Survery: Why do we believe what we believe?

[Psychologic]

I want to conduct a survey here in Fantasy Island, of my fellow residents and athiest friends of AFA (although the athiest's opinions will likely be the same, each background will be different), and then use the results to create statistics data. Nothing too complicated.

As opposed to one large pool of believers or non-believers, I want to inquire about a few areas specific to each replyer. This is an analysis of as many people possible in the AFA forum, based upon the following information.

1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)

2.) Briefly describe your living enviroment during developmental stages (relationship with parents, quick ratio of postive/negative memories).

3.) Where you lived, throughout the larger part of your developmental stage. (country, state, city).

4.) If there were significant (different country or state) relocations during this period, where to?

5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.

6.) Notable changes in the faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.

7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.

8.) Overall access to and type of education received during childhood development.

9.) If you left home, your first place of residence after leaving home and the cirumstance/reason for the move.

10.) Access to and type of education after grade school levels, and location/name of educational facility (if any).

11.) The first change in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home (if any).

12.) Subsequent changes in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home, leading up to the present.

13.) Notable occurences or events that would have affected or influence your faith/non-faith at present.

14.) Has your current faith/non-faith changed over the years or is it still in the same general area (continuation of what you've always felt)?

15.) If there has been change, what are the most significant of the changes?

16.) What contributed most to the change?

17.) Look at where you are today, from a mental perspective, in terms of faith/non-faith. What do you feel is the largest benefit/accomplishment as a result?

Take part if you want, and be honest with your answers. I'll gather all the results after a few weeks or so, and share them with AFA. The end product will hopefully be, something that can demonstrate just how much the lotteries in life can produce so many different aspects of personality, as they relate psychologically to beliefs (or the lack thereof). Thank you in advance and enjoy!

~Psychologic~

[Psychologic]

@PL: Some of us have had a number of changes in life, and the framework you propose may not be adequate to get an accurate image.

Perhaps a number of smaller, narrow targetted studies might help.


Mmm, good point, I'll get to work.

[Artemisia]

1.) Your living enviroment during developmental stages

Born and raised in Melbourne in an atheist household (Mum is a bit superstitious/ spiritual). Middle to Upper middle class. Attended non-government schools receiving some religious education instruction which I enjoyed. Always an atheist but enjoyed church services and often attended.


2.) Changes in your living enviroment during early adulthood

Initially lived on campus at Uni, eventually with friends, finally with husband.
No faith practices but studied religion as part of BA. Nothing really affected belief one way or another.
Have BA and LLB from ANU, Grad Dip from ACU and currently doing MSc with Swinburne.

3.) Experiences in life thus far, that fuel/have fueled your faith/non-faith

Reading the writings of many great thinkers on the subject has made me more active as an atheist, rather than it simply describing my non-acceptance of Gods.

[Psychologic]

Thank you for the answers thus far. I was unintentionally over-simplifying a broad range of study areas. Mr. Black gave some well placed criticism, and so I modified the questions a bit in an effort to make the survey more efficient. If you re-read the questions, and decide to modify/expand your replies, feel free to place the blame on my shoulders!

[Praxis]

I am mistrustful of this, but then again, that's my default position with theists so don't take it personally :)

However, I will answer these to the best of my ability.

1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)
Nonbeliever.

2.) Briefly describe your living enviroment during developmental stages (relationship with parents, quick ratio of postive/negative memories).
Raised in a politically slightly left Catholic family in Melbourne, Australia. Middle class, definitely not wealthy but not poor either. Catholic primary school, three different high schools as we moved a lot. Ratbag father, great mum, one brother who died in 1988 aged 22. Did not complete HSC and thus remain technically "uneducated" to a large degree (hah! degree! see what I did there? I don't have one of those ;) ). Equal amount of positive/negative memories. Nothing too terrible or painful that it's scarred me for life.

3.) Where you lived, throughout the larger part of your developmental stage. (country, state, city).
Melbourne, Australia - all over various suburbs, but never on the western side of the city or bayside for some reason. Traveled overseas in my early 20s to the UK and much of Europe.

