Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Evolutionism

2015-06-22T17:37:47Z

Chinken: make more concise

'''Evolutionism''' is the ''advocacy of or belief in biological evolution'' - the idea that all humans and animals are continually changing to adapt to their environment.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Usage+and+context+of+%22evolutionism%22 "Evolutionism"] (2009). ''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language'', 4th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin). Retrieved from The Free Dictionary on September 14, 2014.</ref> It is a contrast to [[creationism]]. Therefore one who ''believes in or supports a [[evolution|theory of evolution]]''<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evolutionist "Evolutionist"]. ''Random House Dictionary''. (New York: Random House). Retrieved from Dictionary.com Unabridged on September 14, 2014.</ref> would be referred to as an ''evolutionist''. Evolutionism, used in a general sense, encompasses ''any'' type of biological evolutionist. Broken down into two categories, "Evolutionism" and "Evolutionists" usually involve Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists (evolution without God) and Theistic Evolutionists (evolution with God). Those categories can be further broken down, but they are the main two.

The term evolutionism is used differently in different circles of thought. Generally [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] use it as a reference to what they believe is the [[worldview]] or [[presupposition]] aspect of the scientific theory of evolution. The term is not necessarily used as a worldview unto itself, but is more based off of and is possibly an extension of a variety of other worldviews including [[Materialism]], [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]]<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA601.html "CA601: Evolution and naturalism"] (2004). TalkOrigins Archive. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.
*CreationWiki response: [http://creationwiki.org/CA601 "Evolution requires naturalism (Talk.Origins)"] (2014). CreationWiki. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>, and [[Humanism]] in its broadest sense. Many that hold to the theory of evolution are [[Atheism|atheists]] as well, but this does not represent the entirety or whole.
{{cquote|''Evolutionism is a '''world-view''', which seeks to explain every aspect of this world in which we live. It encompasses a wide variety of topics, from astronomy to chemistry to biology. At its core, it teaches that there were different stages in the evolution of our universe...''<ref>[http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/evolutionism.htm "Evolutionism—A broad overview"] (2007). All About Philosophy. Accessed on September 14, 2014.</ref>}}

==Theistic Evolution==
[[Theistic Evolution|Theistic Evolutionists]] believe that God created the universe and did not intervene directly in the evolutionary process. In general, theistic evolutionists accept the evolutionist ideas of the age of the earth and common descent. Theistic evolutionists believe that at some point God intervened in a metaphysical fashion to give souls to some small group of human ancestors. The Catholic Church holds that this is consistent with the Catholic faith.<ref>Brumley, Mark (January/February 1997). [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Dossier/0102-97/Article3.html "Evolution and the pope"]. ''Catholic Dossier''. Retrieved from Catholic.net as archived at Internet Archive on September 14, 2014.</ref>
Roughly twice as many people in the U.S. believe in this type of evolution (30%), as opposed to godless evolution that most atheists believe in (just a mere 13% of people). However both of these combined is still less people than the amount of people who believe in Young Earth Creation (48%), as told by the Bible<ref>College politico (2008). [http://hubpages.com/hub/Poll-Most-Americans-Dont-Believe-Evolution "Poll: Most Americans don't believe evolution"]. ''HubPages''. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>.

==Foundational question/starting point==
All the viewpoints take a ''step of faith'' as some might refer to it. In other words, there is a common starting point or foundational question (it's a God-related question) that each one asks, and then forms their conclusions around.

===According to biblical Creationists (Young Earth)===
* God exists (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that "God exists"
**** The Bible comes ''before'' science. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to biblical Theistic Evolutionists (Old Earth)===
There is disagreement among [[Theistic Evolution]]ists, as not all hold that God is not involved presently in His creation.

'''Impersonal God'''
* There is no personal/involved God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that God is not involved in His creation
**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Personal God'''
* There is a personal/involved God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that there is a "personal God"
**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to Atheistic Evolutionists===
Some proponents of the scientific theory of evolution reject the idea of a philosophy or worldview that guides their conclusions in scientific experimentation. However evolutionists who are 'strong atheists' and who make a positive assertion that there is no God, do in fact have a worldview; whereas 'weak atheists', who maintain there is probably no God due to lack of any objective evidence of Him, rely on science.

'''Strong Atheism'''
* There is no God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis of there being no God (i.e. [[naturalism]])
**** Naturalism comes ''before'' the science. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Weak Atheism'''
* So far, there is no objective proof of God
** Therefore, we do not need to interpret evidence to fit in with the "fact" of God's existence
*** Thus science is not done on the basis of there being a God (i.e. [[naturalism]]) (unless His existence becomes objectively proven)
**** For [[Weak Atheism|weak atheists]], science comes before [[Naturalism]]. They (presumably) base their worldview on the Science.

===Comparison===
The various viewpoints can be compared in general ways as they all have some sort of starting point. The general Creationist starting point is God, which then all the universe is based on including that of science. Some ''Theistic Evolutionists'' hold to a similar God idea, yet emphasize a somewhat secondary origin<ref>Some Theistic Evolutionists believe that God created the universe and yet He is no longer involved in it. Therefore "secondary origin" is referring to the idea that God is the origin of the universe, but not necessarily ''You and Me''.</ref> in the evolutionary process. Atheistic evolutionists say that we must prove God by science, therefore their intellectual starting point is science itself.

==Controversy==
===Usage of terminology===
The term ''evolutionism'' uses the suffix ''-ism'', which is commonly used to designate varieties of philosophical opinion, and some people who support evolution prefer to use other terms. Others are happy to call themselves evolutionists, and the terms have been in common use for a century. For example, the most popular American proponent of evolution called himself an evolutionist,<ref>"I count myself among the evolutionists", Gould, Stephen J. (May 1981). [http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html "Evolution as fact and theory"], ''Discover'', vol. 2, pp. 34-37. Retrieved from the Unofficial Stephen Jay Gould Archive on September 14, 2014. Also "Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory".</ref> and his obituary read "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead".<ref>Davidson, Keay (May 21, 2002). [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/05/21/MN175165.DTL "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead / Paleontologist proposed punctuated equilibrium theory"]. ''San Francisco Chronicle''. Retrieved from SFGate on September 14, 2014.</ref> This is all part of the controversy over evolution itself (see [[Origins debate]]).

Some Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists say that the term ''Evolutionism'' is simply a false Creationist perception, or pejorative assertion that science represents merely another religion. They disagree that the theory of evolution is based on a [[philosophy]] or [[worldview]]. They say that the perception finds no grounding in reality, other than as a rhetorical dramatization. However, according to creationists, this disagreement arises from a misunderstanding of terms. Biblical [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] hold both terms in philosophically equal light, up to a certain point. They would say that the term "Evolutionism" has the same or very similar meaning to "Creationism" as it relates to a supposed philosophical/foundational starting point or question (does God exist?). They say the term "Evolutionism" refers to a subset of a combination of worldviews, while the scientific theory of evolution is the result of the ''Evolutionist'' presupposition. In other words, they say that Evolutionism is the collective worldview behind the scientific theory of evolution. However, that's where the similarities end with Creationism.

