Comments on: Interesting Statistics Contrasting Atheism and Christianity http://www.sixteensmallstones.org/interesting-statistics-contrasting-atheism-and-christianity The Weblog of J. Max Wilson Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:49:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: dave http://www.sixteensmallstones.org/interesting-statistics-contrasting-atheism-and-christianity/comment-page-1#comment-235 dave Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:47:28 +0000 first, i MEANT to write “i don’t DISagree with your conclusions generally.” second, that’s what I get for reading swiftly! well said, thanks for pointing out that they accounted for church giving. of course there is always the question of direction of causality. “they lend some credibility to the notion that at least some kinds of morality or magnanimity require a foundation in Faith” implies that faith leads to giving. it could be that generous people find it easier to believe in God, or that stingy people become atheists to justify their selfishness. in that case, it wouldn’t be that generosity requires faith, but rather that faith requires generosity. my intuition is that causality usually runs both ways, so i don’t DISagree with with the “some credibility” claim. first, i MEANT to write “i don’t DISagree with your conclusions generally.”

second, that’s what I get for reading swiftly! well said, thanks for pointing out that they accounted for church giving.

of course there is always the question of direction of causality. “they lend some credibility to the notion that at least some kinds of morality or magnanimity require a foundation in Faith” implies that faith leads to giving. it could be that generous people find it easier to believe in God, or that stingy people become atheists to justify their selfishness. in that case, it wouldn’t be that generosity requires faith, but rather that faith requires generosity. my intuition is that causality usually runs both ways, so i don’t DISagree with with the “some credibility” claim.

]]> By: J. Max Wilson http://www.sixteensmallstones.org/interesting-statistics-contrasting-atheism-and-christianity/comment-page-1#comment-234 J. Max Wilson Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:42:43 +0000 Dave, I think that the study accounted for the difference. As cited above, it found that even subtracting church-based giving, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars to charitable causes last year than atheists and agnostics. Also, the study said that 22% of “no-faith” adults failed to contribute any personal funds to charitable causes in 2006, compared to only 7% of active-faith adults. Dave, I think that the study accounted for the difference. As cited above, it found that even subtracting church-based giving, active-faith adults donated twice as many dollars to charitable causes last year than atheists and agnostics.

Also, the study said that 22% of “no-faith” adults failed to contribute any personal funds to charitable causes in 2006, compared to only 7% of active-faith adults.

]]> By: dave http://www.sixteensmallstones.org/interesting-statistics-contrasting-atheism-and-christianity/comment-page-1#comment-233 dave Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:44:27 +0000 I don’t agree with your conclusions generally, but keep in mind that much of people’s charitable giving involves giving to churches, so being an atheist as opposed to being a believer may mean you just don’t give to church but are no less likely to give to non-religious charities. One could argue whether churches should be characterized together with other charities. As I recall the research I’ve read in the past, much of the Americans’ giving to private charities stems from religious giving. I don’t agree with your conclusions generally, but keep in mind that much of people’s charitable giving involves giving to churches, so being an atheist as opposed to being a believer may mean you just don’t give to church but are no less likely to give to non-religious charities. One could argue whether churches should be characterized together with other charities. As I recall the research I’ve read in the past, much of the Americans’ giving to private charities stems from religious giving.

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