4.) If there were significant (different country or state) relocations during this period, where to?
Never moved states or countries but moved from city to country at one stage and back again fairly quickly, which interrupted my schooling badly (see above re not completing high school).

5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
Hypocritical Catholics - something I worked out very early on. Said they were Catholic, did all the "sacrament" things, plus weddings/funerals, expected the kids to go to church but dropped out themselves. I called them on it a lot. Like the nuns, no one in my family had answers to my many questions on Catholic dogma. However, paradoxically, my parents always encouraged me to ask questions, something the nuns REALLY hated about me <insert wicked grin>. I was a somewhat precocious child and outspoken, even then.

6.) Notable changes in the faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
Nope, they were fairly consistent with their hypocrisy :)

7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.
Middle class. Both parents worked. Never went without but were not wealthy by any means.

8.) Overall access to and type of education received during childhood development.
See above. Catholic primary school all the way through (1970s), then three different State high schools. Completed Form 5 with excellent grades, commenced HSC and got to mid-term exams, did extremely well, then it all went to shit and I didn't finish.

9.) If you left home, your first place of residence after leaving home and the cirumstance/reason for the move.
Left home at 17, after coming back to Melbourne from the country. Parents had separated by this stage, Mum had a social life to get on with and so did I and the two didn't mix. I was pretty much kicked out (which I didn't mind at all). Moved into a big share house in Toorak with a friend from the country high school. Amazing place! There were six bedrooms (tiny, almost like ship cabins!) and we shared a lounge, kitchen and bathroom. Carted laundry to the local laundromat. Good times!

10.) Access to and type of education after grade school levels, and location/name of educational facility (if any).
Nothing. Went out to work immediately. Haven't stopped since. Can't afford to go to uni and am too old to incur a HECS debt now.

11.) The first change in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home (if any).
None really. I had already decided at an early age (probably around 8 from my best recollection) that it was all a load of bollocks - instinctively felt this - and didn't give it any more thought. It literally didn't cross my mind to think about it but I did not call myself an atheist at that stage as I didn't even think that deeply about it!

12.) Subsequent changes in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home, leading up to the present.
Dabbled in the usual new-age woo nonsense - tarot cards, clairvoyants, women's circles, that sort of thing. I was quite good at tarot readings because I quickly worked out how easy it is to suss out what a person really wants to hear. I reckon I could have made money from it but I'm not that kind of person and couldn't bring myself to do it. Had quite a belief in reincarnation for a while there, which I now know of course was just my way of pretending that I hadn't really lost loved ones who had died. Never was all that big on woo either really. About five years ago I attended a big women's weekend with lots of woo involved. Although I had a fantastic time with great women and lots of laughs, it finally occurred to me that all this stuff they were going on with, the goddess bullshit, the "law of three" and other crap was just that - utter crap. I couldn't sit in the "circle" without wanting to laugh out loud - or fart loudly - anything to break the stupefying fug that was being created. I think that was the real start of my acknowledging that the only thing I knew to be real and true was right here, right now (Fatboy Slim - yay!), the real, corporeal world, and that everything else was just made-up stories to comfort and warm those who couldn't deal with reality. I began to actively think about what it was I thought about this and that. I started reading books, reading forums, blogs, websites, talking to people. In short, I started teaching myself. And it's been an open road of logic and reason ever since, I'm very happy to say.

13.) Notable occurences or events that would have affected or influence your faith/non-faith at present.
Nothing springs to mind.

14.) Has your current faith/non-faith changed over the years or is it still in the same general area (continuation of what you've always felt)?
Well it's certainly been re-ignited thanks to the GAC weekend, where I was jolted out of my complacency and realised anew how important it is for the voice of secular Australia to stand up and be heard, that's for sure. I've become more political and much louder in my atheism. It's really just a more open version of what I have always been.

15.) If there has been change, what are the most significant of the changes?
Stumbling across Dawkins' show "The Root of All Evil?" on the ABC a few years back was a bit of a turning point. I'd never heard of him before and the show had me mesmerised. For the first time I heard someone saying publicly what I had felt/known privately for a long time. I watched that series, then read some of his books. Then I read more books from other atheist writers, survivors of religion, etc. and I just learned and keep on learning.

