I can’t find a link to the actual study, it’s probably only available through a pay-for journal. But you can participate if you dare.
cause fuck you God, that is why
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Having gone through the survey, I must conclude that the researchers are self-serving (if not disingenuous or downright duplicitous) and haven’t considered their survey questions carefully. As an atheist or agnostic, you are asked to answer several questions as if some “god” exists without this hypothetical caveat being made explicit. It is utterly laughable that they should infer actual persistent anger from this. The situation is exactly analogous to being asked how you would feel about some imaginary thief stealing your purse. You would no doubt express anger at the thief, all the while knowing he is fictitious.
It is a case in point illustrating why there are looming questions about subjects like psychology and sociology being scientific.
'Luthon64
Presumably, these folks are just angry at the Flying Spaghetti Monster…
This is precisely why a distinction must be made between atheists and ignoramuses (a bit harsh). The latter refers to a person who rejects god with as much compelling reasons as a theists accepts god i.e bullshit or, as the article identifies, hatred. I’d imagine most of us atheists on this form have not renounced our faith (if we even had any to begin with) in a moment of unclarity. My journey towards atheism took many years (starting in grade 1 - gee whizz its been a long time) of actively applying my mind to the matter and evolving my thoughts to the point when I could look back on that journey and realise the drastic shift in perception and understanding that I had undergone. In other words my thoughts adapted so that I was no longer vulnerable to any mind viruses. I’d imagine the ignoramus can reject god but seriously consider spiritual healing. The fact that the scientist in this study did not immediately think of this suggests that this very process/journey was missing from their reality.
As arrogant is this sounds I believe I can to some greater degree understand the theists belief - all you need to know really is that its irrational (psychology and evolution undercover are necessary for grasping it on a complex level). However the theist can not understand the atheist perspective as discovering such a rational understanding requires a shift in their mentality at which point they can no longer be said to be theists; they’re atheists. Its like once you go black you never go back. Very much the same with fundamental changes in perspective that go from an irrational state to that of a rational one.
To conclude, if the researcher wishes to retain any credibility its very important that the link between atheism and anger be stated as correlation (however strong) rather than imply causation. Anger does not make atheists. A lack of higher order reasoning leads to irrational decisions