The old wisdom: The more educated you are, the less likely you will be religious. But a new study says education doesn't drive people away from God — it gives them a more liberal attitude about who's going to heaven.
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An interesting read for all Spirituality Forum readers. I was fortunate enough never to have been exposed to the hardline "all Christians who don't believe in X, Y, and Z are doomed to damndation" theology in the first place. At the same time, I feel like I've fit into the trend described in the study, anyway, due to my educational background. The authors attributed their results in part to the increasingly diversified and multicultural society in which we live, which I think correlates with other trends, such as an increasing level of tolerance toward homosexuals.
Originally posted by wittywonka The old wisdom: The more educated you are, the less likely you will be religious. But a new study says education doesn't drive people away from God — it gives them a more liberal attitude about who's going to heaven.
Yet the article you reference does not back that up. There are no actual stats given that suggest that people are not more likely to be atheist the more educated they are, nor is it clear what 'religious' implies in this context. Some people would call 'liberals' less religious than fundamentalists.
Originally posted by twhitehead Yet the article you reference does not back that up. There are no actual stats given that suggest that people are not more likely to be atheist the more educated they are, nor is it clear what 'religious' implies in this context. Some people would call 'liberals' less religious than fundamentalists.
It does say "For each additional year of education beyond seventh grade, Americans are:
•15% more likely to have attended religious services in the past week."
Originally posted by JS357 It does say "For each additional year of education beyond seventh grade, Americans are:
•15% more likely to have attended religious services in the past week."
FWIW
So possibly more likely to attend Church ceremonies, but that does not mean they are less likely to be atheist. Its also not clear what sort of figures we are dealing with here. Considering that over 90% of the sample were theist, any variation in the number of atheists would have been quite small.
How does that 15% add up? Is a 4th year university student 100% (8 years after 7th grade in my country) more likely to have attended a religious service in the past week?
Originally posted by twhitehead So possibly more likely to attend Church ceremonies, but that does not mean they are less likely to be atheist. Its also not clear what sort of figures we are dealing with here. Considering that over 90% of the sample were theist, any variation in the number of atheists would have been quite small.
How does that 15% add up? Is a 4th year university stu ...[text shortened]... fter 7th grade in my country) more likely to have attended a religious service in the past week?
Would you say atheists are more likely to attend church as their educational
level increases? What do these stats show in your opinion?
Originally posted by wittywonka http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-08-03-education-religion_n.htm
The old wisdom: The more educated you are, the less likely you will be religious. But a new study says education doesn't drive people away from God — it gives them a more liberal attitude about who's going to heaven.
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An interesting read for all Spirituality Forum reader correlates with other trends, such as an increasing level of tolerance toward homosexuals.
I think most people, if not all people, tell themselves that they are right in regards to their beliefs. However, you seem to indicate that you believe tolerance to be "good" in all circumstances in regards to those beleifs. When looking at the life of Christ, was he toerant 100% of the time? No. For example. what would those "educated" people have thought about him if they had witnessed him throwing a whip around in the temple as he chased out the money changers? What would those educated people have thought when he rebuked the religious leaders who were the most educated people of his day?
Originally posted by RJHinds Would you say atheists are more likely to attend church as their educational
level increases? What do these stats show in your opinion?
That Christians are more likely to attend Church services - or at least say they do on surveys. As I pointed out, only about 10% of the sample were atheists and we are not told anything about their behaviour.
We must also realise that Church is more of a social thing than about being religious. And yes, quite a lot of atheists do go to church (for social reasons).
Originally posted by twhitehead That Christians are more likely to attend Church services - or at least say they do on surveys. As I pointed out, only about 10% of the sample were atheists and we are not told anything about their behaviour.
We must also realise that Church is more of a social thing than about being religious. And yes, quite a lot of atheists do go to church (for social reasons).
Is that the reason you go to Church, to be sociable?
Originally posted by RJHinds Is that the reason you go to Church, to be sociable?
The last time I went to church was for my cousin's wedding, last year. The next time may well be for my father's funeral, though hopefully Christmas will come first so I may end up being dragged along for a service around then.
Originally posted by RJHinds Is that the reason you go to Church, to be sociable?
I haven't gone to Church for a very long time, but yes, I did go to Church a number of times as a child and young man for purely social reasons. Mostly in my case, because proclaiming my atheism would have caused division I was not ready for. As I grew older and more confident, I learn't to be honest and decline any invitations to Church and explain my reasons.
As for Christians, most Christians I know go to Church primarily for social purposes - and will readily admit as such and see nothing wrong with it. I remember at University, the most popular Church was a place for girls and boys to meet. For some reason they thought they would find more decent people there.
Originally posted by twhitehead I haven't gone to Church for a very long time, but yes, I did go to Church a number of times as a child and young man for purely social reasons. Mostly in my case, because proclaiming my atheism would have caused division I was not ready for. As I grew older and more confident, I learn't to be honest and decline any invitations to Church and explain my re ...[text shortened]... girls and boys to meet. For some reason they thought they would find more decent people there.
No wonder you are an atheist. Seriously, if you went to church to socialise (as an atheist) you were very badly advised and I can understand how you could feel about that experience.
I'm a theist and I don't go to "church" - generally speaking "church" is not where God is, in my opinion. It's the corporate system I despise; the orientation around money and the manipulation.
Education Liberalizes Religion
04 Aug '11 17:45
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