16.) What contributed most to the change?
Definitely seeing that TV series and all the reading I did subsequently, which really helped to crystalise my position. I now wore the "label" of atheist loudly and proudly, and continue to do so.

17.) Look at where you are today, from a mental perspective, in terms of faith/non-faith. What do you feel is the largest benefit/accomplishment as a result?
Oh heaps of things! For a start, I'm far more educated about lots of things than I would be otherwise. The world of science opened up to me - astronomy, philosophy, intellectual thinking of a type I had not considered before. Mentally, I've always been a very strong person and that has not changed, but I am no longer uncertain about my philosophical position, my place in the world and I am very, very open and aware to the fact of how dangerous and backwards religion is.

It is my great hope that religion becomes a quaint old-fashioned thing - a quiet hobby to be practised by consenting adults in private if they choose to do so - and the larger world can get on with the important business of the here and now instead of so many focussing on the mythical and imaginary "next world", led by an imaginary being.

Thanks for reading. I do hope you won't skew the data, quote mine for your own purpose or cherry pick.

Cheers.

[atheist_angel]

I want to conduct a survey here in Fantasy Island, of my fellow residents and atheist friends of AFA (although the athiest's opinions will likely be the same, each background will be different), and then use the results to create statistics data. Nothing too complicated.

As opposed to one large pool of believers or non-believers, I want to inquire about a few areas specific to each replier. This is an analysis of as many people possible in the AFA forum, based upon the following information.

Take part if you want, and be honest with your answers. I'll gather all the results after a few weeks or so, and share them with AFA. The end product will hopefully be, something that can demonstrate just how much the lotteries in life can produce so many different aspects of personality, as they relate psychologically to beliefs (or the lack thereof). Thank you in advance and enjoy!

~Psychologic~OK, I'll try. But I ain't real comfortable puttin' all my business out there.


1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)
Disbeliever.



2.) Briefly describe your living environment during developmental stages (relationship with parents, quick ratio of positive/negative memories).
Unstable/Survived it. (barely)



3.) Where you lived, throughout the larger part of your developmental stage. (country, state, city).
(Beezwax (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/none_of_your_beeswax#Phrase))



4.) If there were significant (different country or state) relocations during this period, where to?
Yes. (Beezwax (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/none_of_your_beeswax#Phrase))



5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
Darn-near-seemed-like all of them.



6.) Notable changes in the faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
Changes? Constantly.



7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.
Fluctuated.



8.) Overall access to and type of education received during childhood development.
Depends on how you define 'education'.



9.) If you left home, your first place of residence after leaving home and the circumstance/reason for the move.
Home? Didn't have a 'true' home to leave, IMO.



10.) Access to and type of education after grade school levels, and location/name of educational facility (if any).
(Beezwax (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/none_of_your_beeswax#Phrase), again)



11.) The first change in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home (if any).
iz waz da faithz hopper.



12.) Subsequent changes in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home, leading up to the present.
Research.



13.) Notable occurrences or events that would have affected or influence your faith/non-faith at present.
Observation.



14.) Has your current faith/non-faith changed over the years or is it still in the same general area (continuation of what you've always felt)?
It's all changed.



15.) If there has been change, what are the most significant of the changes?
It's all significant.



16.) What contributed most to the change?
More Research. More Observation. More Experience.



17.) Look at where you are today, from a mental perspective, in terms of faith/non-faith. What do you feel is the largest benefit/accomplishment as a result?
Stability. Independence. Oh yea, and Sanity!

Done. How'd I do? :o The end product will hopefully be, something that can demonstrate just how much the lotteries in life can produce so many different aspects of personality, as they relate psychologically to beliefs (or the lack thereof).I dunno, we'll see. :)


Some of the questions were redundant. (but so were some of my answers)
I expected you to ask what kind of friends I keep. I would have answered that! ;)

[wolty]

OK, I will give it a go.