===Religion and Evolutionism===
Some Creationists point out that they see various religious aspects, not in the theory of evolution itself (although they don't exclude that necessarily), but in the Evolutionists themselves. Some will say how Evolutionists have a ''religious fervor'' over what Creationists believe is false science. Some Evolutionists have historically misunderstood this for Creationists labeling science itself as a religion. Dr. Marjorie Grene, a philosopher, put it this way in her article "The Faith of Darwinism" (emphasis added):
{{cquote|''Today the tables are turned. The modified, but still characteristically Darwinian theory has itself become an orthodoxy, preached by its adherents with '''religious fervor''', and doubted, they feel, only by a few muddlers imperfect in scientific faith.''<ref name="mgreen" />}}

Evolution has been a recent source of controversy in the [[United States]]<ref>Linder, Doug (2014). [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/conlaw/evolution.htm "The evolution controversy"]. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law website. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>. Some prominent Americans seriously question evolution<ref>BSR (May 6, 2007). [http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com/2007/05/mike-huckabee-does-not-believe-in.html "Mike Huckabee does not believe in evolution alone"]. Mike Huckabee President 2016. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>, based on a feeling that it conflicts with religious beliefs. However, according to Evolutionists, at least one aspect of religion and evolution is not mutually exclusive. Some deeply religious evolutionists believe that God set evolution into effect, which is no detraction to His majesty. This is referring to the theory of [[Theistic Evolution]].

===Religiosity and the cult of personality surrounding Charles Darwin===
There is a cult of personality and type of religiosity currently surrounding Charles Darwin. [[Stephen Jay Gould]] wrote the following in 1978: "[A]ll theories [of natural selection] cite God in their support, and ... Darwin comes close to this status among evolutionary biologists".<ref name="Cult">Bradbury, Andrew J. (2006). [http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html "Part 1: Metaphors and myths"]. Charles Darwin—The Truth?, part 1, sec. "Darwinism as a Religion", par. 1. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref> In 2002, Michael White similarly wrote: "Of course today, for biologists, Darwin is second only to God, and for many he may rank still higher."<ref name="Cult"/>

===Biblical Young Earth Creationist's problem with a Biblical Old Earth===
Taking the Bible literally, there are no gaps permitting an undocumented period of time between the creation week and the fall of the temple in Jerusalem in 587 BC <ref>Redinger, Ruby (2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070701035655/http://web.newsguy.com/rubyredinger/age.html "Biblical age of the Earth"]. Biblical Age of the Earth. Retrieved on September 15, 2014 from July 1, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>, which is well established by archaeology and secular history. Accordingly, the creation of Adam can be placed at approximately 4,163 BC and the initial creation of the universe six days prior.

==Quotes supporting the position that evolutionism requires faith<ref>[http://www.nwcreation.net/evolutionquotes.html "Evolutionism quotes"] (2004). Northwest Creation Network. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>==
{{cquote|'''J.W.N. Sullivan (science author)''' ''The hypothesis that life has developed from inorganic matter is, at present, still an article of faith....''<ref>Sullivan, John W.N. (1933). ''The Limitations of Science'' (New York: The Viking Press), p. 95. Quoted in review by [http://books.google.com/books?id=EPoPAAAAIAAJ&q=%22The+hypothesis+that+life+has+developed+from+inorganic+matter+is,+at+present,+still+an+article+of+faith,+although+various+chemists+have+put+forward+various+hypothetical+accounts+as+to+how+they+think+it+might+have+been+done%22&dq=%22The+hypothesis+that+life+has+developed+from+inorganic+matter+is,+at+present,+still+an+article+of+faith,+although+various+chemists+have+put+forward+various+hypothetical+accounts+as+to+how+they+think+it+might+have+been+done%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LzwaVKkn5_PwAd-cgeAP&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA ''New Catholic World'' [preview]], vol. 138, p. 520. Preview retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. M.G. Grene''' ''Today the tables are turned. The modified, but still characteristically Darwinian theory has itself become an orthodoxy, preached by its adherents with religious fervor, and doubted, they feel, only by a few muddlers imperfect in scientific faith.''<ref name="mgreen">Grene, Marjorie (November 1959). "The Faith of Darwinism". ''Encounter'', p. 49. Reprinted in Grene, Marjorie (1974), [http://books.google.com/books?id=BUL8BAAhg4YC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=%22characteristically+Darwinian+theory+has+itself+become+an+orthodoxy,%22&source=bl&ots=QmawriJpLu&sig=6Gu2gx0X5pIQkM31bX9PkMs5Klk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eCwaVM6gG5TP8QHNhIGQCg&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22characteristically%20Darwinian%20theory%20has%20itself%20become%20an%20orthodoxy%2C%22&f=false ''The Knower and the Known''] (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press), p. 187. Retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. L.H. Matthews''' ''The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded on an unproved theory—is it then a science or faith?''<ref>Matthews, L. Harrison (1972), "Introduction" to Darwin, Charles (1872), ''The Origin of Species'', 6th ed. (London: J. M. Dent), pp. x-xi. Quoted in "Evolutionism quotes".</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. [[R.L. Wysong]]''' ''"Evolution requires plenty of faith; a faith in L-proteins that defy chance formation; a faith in the formation of DNA codes which, if generated spontaneously, would spell only pandemonium; a faith in a primitive environment that, in reality, would fiendishly devour any chemical precursors to life; a faith in experiments that prove nothing but the need for intelligence in the beginning; a faith in a primitive ocean that would not thicken, but would only haplessly dilute chemicals; a faith in natural laws of thermodynamics and biogenesis that actually deny the possibility for the spontaneous generation of life; a faith in future scientific revelations that, when realized, always seem to present more dilemmas to the evolutionists; faith in improbabilities that treasonously tell two stories—one denying evolution, the other confirming the creator; faith in transformations that remain fixed; faith in mutations and natural selection that add to a double negative for evolution; faith in fossils that embarrassingly show fixity through time, regular absence of transitional forms and striking testimony to a worldwide water deluge; a faith in time which proves to only promote degradation in the absence of mind; and faith in reductionism that ends up reducing the materialist's arguments to zero and forcing the need to invoke a supernatural creator."''<ref>Wysong, R.L. (1976). [http://books.google.com/books?id=yNev8Y-xN8YC&pg=PA419&dq=wysong+controversy+%22requires+plenty+of+faith%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RzgaVKW4FMXy8AHjgYGwAQ&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=wysong%20controversy%20%22requires%20plenty%20of%20faith%22&f=false ''The Creation-Evolution Controversy''] (Midland, MI: Inquiry Press), p. 419. Retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. T.M. Lessl''' ''By calling evolution fact, the process of evolution is removed from dispute; it is no longer merely a scientific construct, but now stands apart from humankind and its perceptual frailties. Sagan apparently wishes to accomplish what Peter Berger calls "objectification," the attribution of objective reality to a humanly produced concept . . With evolution no longer regarded as a mere human construct, but now as a part of the natural order of the cosmos, evolution becomes a sacred archetype against which human actions can be weighed. Evolution is a sacred object or process in that it becomes endowed with mysterious and awesome power.''<ref>Lessl, Thomas M. (1985). "Science and the sacred cosmos: the ideological rhetoric of Carl Sagan". ''Quarterly Journal of Speech'', vol. 71, no. 2, p. 178. Quoted in "Evolutionism quotes".</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. [[Michael Ruse|M. Ruse]] (evolutionist)''' ''Evolution is promoted by its practitioners as more than mere science. Evolution is promulgated as an ideology, a [[secular religion]] — a full-fledged alternative to Christianity, with meaning and morality. I am an ardent evolutionist and an ex-Christian, but I must admit that in this one complaint — and Mr. Gish is but one of many to make it — the literalists are absolutely right. Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.''<ref>Ruse, Michael (May 13, 2000). [http://www.omniology.com/HowEvolutionBecameReligion.html "Saving Darwinism from the Darwinians."]. ''National Post'', p. B-3. Retrieved from Omniology.com as "How evolution became a religion" on September 15, 2014. Caution: may be copyrighted; for fair educational use only.</ref>}}

