Thread: Respect vs. Blasphemy

Originally Posted by xman

I am sad to admit that the facts will again be dismissed by those who find it in conflict with their dogma.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I take issue with many of the assumptions they use to rank countries. I can't accept their rakingings as meaningful in any way.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

I have conducted my own survey, and have concluded that most nations that score low on the peace index are close to the equator, while the most peaceful are located more towards the polar regions.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Further data from the Global Peace Index may also relate skin color to how peaceful a nation may be.

See what I mean TBS?

Xman, all I'm saying is that GPI correlation of peace to religion is highly suspect as a true barometer of cause and effect of peace or violence based on religious affiliation.

My tounge in cheek studies could also show similar biased views of "causes" of peace or violence, based on other factors that also showed correlation.


What I would truly conclude as the most likely cause of peace, or violence is the have's and have-nots of the world.

Compare these:

All I'm saying is thebigspender is surely correct in his assessment.
Further corroborating evidence can be found within the US prison system.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons does have statistics on religious affiliations of inmates. The following are total number of inmates per religion category:
-----Response Number %
Catholic -------- 29267 39.164%
Protestant ----- 26162 35.008%
Muslim ---------- 5435 7.273%
American Indian 2408 3.222%
Nation ---------- 1734 2.320%
Rasta ----------- 1485 1.987%
Jewish ---------- 1325 1.773%
Church of Christ 1303 1.744%
Pentecostal ---- 1093 1.463%
Moorish -------- 1066 1.426%
Buddhist -------- 882 1.180%
Jehovah Witness 665 0.890%
Adventist -------- 621 0.831%
Orthodox -------- 375 0.502%
Mormon ---------- 298 0.399%
Scientology ------ 190 0.254%
Atheist ----------- 156 0.209%
Hindu ------------ 119 0.159%
Santeria --------- 117 0.157%
Sikh --------------- 14 0.019%
Bahai --------------- 9 0.012%
Krishna ------------- 7 0.009%
Total Known Responses 74731 100.001% (rounding to 3 digits does this)

The US has an atheist population of roughly 15%, but only 0.2% of inmates are atheist.
I fully expect this will also be dismissed.

Originally Posted by xman

All I'm saying is thebigspender is surely correct in his assessment.
Further corroborating evidence can be found within the US prison system.


The Us has an atheist population of roughly 15%, but only 0.2% of inmates are atheist.
I fully expect this will also be dismissed.

That is certainly much better data than that other source!

Originally Posted by xman

All I'm saying is thebigspender is surely correct in his assessment.
Further corroborating evidence can be found within the US prison system.


The Us has an atheist population of roughly 15%, but only 0.2% of inmates are atheist.
I fully expect this will also be dismissed.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

That is certainly much better data than that other source!

I agree with Seraphim. It is much better info than you normally put out X.

I fail to see the correlation between religious respect, and blasphemy.

I don't really understand either side of the argument enough, but I think it's funny that in the banner for the Atheist site, it uses the word ethical, yet they choose to demean and disrespect the beliefs that people have chosen. Is that ethical?

Originally Posted by WongKonPow

... in the banner ... they choose to demean and disrespect ...

Nothing of the sort there at all. Check your dictionary for terms, nothing is derogatory.

Originally Posted by xman

All I'm saying is thebigspender is surely correct in his assessment.
Further corroborating evidence can be found within the US prison system.


The US has an atheist population of roughly 15%, but only 0.2% of inmates are atheist.
I fully expect this will also be dismissed.

That's not a very meaning figure. Did they go in there as religious people? Or did they become religious after spending a lot of thinking time in a small room with danger surrounding them?

Your facts are interesting....but not complete I think.

Any scientist worth his salt wouldn't put any stock in a quick summing up of figures like that.


In order to know whether those figures are relevant you need to see the entire research....I.E.

How do they know they were athiest?, were they asked? Observed? Were they asked before they went to prison (to rule out any connection with the fact that they were caught and sentenced), etc etc etc.

As far as respect given by government, I don't think it should extend to protecting religious people against whatever they choose to call blasphemy

It should rather exist to protect the God-given rights of all the people. The "right" to not be offended is not one of them

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I answered the poll on a more personal note though. As far as respect itself, I'm willing to respect a religious system of belief based on truth, but I'm not willing to respect a religious system of belief based on anything else. Therefore whatever I hold to be true is what I will respect. I'll also respect the right of anyone and everyone to believe or not believe whatever they choose, and I'll (try to ) respect people themselves independently of their religious affiliations until or unless they show me they're not worthy of respect

But since my religion is right, and my religion says the other religions are wrong, then I'll respect mine but not others. I'm surprised I'm the only one who voted this way so far, especially considering other remarks I've been reading in the so-called Jesus threads