1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)
Non-believer
2.) Briefly describe your living enviroment during developmental stages (relationship with parents, quick ratio of postive/negative memories).
Good relationship with parents, middle class upbringing. Minimal religious interaction.
3.) Where you lived, throughout the larger part of your developmental stage. (country, state, city).
City
4.) If there were significant (different country or state) relocations during this period, where to?
None, but we moved alot.
5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
Weak anglican. Parents tried to make some inference that religion equals good morals, but that is about it.
6.) Notable changes in the faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
No changes. My father is now 72 and reassing his departure from this worrld and wants to believe, but deep down I think he knows god does not exist.
7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.
Middle class.
8.) Overall access to and type of education received during childhood development.
Anglican school. Not too much religious interference.
9.) If you left home, your first place of residence after leaving home and the cirumstance/reason for the move.
Moved out with a mate at 19 to find my way in life. Never been back.
10.) Access to and type of education after grade school levels, and location/name of educational facility (if any).
Minimal. Some work based initiatives.
11.) The first change in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home (if any).
No change.
12.) Subsequent changes in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home, leading up to the present.
A girlfriend that has gone back to church after 9 years involved with me, and never going during that time.
13.) Notable occurences or events that would have affected or influence your faith/non-faith at present.
Girlfriend going back to church crystalized my thoughts on the issue and I felt at the time I needed to make a decisionn on where I stood.
14.) Has your current faith/non-faith changed over the years or is it still in the same general area (continuation of what you've always felt)?
Not changed. I feel I have always been an atheist, just never acknowledged it.
15.) If there has been change, what are the most significant of the changes?
No change other than a ordering of my thoughts on the topic.
16.) What contributed most to the change?
Reading and research.
17.) Look at where you are today, from a mental perspective, in terms of faith/non-faith. What do you feel is the largest benefit/accomplishment as a result?
With no belief, I feel much more confident in my ability to make rational, moral, empathetic judgements with regards others and the environment. I feel happier and more at ease with the world around me.

[nari]

1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)
Non-believer
2.) Briefly describe your living enviroment during developmental stages (relationship with parents, quick ratio of postive/negative memories).
Good relationship with parents mostly; idyllic environment; father a problem re nurturing (zero).
3.) Where you lived, throughout the larger part of your developmental stage. (country, state, city).
Isolated Pacific island; city.
4.) If there were significant (different country or state) relocations during this period, where to?
From island to city at age 13.
5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
Weak anglican(mother); father atheist. Morality was vaguely religion-related.
6.) Notable changes in the faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.
No changes.
7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.
Middle class.
8.) Overall access to and type of education received during childhood development.
Home schooled until age 13. Bewildered by the impact of school with hundreds of other kids.
9.) If you left home, your first place of residence after leaving home and the cirumstance/reason for the move.
Moved out aged 21, moved to Canberra. Got married. Never wanted to go back to Qld.
10.) Access to and type of education after grade school levels, and location/name of educational facility (if any).
University of Queensland - physiotherapy
11.) The first change in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home (if any).
No change.
12.) Subsequent changes in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home, leading up to the present.
Some soul(?)-searching re religion - decided it was totally unhelpful.
13.) Notable occurences or events that would have affected or influence your faith/non-faith at present.
None.
14.) Has your current faith/non-faith changed over the years or is it still in the same general area (continuation of what you've always felt)?
Not changed. I feel I have always been an atheist, just never acknowledged it. ( a la Wolty)
15.) If there has been change, what are the most significant of the changes?
No change other than a ordering of my thoughts on the topic.
16.) What contributed most to the change?
Thinking, rationalising, intuition.
17.) Look at where you are today, from a mental perspective, in terms of faith/non-faith. What do you feel is the largest benefit/accomplishment as a result?
A sense of independence in thought and action plus room for my brain to think about important stuff and not fairy tales. (Though I have no objection at all for 'real' fairies.

nari

[Seamus]

I have not answered your survey for two reasons;

Personal :I don't know you,so don't know what inferences you will make. I don't know your agenda.


Academic:

Statistical ;skewed sample of limited size. I'm unconvinced any inferences would be valid.

Sociological/ Anthroplogical:The self reporting,interactionist model is notoriously unreliable. nor do I give much credence to psychological reductionism as the major or sole method of enquiry.

[Psychologic]

I realized after I made the first post that some folk would be uncomfortable with what I'm doing. I understand the hesitance, I'd be hesitant too.