==See also==
*[[Creationism]]
*[[Faith]]
*[[Humanism]]
*[[Naturalistic religions]]
*[[Religion]]
*[[Theism]]
*[[Creationism's Trojan Horse]]
*[[Open Question: Why Do evolutionists say 'science is all about making changes' yet don't even consider Biblical Creation as an alternative?]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Creation vs. evolution}}
==External links==
'''Notes'''
:'''''Affirmative''' articles that attempt to rebut the faith claim of creationists.''
:'''''Critical''' articles that claim evolutionism involves faith.''

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
! Affirmative !! Critical
|-
| valign="top" width="50%"|
'''TalkOrigins'''
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA612.html CA612: Evolution requiring faith]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_requires_as_much_faith_as_creationism CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA610.html CA610: Evolution religious]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA001.html CA001: Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolphil/metaphysics.html Evolution and Philosophy: Metaphysics]
'''EvoWiki'''
*[http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]

| valign="top" width="50%"|
'''DrDino'''
* [http://www.drdino.com/articles.php?spec=25 Evolution Is Based On Modern Myths]
'''Creationists.org'''
* [http://www.creationists.org/evolutionisreligion.html Evolution is a Religion]
'''Northwest Creation Network'''
* [http://www.nwcreation.net/evolutionism.html Evolutionism - Is Evolution a religion?]
'''Creation Ministries International'''
* [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1491/ Evolution as religion]
* [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4139 Leading anti-creationist philosopher admits that evolution is a religion]
'''Answers in Genesis'''
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0930religion.asp The Religion of Evolution]
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/the-lie/chapter2.asp Evolution is Religion]
'''CreationWiki'''
*[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_requires_as_much_faith_as_creationism Evolution requires as much faith as creationism] - Rebuttal of TalkOrigins Archive
*[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion Evolution is a religion] - Rebuttal of TalkOrigins Archive
'''Institute for Creation Research'''
* [http://www.icr.org/article/201/ Evolution is Religion, not Science (1)], [http://www.icr.org/article/455/ (2)]
|}

[[Category:Naturalism]]

Evolutionism

2015-06-22T17:36:14Z

Chinken: explain exactly what the myth of evolution is

'''Evolutionism''' is the ''advocacy of or belief in biological evolution'' - the idea that all humans and animals are continually changing to adapt to their environment.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Usage+and+context+of+%22evolutionism%22 "Evolutionism"] (2009). ''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language'', 4th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin). Retrieved from The Free Dictionary on September 14, 2014.</ref> It is a contrast to [[creationism]]. Therefore one who ''believes in or supports a [[evolution|theory of evolution]]''<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evolutionist "Evolutionist"]. ''Random House Dictionary''. (New York: Random House). Retrieved from Dictionary.com Unabridged on September 14, 2014.</ref> would be referred to as an ''evolutionist''. Evolutionism, used in a general sense, encompasses ''any'' type of biological evolutionist. Broken down into two categories, "Evolutionism" and "Evolutionists" usually involve Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists (evolution without God) and Theistic Evolutionists (evolution with God). Those categories can be further broken down, but they are the main two.

The term evolutionism is used differently in different circles of thought. Generally [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] use it as a reference to what they believe is the [[worldview]] or [[presupposition]] aspect of the scientific theory of evolution. The term is not necessarily used as a worldview unto itself, but is more based off of and is possibly an extension of a variety of other worldviews including [[Materialism]], [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]]<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA601.html "CA601: Evolution and naturalism"] (2004). TalkOrigins Archive. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.
*CreationWiki response: [http://creationwiki.org/CA601 "Evolution requires naturalism (Talk.Origins)"] (2014). CreationWiki. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>, and [[Humanism]] in its broadest sense. Many that hold to the theory of evolution have been known to be [[Atheism|atheists]] as well, but this does not represent the entirety or whole.
{{cquote|''Evolutionism is a '''world-view''', which seeks to explain every aspect of this world in which we live. It encompasses a wide variety of topics, from astronomy to chemistry to biology. At its core, it teaches that there were different stages in the evolution of our universe...''<ref>[http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/evolutionism.htm "Evolutionism—A broad overview"] (2007). All About Philosophy. Accessed on September 14, 2014.</ref>}}

==Theistic Evolution==
[[Theistic Evolution|Theistic Evolutionists]] believe that God created the universe and did not intervene directly in the evolutionary process. In general, theistic evolutionists accept the evolutionist ideas of the age of the earth and common descent. Theistic evolutionists believe that at some point God intervened in a metaphysical fashion to give souls to some small group of human ancestors. The Catholic Church holds that this is consistent with the Catholic faith.<ref>Brumley, Mark (January/February 1997). [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Dossier/0102-97/Article3.html "Evolution and the pope"]. ''Catholic Dossier''. Retrieved from Catholic.net as archived at Internet Archive on September 14, 2014.</ref>
Roughly twice as many people in the U.S. believe in this type of evolution (30%), as opposed to godless evolution that most atheists believe in (just a mere 13% of people). However both of these combined is still less people than the amount of people who believe in Young Earth Creation (48%), as told by the Bible<ref>College politico (2008). [http://hubpages.com/hub/Poll-Most-Americans-Dont-Believe-Evolution "Poll: Most Americans don't believe evolution"]. ''HubPages''. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>.

==Foundational question/starting point==
All the viewpoints take a ''step of faith'' as some might refer to it. In other words, there is a common starting point or foundational question (it's a God-related question) that each one asks, and then forms their conclusions around.

===According to biblical Creationists (Young Earth)===
* God exists (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that "God exists"
**** The Bible comes ''before'' science. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to biblical Theistic Evolutionists (Old Earth)===
There is disagreement among [[Theistic Evolution]]ists, as not all hold that God is not involved presently in His creation.

'''Impersonal God'''
* There is no personal/involved God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that God is not involved in His creation
**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Personal God'''
* There is a personal/involved God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that there is a "personal God"
**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to Atheistic Evolutionists===
Some proponents of the scientific theory of evolution reject the idea of a philosophy or worldview that guides their conclusions in scientific experimentation. However evolutionists who are 'strong atheists' and who make a positive assertion that there is no God, do in fact have a worldview; whereas 'weak atheists', who maintain there is probably no God due to lack of any objective evidence of Him, rely on science.

