Author Topic: Percentage of atheists in prison (Read 2281 times)

Chairboy · « **on:** September 02, 2007, 03:32:25 PM »

This is an interesting bit of data:

http://www.freethoughtpedia.com/wiki/Percentage_of_atheists

The percentage of atheists in prison is quite a bit lower than the percentage in the population.

Any theories?

Gunslinger · « **Reply #1 on:** September 02, 2007, 03:34:50 PM »

yes it's quite simple religious people commit more crimes. DUH!

Maverick · « **Reply #2 on:** September 02, 2007, 03:35:05 PM »

Yep, you really need to get a life.

AWMac · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2007, 03:40:02 PM »

Here we go again with this Atheist crap...

moot · « **Reply #4 on:** September 02, 2007, 03:41:09 PM »

They don't get caught as much?
How does the jailed atheist-deist ratio compare to the public's?

C(Sea)Bass · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2007, 03:46:29 PM »

It seems more likely that it is just a coincidence.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2007, 03:51:42 PM »

If I were to give an honest answer I'd have to say that somone doing time is usually at there lowest point in life.

When somone is at there lowest and hits rock bottem they tend to turn to somone or something to save them.

You mix that with the fact that they have time on there hands to reflect and think and viola.....

bozon · « **Reply #7 on:** September 02, 2007, 04:17:32 PM »

Simple: The higher you go in the education and socio-economic ladder, the higher the percentage of atheists gets.

lasersailor184 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 02, 2007, 04:30:53 PM »

Or

"I found jesus christ in prison. He has helped me in my life."

Xargos · « **Reply #9 on:** September 02, 2007, 04:45:21 PM »

Inmate always get religion after they get locked up, not because they believe but because their trying to fool you into letting them go. The question you should be asking is what are they before they get locked up.

FBplmmr · « **Reply #10 on:** September 02, 2007, 04:51:27 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by bozon
Simple: The higher you go in the education and socio-economic ladder, the higher the percentage of atheists gets.

The more arrogant and self centered a person is, the more distasteful it becomes for them to entertain the possibility that there may be a divine being of unbridled power and wisdom.

Chairboy · « **Reply #11 on:** September 02, 2007, 04:54:02 PM »

Whoa! Some pretty crazilly oversensitive responses, I was just asking what theories folks had. The 'finding religion in prison' sounds interesting, makes me wonder if there's data available yet about what prisoners were before.

Geez, in the meantime, lighten up folks. Perhaps the lady protesteth a bit much....

Vudak · « **Reply #12 on:** September 02, 2007, 05:05:57 PM »

Well, I think, for better or worse, it does take a pretty big commitment following a long thought process to call oneself an atheist, and I'm not sure most prisoners are capable of that.

Perhaps a more interesting question would be, how many people in jail who consider themselves Christians fit the image according to Christians themselves? (Or sub any other religion).

It's just that I think there is a very broad base for being a Christian (I consider myself one - and I'm completely and totally different from many on here, as they'll attest), but there's really not such a broad base for being an atheist.

That in itself would probably skew the data.

Xargos · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2007, 05:10:21 PM »

I work in a prison and am telling you that the ones who are always telling you about how religious they are, are the ones you need to keep an eye on. I had one inmate on death row however that was very quiet and very respectful to everyone. When I was making my rounds he was usually reading his Bible but he never flaunted it. I always felt that he had made his peace with God and was very sad the day we gave him the injection. He killed an eight year old girl in a drive by shooting when he was 17 or 18 I believe.

JB88 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2007, 05:13:28 PM »

thats what i was just thinking...there are probably some who are preparing themselves for the afterlife. espescially those who are doing life in hell.