The results I'm going to draw from these questions will be based in the following format, and I've done it publicly so that everyone can see the answers. As for the type of results, consider question #7.

7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.

If rated on a scale from -5 to +5 (-5 being lowest amount of financial income, +5 being the highest)...

then considering question #5 (rated the same way; -5 representing the weakest or no religious practises, +5 being the strongest)..

5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.

...we can establish the correlation between the economic status of parents, and the level of religious beliefs of our parents. While at this stage of data entry, the results arent accurate, further primary data collection will create more data. Notice I asked similar questions of each individual that I asked the individual about their parents. When the data from these two areas of questioning are combined, we can then combine the data of the individual, and the data of the individual's parents to form another correlation: the correlation between how much the socio-economic standings of decades past affected religious practises, and how much this relationship has changed, in regard to how much socio-economic standings affect religous practises today.

Now consider that I'm going to do the same with educational background, and you can see the potential for a large amount of data by which to conduct the testing. While these questions are broad, and many of them open-ended in some aspects, I can't really ask that detailed of information yet, as many of you don't know me. So then, in this instance, what I may lack in information quality, I can compensate somewhat for, in quantity.

For the record, I like to understand what's behind why humans think the way we do. In begining to understand how some of you made transitions, I can systematically relate, when I see the pattern, and in the process, have a chance to communicate with people. I live in a world where these kinds of questions turn heads in a negative way, not because they are semi-personal, but because they are a threat to the establishment of power. For me it's a chance to do what I've wanted to do since childhood, and get some practise/criticism along the way.

As I mentioned, I'm going to leave this up a while before I start gathering data. Perhaps with time, more people will become familiar with me, and be willing to trust me a little further. That is something worth waiting for :)

Thank you



Statistical ;skewed sample of limited size. I'm unconvinced any inferences would be valid.

Sociological/ Anthroplogical:The self reporting,interactionist model is notoriously unreliable. nor do I give much credence to psychological reductionism as the major or sole method of enquiry.

When I'm done Seamus, I'll remove any doubts you have. But keep in mind, the self-reporting/interactionist style here, is the type of test I'm conducting. I don't expect the result to be anything beyond self-reporting/interaction based. Would be highly unlikely that I could get different results on an internet forum.

I will also add Seamus, that while your lack of credence to psycholgical reductionism is noted, the only arguement for or against such a method, is a battle between the societal conditioning aspect versus the source of societal aspect being a result of the individual. I am a firm believer in that society is a result of the individual, not the other way around. Guilty as charged!

[atheist_angel]

The results I'm going to draw from these questions will be based in the following format, and I've done it publicly so that everyone can see the answers. As for the type of results, consider question #7.

7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.

If rated on a scale from -5 to +5 (-5 being lowest amount of financial income, +5 being the highest)...

then considering question #5 (rated the same way; -5 representing the weakest or no religious practises, +5 being the strongest)..

5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.

...we can establish the correlation between the economic status of parents, and the level of religious beliefs of our parents. While at this stage of data entry, the results arent accurate, further primary data collection will create more data. Notice I asked similar questions of each individual that I asked the individual about their parents. When the data from these two areas of questioning are combined, we can then combine the data of the individual, and the data of the individual's parents to form another correlation: the correlation between how much the socio-economic standings of decades past affected religious practises, and how much this relationship has changed, in regard to how much socio-economic standings affect religous practises today.

Now consider that I'm going to do the same with educational background, and you can see the potential for a large amount of data by which to conduct the testing. While these questions are broad, and many of them open-ended in some aspects, I can't really ask that detailed of information yet, as many of you don't know me. So then, in this instance, what I may lack in information quality, I can compensate somewhat for, in quantity.
My life was all about extremes. Sometime we went hungry and didn't have money for tp; and sometimes we were buying houses and hotrods. When I say fluctuate, I mean fluctuate. (Maybe I don't fit into your box?)that's fine. I guess I'm just gonna have to let you figure it out.