'''Strong Atheism'''
* There is no God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis of there being no God (i.e. [[naturalism]])
**** Naturalism comes ''before'' the science. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Weak Atheism'''
* So far, there is no objective proof of God
** Therefore, we do not need to interpret evidence to fit in with the "fact" of God's existence
*** Thus science is not done on the basis of there being a God (i.e. [[naturalism]]) (unless His existence becomes objectively proven)
**** For [[Weak Atheism|weak atheists]], science comes before [[Naturalism]]. They (presumably) base their worldview on the Science.

===Comparison===
The various viewpoints can be compared in general ways as they all have some sort of starting point. The general Creationist starting point is God, which then all the universe is based on including that of science. Some ''Theistic Evolutionists'' hold to a similar God idea, yet emphasize a somewhat secondary origin<ref>Some Theistic Evolutionists believe that God created the universe and yet He is no longer involved in it. Therefore "secondary origin" is referring to the idea that God is the origin of the universe, but not necessarily ''You and Me''.</ref> in the evolutionary process. Atheistic evolutionists say that we must prove God by science, therefore their intellectual starting point is science itself.

==Controversy==
===Usage of terminology===
The term ''evolutionism'' uses the suffix ''-ism'', which is commonly used to designate varieties of philosophical opinion, and some people who support evolution prefer to use other terms. Others are happy to call themselves evolutionists, and the terms have been in common use for a century. For example, the most popular American proponent of evolution called himself an evolutionist,<ref>"I count myself among the evolutionists", Gould, Stephen J. (May 1981). [http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html "Evolution as fact and theory"], ''Discover'', vol. 2, pp. 34-37. Retrieved from the Unofficial Stephen Jay Gould Archive on September 14, 2014. Also "Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory".</ref> and his obituary read "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead".<ref>Davidson, Keay (May 21, 2002). [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/05/21/MN175165.DTL "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead / Paleontologist proposed punctuated equilibrium theory"]. ''San Francisco Chronicle''. Retrieved from SFGate on September 14, 2014.</ref> This is all part of the controversy over evolution itself (see [[Origins debate]]).

Some Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists say that the term ''Evolutionism'' is simply a false Creationist perception, or pejorative assertion that science represents merely another religion. They disagree that the theory of evolution is based on a [[philosophy]] or [[worldview]]. They say that the perception finds no grounding in reality, other than as a rhetorical dramatization. However, according to creationists, this disagreement arises from a misunderstanding of terms. Biblical [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] hold both terms in philosophically equal light, up to a certain point. They would say that the term "Evolutionism" has the same or very similar meaning to "Creationism" as it relates to a supposed philosophical/foundational starting point or question (does God exist?). They say the term "Evolutionism" refers to a subset of a combination of worldviews, while the scientific theory of evolution is the result of the ''Evolutionist'' presupposition. In other words, they say that Evolutionism is the collective worldview behind the scientific theory of evolution. However, that's where the similarities end with Creationism.

===Religion and Evolutionism===
Some Creationists point out that they see various religious aspects, not in the theory of evolution itself (although they don't exclude that necessarily), but in the Evolutionists themselves. Some will say how Evolutionists have a ''religious fervor'' over what Creationists believe is false science. Some Evolutionists have historically misunderstood this for Creationists labeling science itself as a religion. Dr. Marjorie Grene, a philosopher, put it this way in her article "The Faith of Darwinism" (emphasis added):
{{cquote|''Today the tables are turned. The modified, but still characteristically Darwinian theory has itself become an orthodoxy, preached by its adherents with '''religious fervor''', and doubted, they feel, only by a few muddlers imperfect in scientific faith.''<ref name="mgreen" />}}

Evolution has been a recent source of controversy in the [[United States]]<ref>Linder, Doug (2014). [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/conlaw/evolution.htm "The evolution controversy"]. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law website. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>. Some prominent Americans seriously question evolution<ref>BSR (May 6, 2007). [http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com/2007/05/mike-huckabee-does-not-believe-in.html "Mike Huckabee does not believe in evolution alone"]. Mike Huckabee President 2016. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>, based on a feeling that it conflicts with religious beliefs. However, according to Evolutionists, at least one aspect of religion and evolution is not mutually exclusive. Some deeply religious evolutionists believe that God set evolution into effect, which is no detraction to His majesty. This is referring to the theory of [[Theistic Evolution]].

===Religiosity and the cult of personality surrounding Charles Darwin===
There is a cult of personality and type of religiosity currently surrounding Charles Darwin. [[Stephen Jay Gould]] wrote the following in 1978: "[A]ll theories [of natural selection] cite God in their support, and ... Darwin comes close to this status among evolutionary biologists".<ref name="Cult">Bradbury, Andrew J. (2006). [http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html "Part 1: Metaphors and myths"]. Charles Darwin—The Truth?, part 1, sec. "Darwinism as a Religion", par. 1. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref> In 2002, Michael White similarly wrote: "Of course today, for biologists, Darwin is second only to God, and for many he may rank still higher."<ref name="Cult"/>

===Biblical Young Earth Creationist's problem with a Biblical Old Earth===
Taking the Bible literally, there are no gaps permitting an undocumented period of time between the creation week and the fall of the temple in Jerusalem in 587 BC <ref>Redinger, Ruby (2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070701035655/http://web.newsguy.com/rubyredinger/age.html "Biblical age of the Earth"]. Biblical Age of the Earth. Retrieved on September 15, 2014 from July 1, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>, which is well established by archaeology and secular history. Accordingly, the creation of Adam can be placed at approximately 4,163 BC and the initial creation of the universe six days prior.

