm
- ↑ "Creation Museum: Is This How World Began?" (ABC News)
- ↑ http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2WLulSQvYU
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2WLulSQvYU
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2WLulSQvYU
- ↑ http://www.atheist-experience.com/people/matt_dillahunty/
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/obesity/DS00314/DSECTION=symptoms
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/gerkin01.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-H.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/lp/nietzsche01.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/jesusexisthub.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/uz/wellsga01.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-D.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-C.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-B.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-C.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-L.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-A.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-G.html
- ↑ http://www.tektonics.org/TK-T.html
- ↑ http://spaninquis.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/internet-infidels-seems-to-be-melting/