-Angel

[Sir Patrick Crocodile]

I want to conduct a survey here in Fantasy Island, of my fellow residents and athiest friends of AFA (although the athiest's opinions will likely be the same, each background will be different), and then use the results to create statistics data. Nothing too complicated.

As opposed to one large pool of believers or non-believers, I want to inquire about a few areas specific to each replyer. This is an analysis of as many people possible in the AFA forum, based upon the following information.

[QUOTE=Psychologic;62417]1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)I am an unbeliever.

2.) Briefly describe your living enviroment during developmental stages (relationship with parents, quick ratio of postive/negative memories).With parents, sent to abusive "madrassa" despite my protests, beaten up in front of churches and mosques, occasionally beaten by teachers, labeled as a menace.

3.) Where you lived, throughout the larger part of your developmental stage. (country, state, city).Not sure what that means.

4.) If there were significant (different country or state) relocations during this period, where to?India->Australia->India->Australia......

5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.Islam - where Ned Kelly impersonation attempts fail spectacularly.

6.) Notable changes in the faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.They get outraged whenever you criticize Islam but do not get outraged at what Muslims are doing around the planet. Claim that they are right and everybody else is wrong, and assures you that that is not really what they are saying.

7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.Poor

8.) Overall access to and type of education received during childhood development.A huge pile of shit. Two Christian schools, and a few public schools. Early schooling was specialized education, not mainstreamed until late Year 1 or 2 from memory. Started school a few months late.

9.) If you left home, your first place of residence after leaving home and the cirumstance/reason for the move.N/A

10.) Access to and type of education after grade school levels, and location/name of educational facility (if any).University of New South Wales

11.) The first change in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home (if any).N/A

12.) Subsequent changes in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home, leading up to the present.N/A

13.) Notable occurences or events that would have affected or influence your faith/non-faith at present.Where do I start? September 11 and suicide bombers galore are making me less tolerant to faith and religion. And also, I am funding those fucks with my taxes. :mad:

14.) Has your current faith/non-faith changed over the years or is it still in the same general area (continuation of what you've always felt)?It certainly has. I still can't believed I used to be a stupid brainwashed prick when I was a kid. :(

15.) If there has been change, what are the most significant of the changes?I am smarter and less tolerant to bullshit. I can do more because I am not clouded with religion, and do not have the threat of eternal damnation when I die.

16.) What contributed most to the change?Being expelled from a Christian school only to find out that I have autism, despite the fact that Allah and God both made me in their own image. I suspect there was some serious competition between the two.

17.) Look at where you are today, from a mental perspective, in terms of faith/non-faith. What do you feel is the largest benefit/accomplishment as a result?The largest benefit/accomplishment is that now I no longer have the threat of hell hanging over my head, and so I am free to do whatever. Although the reason I do not kill people or stone children etcetera, is not because I follow any book. It is a biological thing. To be honest, we should not need to have laws in place for prevention of this sort of thing, but there are a few crackpots out there who will do it, so it is necessary.

[LeeC]

I must be bored tonight... OK, so a game of 20 questions right?

1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)


Be specific? interesting - You have not asked me what it is I may or may not believe IN.

Assuming you are talking about a Christian God - non-believer.

2.) Briefly describe your living enviroment during developmental stages (relationship with parents, quick ratio of postive/negative memories).


Have a wonderful life so far... love my family, all positive memories.

So, no... never hated my father, he never beat me... and I still love a beer with him when I can.


I have never hated God or Jesus either BTW, just never seen any reason to believe in them - shocking I know.


3.) Where you lived, throughout the larger part of your developmental stage. (country, state, city).


England – though I still think I am developing now thanks, I try not to stop thinking, when I do it will be the death of me.

4.) If there were significant (different country or state) relocations during this period, where to?


I grew up in a wonder town called Burnley until I was 18 years, then went on holiday for a year, then to uni, then started working...


5.) Faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.

My parents were professionals – they didn’t need to practice.

Seriously though – no religion in my house hold as such, but it was only a couple of years ago my father came out as an atheist (He finally read the bible after much suggestion from me)

6.) Notable changes in the faith/non-faith practices of your parents or guardians during this period.


No change... gods rather came up in discussions until I was 16+


7.) Socio-economic status of your household during childhood development.