==Quotes supporting the position that evolutionism requires faith<ref>[http://www.nwcreation.net/evolutionquotes.html "Evolutionism quotes"] (2004). Northwest Creation Network. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>==
{{cquote|'''J.W.N. Sullivan (science author)''' ''The hypothesis that life has developed from inorganic matter is, at present, still an article of faith....''<ref>Sullivan, John W.N. (1933). ''The Limitations of Science'' (New York: The Viking Press), p. 95. Quoted in review by [http://books.google.com/books?id=EPoPAAAAIAAJ&q=%22The+hypothesis+that+life+has+developed+from+inorganic+matter+is,+at+present,+still+an+article+of+faith,+although+various+chemists+have+put+forward+various+hypothetical+accounts+as+to+how+they+think+it+might+have+been+done%22&dq=%22The+hypothesis+that+life+has+developed+from+inorganic+matter+is,+at+present,+still+an+article+of+faith,+although+various+chemists+have+put+forward+various+hypothetical+accounts+as+to+how+they+think+it+might+have+been+done%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LzwaVKkn5_PwAd-cgeAP&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA ''New Catholic World'' [preview]], vol. 138, p. 520. Preview retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. M.G. Grene''' ''Today the tables are turned. The modified, but still characteristically Darwinian theory has itself become an orthodoxy, preached by its adherents with religious fervor, and doubted, they feel, only by a few muddlers imperfect in scientific faith.''<ref name="mgreen">Grene, Marjorie (November 1959). "The Faith of Darwinism". ''Encounter'', p. 49. Reprinted in Grene, Marjorie (1974), [http://books.google.com/books?id=BUL8BAAhg4YC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=%22characteristically+Darwinian+theory+has+itself+become+an+orthodoxy,%22&source=bl&ots=QmawriJpLu&sig=6Gu2gx0X5pIQkM31bX9PkMs5Klk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eCwaVM6gG5TP8QHNhIGQCg&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22characteristically%20Darwinian%20theory%20has%20itself%20become%20an%20orthodoxy%2C%22&f=false ''The Knower and the Known''] (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press), p. 187. Retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. L.H. Matthews''' ''The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded on an unproved theory—is it then a science or faith?''<ref>Matthews, L. Harrison (1972), "Introduction" to Darwin, Charles (1872), ''The Origin of Species'', 6th ed. (London: J. M. Dent), pp. x-xi. Quoted in "Evolutionism quotes".</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. [[R.L. Wysong]]''' ''"Evolution requires plenty of faith; a faith in L-proteins that defy chance formation; a faith in the formation of DNA codes which, if generated spontaneously, would spell only pandemonium; a faith in a primitive environment that, in reality, would fiendishly devour any chemical precursors to life; a faith in experiments that prove nothing but the need for intelligence in the beginning; a faith in a primitive ocean that would not thicken, but would only haplessly dilute chemicals; a faith in natural laws of thermodynamics and biogenesis that actually deny the possibility for the spontaneous generation of life; a faith in future scientific revelations that, when realized, always seem to present more dilemmas to the evolutionists; faith in improbabilities that treasonously tell two stories—one denying evolution, the other confirming the creator; faith in transformations that remain fixed; faith in mutations and natural selection that add to a double negative for evolution; faith in fossils that embarrassingly show fixity through time, regular absence of transitional forms and striking testimony to a worldwide water deluge; a faith in time which proves to only promote degradation in the absence of mind; and faith in reductionism that ends up reducing the materialist's arguments to zero and forcing the need to invoke a supernatural creator."''<ref>Wysong, R.L. (1976). [http://books.google.com/books?id=yNev8Y-xN8YC&pg=PA419&dq=wysong+controversy+%22requires+plenty+of+faith%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RzgaVKW4FMXy8AHjgYGwAQ&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=wysong%20controversy%20%22requires%20plenty%20of%20faith%22&f=false ''The Creation-Evolution Controversy''] (Midland, MI: Inquiry Press), p. 419. Retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. T.M. Lessl''' ''By calling evolution fact, the process of evolution is removed from dispute; it is no longer merely a scientific construct, but now stands apart from humankind and its perceptual frailties. Sagan apparently wishes to accomplish what Peter Berger calls "objectification," the attribution of objective reality to a humanly produced concept . . With evolution no longer regarded as a mere human construct, but now as a part of the natural order of the cosmos, evolution becomes a sacred archetype against which human actions can be weighed. Evolution is a sacred object or process in that it becomes endowed with mysterious and awesome power.''<ref>Lessl, Thomas M. (1985). "Science and the sacred cosmos: the ideological rhetoric of Carl Sagan". ''Quarterly Journal of Speech'', vol. 71, no. 2, p. 178. Quoted in "Evolutionism quotes".</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. [[Michael Ruse|M. Ruse]] (evolutionist)''' ''Evolution is promoted by its practitioners as more than mere science. Evolution is promulgated as an ideology, a [[secular religion]] — a full-fledged alternative to Christianity, with meaning and morality. I am an ardent evolutionist and an ex-Christian, but I must admit that in this one complaint — and Mr. Gish is but one of many to make it — the literalists are absolutely right. Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.''<ref>Ruse, Michael (May 13, 2000). [http://www.omniology.com/HowEvolutionBecameReligion.html "Saving Darwinism from the Darwinians."]. ''National Post'', p. B-3. Retrieved from Omniology.com as "How evolution became a religion" on September 15, 2014. Caution: may be copyrighted; for fair educational use only.</ref>}}

==See also==
*[[Creationism]]
*[[Faith]]
*[[Humanism]]
*[[Naturalistic religions]]
*[[Religion]]
*[[Theism]]
*[[Creationism's Trojan Horse]]
*[[Open Question: Why Do evolutionists say 'science is all about making changes' yet don't even consider Biblical Creation as an alternative?]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Creation vs. evolution}}
==External links==
'''Notes'''
:'''''Affirmative''' articles that attempt to rebut the faith claim of creationists.''
:'''''Critical''' articles that claim evolutionism involves faith.''

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
! Affirmative !! Critical
|-
| valign="top" width="50%"|
'''TalkOrigins'''
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA612.html CA612: Evolution requiring faith]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_requires_as_much_faith_as_creationism CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA610.html CA610: Evolution religious]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA001.html CA001: Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolphil/metaphysics.html Evolution and Philosophy: Metaphysics]
'''EvoWiki'''
*[http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]

| valign="top" width="50%"|
'''DrDino'''
* [http://www.drdino.com/articles.php?spec=25 Evolution Is Based On Modern Myths]
'''Creationists.org'''
* [http://www.creationists.org/evolutionisreligion.html Evolution is a Religion]
'''Northwest Creation Network'''
* [http://www.nwcreation.net/evolutionism.html Evolutionism - Is Evolution a religion?]
'''Creation Ministries International'''
* [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1491/ Evolution as religion]
* [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4139 Leading anti-creationist philosopher admits that evolution is a religion]
'''Answers in Genesis'''
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0930religion.asp The Religion of Evolution]
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/the-lie/chapter2.asp Evolution is Religion]
'''CreationWiki'''
*[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_requires_as_much_faith_as_creationism Evolution requires as much faith as creationism] - Rebuttal of TalkOrigins Archive
*[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion Evolution is a religion] - Rebuttal of TalkOrigins Archive
'''Institute for Creation Research'''
* [http://www.icr.org/article/201/ Evolution is Religion, not Science (1)], [http://www.icr.org/article/455/ (2)]
|}

[[Category:Naturalism]]

Evolutionism

2015-06-22T17:35:20Z

Chinken: what about theistic evolutionists?

'''Evolutionism''', as opposed to [[Creationism]], is the ''advocacy of or belief in biological evolution''.<ref>[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Usage+and+context+of+%22evolutionism%22 "Evolutionism"] (2009). ''The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language'', 4th ed. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin). Retrieved from The Free Dictionary on September 14, 2014.</ref> Therefore one who ''believes in or supports a [[evolution|theory of evolution]]''<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/evolutionist "Evolutionist"]. ''Random House Dictionary''. (New York: Random House). Retrieved from Dictionary.com Unabridged on September 14, 2014.</ref> would be referred to as an ''evolutionist''. Evolutionism, used in a general sense, encompasses ''any'' type of biological evolutionist. Broken down into two categories, "Evolutionism" and "Evolutionists" usually involve Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists (evolution without God) and Theistic Evolutionists (evolution with God). Those categories can be further broken down, but they are the main two.