Parents had jobs, this paid for things....

8.) Overall access to and type of education received during childhood development.


Ended up at university gaining a physics with astrophysics bachelor of science with honours .

I always felt if I read more books as a child I could have done something with my life. Never did like reading...


9.) If you left home, your first place of residence after leaving home and the cirumstance/reason for the move.


I went to live with my sister for a year when i left home at 18 because she left to a place called Aus-tral-ia and it sounded good.

Then had to go back ‘home’ to uni but never living with my parents again. It is was students do...

10.) Access to and type of education after grade school levels, and location/name of educational facility (if any).


University of Leeds.

11.) The first change in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home (if any).


When I was very young and naive, I supported Liverpool FC but soon grew up and changed my faith to Burnley :-)

This was as close to a faith change that I ever had.


Apart from that... I didn't believe in gods when I was a baby, still don't


Can you give me any reason why I should change this position?


12.) Subsequent changes in your faith/non-faith practises after leaving home, leading up to the present.


These questions and looping a bit.

13.) Notable occurences or events that would have affected or influence your faith/non-faith at present.

Next...

14.) Has your current faith/non-faith changed over the years or is it still in the same general area (continuation of what you've always felt)?


I’ve been to church, went to a Roman Catholic college when i was 16 to see if I could learn anything from them

Learned nothing about the evidence for gods, but I did get A-levels in Physics, Chemistry and Maths

15.) If there has been change, what are the most significant of the changes?

Next...

16.) What contributed most to the change?

Next...

17.) Look at where you are today, from a mental perspective, in terms of faith/non-faith. What do you feel is the largest benefit/accomplishment as a result?


Education in science... it gets results, and shows up what is false.


Sorry, these questions were not very good... still, wasted 10 mins:)


Lee

[Psychologic]

My life was all about extremes. Sometime we went hungry and didn't have money for tp; and sometimes we were buying houses and hotrods. When I say fluctuate, I mean fluctuate. (Maybe I don't fit into your box?)that's fine. I guess I'm just gonna have to let you figure it out.

-Angel

Well lets say A= Economic Lower Class/Poor, B= Economic Middle Class, C= Economic Upper Class.

Was it a perfect fluctuation in terms of duration (y)? In other words was your situation (Ay=By=Cy)? A person could average out this info when posting if they wanted, it would help obtain better results.

You said, maybe you didn't fit into my box. Be honest with me if you would. Does what I'm attempting seem that closed-off? I am open to criticism, and can change things (already have, several times).

[Psychologic]

I must be bored tonight... OK, so a game of 20 questions right?

1.) Are you a believer or non-believer (if a believer, be specific)


Be specific? interesting - You have not asked me what it is I may or may not believe IN.

Assuming you are talking about a Christian God - non-believer.


Hey friend, if you are bored, I'm just your friendly Fantasy Island resident, here to entertain lol.


When I asked are you a believer (and then asked the individual to be specific) I didn't specify christianity. It was an invitiation for the poster to infact share their belief.

Apparently, I not only suck at surveys, my English is horrible too!

Thank you for posting your info regardless :)

[LeeC]

Hey friend, if you are bored, I'm just your friendly Fantasy Island resident, here to entertain lol.

So, do you do party tricks?

Have to say, not sure what you will get out of your questions.

You might get to know us better - but as surveys go... could do better.

Thank you for posting your info though, and taking part

As I said, not sure what you will get out of it.


When is asked are you a believer (and then asked the individual to be specific) I didn't specify christianity. It was an invitiation for the poster to infact share their belief.

You asked me if I was a non-believer, but didn't state what it was that I may or may not believe IN

It is as simple as that.

You wanted the believer to be specific, but you didn’t bother to ask me what it is I don’t believe in – which, to be honest... I don’t know what it is I don’t believe me – I need a definition first.

You tell me what type of god you believe in, make some positive claims and descriptions about this god.... and I will then tell you why I don't believe (assuming this is the case)

Other than that - what you have asked is meaningless I think

Take care

Lee

[Psychologic]

So, do you do party tricks?

Have to say, not sure what you will get out of your questions.