The term evolutionism is used differently in different circles of thought. Generally [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] use it as a reference to what they believe is the [[worldview]] or [[presupposition]] aspect of the scientific theory of evolution. The term is not necessarily used as a worldview unto itself, but is more based off of and is possibly an extension of a variety of other worldviews including [[Materialism]], [[Naturalism (philosophy)|Naturalism]]<ref>Multiple references:
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA601.html "CA601: Evolution and naturalism"] (2004). TalkOrigins Archive. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.
*CreationWiki response: [http://creationwiki.org/CA601 "Evolution requires naturalism (Talk.Origins)"] (2014). CreationWiki. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>, and [[Humanism]] in its broadest sense. Many that hold to the theory of evolution have been known to be [[Atheism|atheists]] as well, but this does not represent the entirety or whole.
{{cquote|''Evolutionism is a '''world-view''', which seeks to explain every aspect of this world in which we live. It encompasses a wide variety of topics, from astronomy to chemistry to biology. At its core, it teaches that there were different stages in the evolution of our universe...''<ref>[http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/evolutionism.htm "Evolutionism—A broad overview"] (2007). All About Philosophy. Accessed on September 14, 2014.</ref>}}

==Theistic Evolution==
[[Theistic Evolution|Theistic Evolutionists]] believe that God created the universe and did not intervene directly in the evolutionary process. In general, theistic evolutionists accept the evolutionist ideas of the age of the earth and common descent. Theistic evolutionists believe that at some point God intervened in a metaphysical fashion to give souls to some small group of human ancestors. The Catholic Church holds that this is consistent with the Catholic faith.<ref>Brumley, Mark (January/February 1997). [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Periodicals/Dossier/0102-97/Article3.html "Evolution and the pope"]. ''Catholic Dossier''. Retrieved from Catholic.net as archived at Internet Archive on September 14, 2014.</ref>
Roughly twice as many people in the U.S. believe in this type of evolution (30%), as opposed to godless evolution that most atheists believe in (just a mere 13% of people). However both of these combined is still less people than the amount of people who believe in Young Earth Creation (48%), as told by the Bible<ref>College politico (2008). [http://hubpages.com/hub/Poll-Most-Americans-Dont-Believe-Evolution "Poll: Most Americans don't believe evolution"]. ''HubPages''. Retrieved on September 14, 2014.</ref>.

==Foundational question/starting point==
All the viewpoints take a ''step of faith'' as some might refer to it. In other words, there is a common starting point or foundational question (it's a God-related question) that each one asks, and then forms their conclusions around.

===According to biblical Creationists (Young Earth)===
* God exists (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that "God exists"
**** The Bible comes ''before'' science. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to biblical Theistic Evolutionists (Old Earth)===
There is disagreement among [[Theistic Evolution]]ists, as not all hold that God is not involved presently in His creation.

'''Impersonal God'''
* There is no personal/involved God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that God is not involved in His creation
**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Personal God'''
* There is a personal/involved God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis that there is a "personal God"
**** ''Theistic Evolutionism'' comes ''before'' the ''Scientific Theory of Evolution''. The science is based on the worldview.

===According to Atheistic Evolutionists===
Some proponents of the scientific theory of evolution reject the idea of a philosophy or worldview that guides their conclusions in scientific experimentation. However evolutionists who are 'strong atheists' and who make a positive assertion that there is no God, do in fact have a worldview; whereas 'weak atheists', who maintain there is probably no God due to lack of any objective evidence of Him, rely on science.

'''Strong Atheism'''
* There is no God (worldview)
** Therefore we need to explain everything based on that "fact"
*** Thus science is done on the basis of there being no God (i.e. [[naturalism]])
**** Naturalism comes ''before'' the science. The science is based on the worldview.

'''Weak Atheism'''
* So far, there is no objective proof of God
** Therefore, we do not need to interpret evidence to fit in with the "fact" of God's existence
*** Thus science is not done on the basis of there being a God (i.e. [[naturalism]]) (unless His existence becomes objectively proven)
**** For [[Weak Atheism|weak atheists]], science comes before [[Naturalism]]. They (presumably) base their worldview on the Science.

===Comparison===
The various viewpoints can be compared in general ways as they all have some sort of starting point. The general Creationist starting point is God, which then all the universe is based on including that of science. Some ''Theistic Evolutionists'' hold to a similar God idea, yet emphasize a somewhat secondary origin<ref>Some Theistic Evolutionists believe that God created the universe and yet He is no longer involved in it. Therefore "secondary origin" is referring to the idea that God is the origin of the universe, but not necessarily ''You and Me''.</ref> in the evolutionary process. Atheistic evolutionists say that we must prove God by science, therefore their intellectual starting point is science itself.

==Controversy==
===Usage of terminology===
The term ''evolutionism'' uses the suffix ''-ism'', which is commonly used to designate varieties of philosophical opinion, and some people who support evolution prefer to use other terms. Others are happy to call themselves evolutionists, and the terms have been in common use for a century. For example, the most popular American proponent of evolution called himself an evolutionist,<ref>"I count myself among the evolutionists", Gould, Stephen J. (May 1981). [http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html "Evolution as fact and theory"], ''Discover'', vol. 2, pp. 34-37. Retrieved from the Unofficial Stephen Jay Gould Archive on September 14, 2014. Also "Evolutionists have been very clear about this distinction of fact and theory".</ref> and his obituary read "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead".<ref>Davidson, Keay (May 21, 2002). [http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/05/21/MN175165.DTL "Evolutionist Stephen Jay Gould dead / Paleontologist proposed punctuated equilibrium theory"]. ''San Francisco Chronicle''. Retrieved from SFGate on September 14, 2014.</ref> This is all part of the controversy over evolution itself (see [[Origins debate]]).

Some Atheistic/Agnostic Evolutionists say that the term ''Evolutionism'' is simply a false Creationist perception, or pejorative assertion that science represents merely another religion. They disagree that the theory of evolution is based on a [[philosophy]] or [[worldview]]. They say that the perception finds no grounding in reality, other than as a rhetorical dramatization. However, according to creationists, this disagreement arises from a misunderstanding of terms. Biblical [[Young Earth Creationism|Young Earth Creationists]] hold both terms in philosophically equal light, up to a certain point. They would say that the term "Evolutionism" has the same or very similar meaning to "Creationism" as it relates to a supposed philosophical/foundational starting point or question (does God exist?). They say the term "Evolutionism" refers to a subset of a combination of worldviews, while the scientific theory of evolution is the result of the ''Evolutionist'' presupposition. In other words, they say that Evolutionism is the collective worldview behind the scientific theory of evolution. However, that's where the similarities end with Creationism.

===Religion and Evolutionism===
Some Creationists point out that they see various religious aspects, not in the theory of evolution itself (although they don't exclude that necessarily), but in the Evolutionists themselves. Some will say how Evolutionists have a ''religious fervor'' over what Creationists believe is false science. Some Evolutionists have historically misunderstood this for Creationists labeling science itself as a religion. Dr. Marjorie Grene, a philosopher, put it this way in her article "The Faith of Darwinism" (emphasis added):
{{cquote|''Today the tables are turned. The modified, but still characteristically Darwinian theory has itself become an orthodoxy, preached by its adherents with '''religious fervor''', and doubted, they feel, only by a few muddlers imperfect in scientific faith.''<ref name="mgreen" />}}

Evolution has been a recent source of controversy in the [[United States]]<ref>Linder, Doug (2014). [http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/conlaw/evolution.htm "The evolution controversy"]. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law website. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>. Some prominent Americans seriously question evolution<ref>BSR (May 6, 2007). [http://mikehuckabeepresident2008.blogspot.com/2007/05/mike-huckabee-does-not-believe-in.html "Mike Huckabee does not believe in evolution alone"]. Mike Huckabee President 2016. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>, based on a feeling that it conflicts with religious beliefs. However, according to Evolutionists, at least one aspect of religion and evolution is not mutually exclusive. Some deeply religious evolutionists believe that God set evolution into effect, which is no detraction to His majesty. This is referring to the theory of [[Theistic Evolution]].

===Religiosity and the cult of personality surrounding Charles Darwin===
There is a cult of personality and type of religiosity currently surrounding Charles Darwin. [[Stephen Jay Gould]] wrote the following in 1978: "[A]ll theories [of natural selection] cite God in their support, and ... Darwin comes close to this status among evolutionary biologists".<ref name="Cult">Bradbury, Andrew J. (2006). [http://www.bradburyac.mistral.co.uk/dar1.html "Part 1: Metaphors and myths"]. Charles Darwin—The Truth?, part 1, sec. "Darwinism as a Religion", par. 1. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref> In 2002, Michael White similarly wrote: "Of course today, for biologists, Darwin is second only to God, and for many he may rank still higher."<ref name="Cult"/>

===Biblical Young Earth Creationist's problem with a Biblical Old Earth===
Taking the Bible literally, there are no gaps permitting an undocumented period of time between the creation week and the fall of the temple in Jerusalem in 587 BC <ref>Redinger, Ruby (2007). [http://web.archive.org/web/20070701035655/http://web.newsguy.com/rubyredinger/age.html "Biblical age of the Earth"]. Biblical Age of the Earth. Retrieved on September 15, 2014 from July 1, 2007 archive at Internet Archive.</ref>, which is well established by archaeology and secular history. Accordingly, the creation of Adam can be placed at approximately 4,163 BC and the initial creation of the universe six days prior.

==Quotes supporting the position that evolutionism requires faith<ref>[http://www.nwcreation.net/evolutionquotes.html "Evolutionism quotes"] (2004). Northwest Creation Network. Retrieved on September 15, 2014.</ref>==
{{cquote|'''J.W.N. Sullivan (science author)''' ''The hypothesis that life has developed from inorganic matter is, at present, still an article of faith....''<ref>Sullivan, John W.N. (1933). ''The Limitations of Science'' (New York: The Viking Press), p. 95. Quoted in review by [http://books.google.com/books?id=EPoPAAAAIAAJ&q=%22The+hypothesis+that+life+has+developed+from+inorganic+matter+is,+at+present,+still+an+article+of+faith,+although+various+chemists+have+put+forward+various+hypothetical+accounts+as+to+how+they+think+it+might+have+been+done%22&dq=%22The+hypothesis+that+life+has+developed+from+inorganic+matter+is,+at+present,+still+an+article+of+faith,+although+various+chemists+have+put+forward+various+hypothetical+accounts+as+to+how+they+think+it+might+have+been+done%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LzwaVKkn5_PwAd-cgeAP&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA ''New Catholic World'' [preview]], vol. 138, p. 520. Preview retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. M.G. Grene''' ''Today the tables are turned. The modified, but still characteristically Darwinian theory has itself become an orthodoxy, preached by its adherents with religious fervor, and doubted, they feel, only by a few muddlers imperfect in scientific faith.''<ref name="mgreen">Grene, Marjorie (November 1959). "The Faith of Darwinism". ''Encounter'', p. 49. Reprinted in Grene, Marjorie (1974), [http://books.google.com/books?id=BUL8BAAhg4YC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=%22characteristically+Darwinian+theory+has+itself+become+an+orthodoxy,%22&source=bl&ots=QmawriJpLu&sig=6Gu2gx0X5pIQkM31bX9PkMs5Klk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eCwaVM6gG5TP8QHNhIGQCg&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22characteristically%20Darwinian%20theory%20has%20itself%20become%20an%20orthodoxy%2C%22&f=false ''The Knower and the Known''] (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press), p. 187. Retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. L.H. Matthews''' ''The fact of evolution is the backbone of biology, and biology is thus in the peculiar position of being a science founded on an unproved theory—is it then a science or faith?''<ref>Matthews, L. Harrison (1972), "Introduction" to Darwin, Charles (1872), ''The Origin of Species'', 6th ed. (London: J. M. Dent), pp. x-xi. Quoted in "Evolutionism quotes".</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. [[R.L. Wysong]]''' ''"Evolution requires plenty of faith; a faith in L-proteins that defy chance formation; a faith in the formation of DNA codes which, if generated spontaneously, would spell only pandemonium; a faith in a primitive environment that, in reality, would fiendishly devour any chemical precursors to life; a faith in experiments that prove nothing but the need for intelligence in the beginning; a faith in a primitive ocean that would not thicken, but would only haplessly dilute chemicals; a faith in natural laws of thermodynamics and biogenesis that actually deny the possibility for the spontaneous generation of life; a faith in future scientific revelations that, when realized, always seem to present more dilemmas to the evolutionists; faith in improbabilities that treasonously tell two stories—one denying evolution, the other confirming the creator; faith in transformations that remain fixed; faith in mutations and natural selection that add to a double negative for evolution; faith in fossils that embarrassingly show fixity through time, regular absence of transitional forms and striking testimony to a worldwide water deluge; a faith in time which proves to only promote degradation in the absence of mind; and faith in reductionism that ends up reducing the materialist's arguments to zero and forcing the need to invoke a supernatural creator."''<ref>Wysong, R.L. (1976). [http://books.google.com/books?id=yNev8Y-xN8YC&pg=PA419&dq=wysong+controversy+%22requires+plenty+of+faith%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RzgaVKW4FMXy8AHjgYGwAQ&ved=0CBQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=wysong%20controversy%20%22requires%20plenty%20of%20faith%22&f=false ''The Creation-Evolution Controversy''] (Midland, MI: Inquiry Press), p. 419. Retrieved from GoogleBooks on September 17, 2014.</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. T.M. Lessl''' ''By calling evolution fact, the process of evolution is removed from dispute; it is no longer merely a scientific construct, but now stands apart from humankind and its perceptual frailties. Sagan apparently wishes to accomplish what Peter Berger calls "objectification," the attribution of objective reality to a humanly produced concept . . With evolution no longer regarded as a mere human construct, but now as a part of the natural order of the cosmos, evolution becomes a sacred archetype against which human actions can be weighed. Evolution is a sacred object or process in that it becomes endowed with mysterious and awesome power.''<ref>Lessl, Thomas M. (1985). "Science and the sacred cosmos: the ideological rhetoric of Carl Sagan". ''Quarterly Journal of Speech'', vol. 71, no. 2, p. 178. Quoted in "Evolutionism quotes".</ref>}}
{{cquote|'''Dr. [[Michael Ruse|M. Ruse]] (evolutionist)''' ''Evolution is promoted by its practitioners as more than mere science. Evolution is promulgated as an ideology, a [[secular religion]] — a full-fledged alternative to Christianity, with meaning and morality. I am an ardent evolutionist and an ex-Christian, but I must admit that in this one complaint — and Mr. Gish is but one of many to make it — the literalists are absolutely right. Evolution is a religion. This was true of evolution in the beginning, and it is true of evolution still today.''<ref>Ruse, Michael (May 13, 2000). [http://www.omniology.com/HowEvolutionBecameReligion.html "Saving Darwinism from the Darwinians."]. ''National Post'', p. B-3. Retrieved from Omniology.com as "How evolution became a religion" on September 15, 2014. Caution: may be copyrighted; for fair educational use only.</ref>}}