You might get to know us better - but as surveys go... could do better.



As I said, not sure what you will get out of it.




You asked me if I was a non-believer, but didn't state what it was that I may or may not believe IN

It is as simple as that.

You wanted the believer to be specific, but you didn’t bother to ask me what it is I don’t believe in – which, to be honest... I don’t know what it is I don’t believe me – I need a definition first.

You tell me what type of god you believe in, make some positive claims and descriptions about this god.... and I will then tell you why I don't believe (assuming this is the case)

Other than that - what you have asked is meaningless I think

Take care

Lee

Good point. Alrighty, well I tried. Thanks anyway AFA.

[Praxis]

Hmph. Chopped liver again. I put quite a lot of effort and time into my responses last night and did I even get a thank you? Noooo.

So if anyone's going to flounce out of this thread, Mr Survery (fully sic), it will be me.

[LeeC]

Good point. Alrighty, well I tried. Thanks anyway AFA.

Always happy to talk

Lee

[LeeC]

Divine Knob Twiddler

Now why would anyone find that funny?

Poor Dawkins...

[Praxis]

Now why would anyone find that funny?

Poor Dawkins...
You see ... now that I've met you, I can never take anything you write seriously again because now I can hear your voice and see your expresion.

HAH! Your cover is blown :D

(anyway, I was a Divine Knob Twiddler long before RD mentioned it publicly :p )

[atheist_angel]

Well lets say A= Economic Lower Class/Poor, B= Economic Middle Class, C= Economic Upper Class.

Was it a perfect fluctuation in terms of duration (y)? In other words was your situation (Ay=By=Cy)? A person could average out this info when posting if they wanted, it would help obtain better results.

You said, maybe you didn't fit into my box. Be honest with me if you would. Does what I'm attempting seem that closed-off? I am open to criticism, and can change things (already have, several times).Does what your attempting seem closed off? Not at all, I just think you're trying to go by averages. There is a big difference between fluctuation and consistence. The psychological impact would not the same. It does not fit into an average-box. (IMO)

Now you might be a bit closed off in other regards, but I don't know why. People seem to like you just fine. You've got nothing to worry about.

You should try asking people out right 'why they believe what they believe'. Those that have had to overcome indoctrination have put themselves through all kinds of *cringe* soul searching.

disclaimer: I do not believe in a soul. And I hate that language is infused with all these terms that imply otherwise.

-Angel

[Seamus]

I'm sorry he's gone and sorry if I misjudged him.

Would love to reply to his response to my post,but I won't bother as he won't read it. My disagreement is academic,not personal.

My distrust is due to cynical paranoia,and is not personal either.

I agree that the poor chap encountered an unexpected culture shock. I think he missed an opportunity.For a psychologist, I think trawling through threads of an atheist forum could be most useful.

True, a few people sledged him a little, but no one called him a cunt. Yes, I think he may be a little thin skinned,unlike the rest of us.:p

[nari]

I somehow doubt he is a psychologist. Something didn't hang right with his approach. However, I think he had an interest in our responses but couldn't/wouldn't express it academically.

nari

[Davoz]

I want to conduct a survey here in Fantasy Island, of my fellow residents and athiest friends of AFA (although the athiest's opinions will likely be the same, each background will be different), and then use the results to create statistics data. Nothing too complicated.

As opposed to one large pool of believers or non-believers, I want to inquire about a few areas specific to each replyer. This is an analysis of as many people possible in the AFA forum, based upon the following information.


I've no problem with your informal survey as such, but I haven't responded so far not because I'm reluctant to answer most of your questions but because I'm having difficulty with your grounding assumption that there are people who believe things and people who don't. I might be seen as a party-pooper raising quibbles, but I do suggest that this grounding assumption is fundamentally misleading.

Having beliefs about things is fundamental to being human. You can't be a normally functioning human without holding beliefs (whether they're ephemeral or stable over long periods of time). I'm sure I don't need to give examples, because it happens as soon as you get up in the morning. To see why the grounding assumption is wrong, simply ask the question: 'If there are people who don't have beliefs about things, what is it that they have in the place of beliefs to enable them to function normally?'

Could I ask you to clarify?