==See also==
*[[Creationism]]
*[[Faith]]
*[[Humanism]]
*[[Naturalistic religions]]
*[[Religion]]
*[[Theism]]
*[[Creationism's Trojan Horse]]
*[[Open Question: Why Do evolutionists say 'science is all about making changes' yet don't even consider Biblical Creation as an alternative?]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Creation vs. evolution}}
==External links==
'''Notes'''
:'''''Affirmative''' articles that attempt to rebut the faith claim of creationists.''
:'''''Critical''' articles that claim evolutionism involves faith.''

{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
! Affirmative !! Critical
|-
| valign="top" width="50%"|
'''TalkOrigins'''
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA612.html CA612: Evolution requiring faith]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_requires_as_much_faith_as_creationism CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA610.html CA610: Evolution religious]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CA/CA001.html CA001: Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]
**[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview CreationWiki response]
*[http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/evolphil/metaphysics.html Evolution and Philosophy: Metaphysics]
'''EvoWiki'''
*[http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Evolution_is_the_foundation_of_an_immoral_worldview Evolution is the foundation of an immoral worldview]

| valign="top" width="50%"|
'''DrDino'''
* [http://www.drdino.com/articles.php?spec=25 Evolution Is Based On Modern Myths]
'''Creationists.org'''
* [http://www.creationists.org/evolutionisreligion.html Evolution is a Religion]
'''Northwest Creation Network'''
* [http://www.nwcreation.net/evolutionism.html Evolutionism - Is Evolution a religion?]
'''Creation Ministries International'''
* [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1491/ Evolution as religion]
* [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4139 Leading anti-creationist philosopher admits that evolution is a religion]
'''Answers in Genesis'''
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2002/0930religion.asp The Religion of Evolution]
* [http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/the-lie/chapter2.asp Evolution is Religion]
'''CreationWiki'''
*[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_requires_as_much_faith_as_creationism Evolution requires as much faith as creationism] - Rebuttal of TalkOrigins Archive
*[http://creationwiki.org/%28Talk.Origins%29_Evolution_is_a_religion Evolution is a religion] - Rebuttal of TalkOrigins Archive
'''Institute for Creation Research'''
* [http://www.icr.org/article/201/ Evolution is Religion, not Science (1)], [http://www.icr.org/article/455/ (2)]
|}

[[Category:Naturalism]]

Mainstream media

2015-06-22T16:58:56Z

Chinken: move links around

[[Image:N.jpg|350px |right]]
The '''mainstream media''' ('''MSM'''), often referred to as the '''lamestream media''' for satirical purposes, are the increasingly [[liberal media]] organs that censor the dissemination of honest news and repeatedly applies liberal [[double standard]]s.

The common denominator of the "mainstream media" is their [[censorship|censoring]] or downplaying stories that would lead viewers to [[conservative]] conclusions, and their use of [[photo bias]], [[placement bias]] and other forms of deception to mislead viewers into drawing incorrect [[liberal]] conclusions. The term '''mainstream media''' usually refers to how the majority of commercial-based or taxpayer-funded news reporting and commentary consist of liberal bias, while falsely pretending to be objective providers of information.

{{cquote|''They [the media] are not becoming irrelevant, but they are getting to the point where they are worse than irrelevant,” and “They’re the scourge of the American people.''|||[[Andrew Breitbart]]<ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/75274 Tea Party Must Stand Up to Liberal Smear Tactics, Conservative Activist Says, CNSNews, September 14, 2010]</ref>}}

Examples include:

*Without any evidence of church attendance or Bible-reading by the [[Anders Behring Breivik|defendant]] accused of murdering 92 people in Norway, the headline of the leading Australian newspaper declared, "Norway suspect 'fundamentalist Christian.'"<ref>[http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/norway-suspect-fundamentalist-christian-20110724-1huqg.html Norway suspect 'fundamentalist Christian']</ref> The headline appears to be based in part on a [[Facebook]] page that was likely not even authentic.

== Fairness Doctrine ==
In 1987, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] voted 4-0 to revoke, and cancel their enforcement of the [[Fairness Doctrine]]. The Fairness Doctrine mandated that if any opinion considered "controversial" were ever discussed on the public airwaves, the station over which that opinion aired was required to give [[Censorship|equal time]] to any person wishing to reply. However, the FCC never set a standard about ''interpretations'' of current events that might be disputable, or even examined that issue.

With the revocation of the Fairness Doctrine, [[radio]] and [[television]] stations were now permitted to air any opinion or interpretation of the news, no matter how "controversial," without regard to the giving of "equal time."

On August 1, 1988, a new radio commentator named [[Rush Limbaugh]] began [[broadcast]]ing in national [[syndication]].

== List of mainstream media organs ==
[[File:MSMbyTEA.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Protest sign expressing [[Tea Party Movement]]'s attitude toward MSM]]
Mainstream media outlets are based in New York, Washington and Los Angeles.<ref> [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/sep/1/liberal-media-distort-the-gun-debate-loaded-langua/ Liberal media distort the gun debate; loaded language misleads the public] - [[Emily Miller]], ''[[Washington Times]]''</ref>
Significant mainstream media outlets include:

'''Newspapers'''
* ''[[The New York Times]]''
* ''[[The Washington Post]]''
* ''[[The Boston Globe]]''
* ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''
* ''[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]''
* ''The [[Los Angeles Times]]''
* ''[[The San Francisco Chronicle]]''
* ''[[USA Today]]''
* ''The [[Wall Street Journal]]''<ref>The inclusion of ''The Wall Street Journal'' might strike some media observers as strange, until one remembers that, though its editorial board is [[conservative]] on most issues (except for immigration), its [[city room]] is definitely [[liberal]] in orientation and coverage of the news.</ref>
* All major, standard-newspaper-format dailies that have existed since before the Fairness Doctrine repeal.

'''News Syndication Agencies'''
* [[Associated Press (AP)|Associated Press]]
* [[UPI|United Press International]]
* [[Reuters]]

'''Television'''
* [[CBS]]
* [[NBC]]
* [[ABC]]
* [[National Public Radio]]
* [[PBS|Public Broadcasting Service]]
* The [[CNN|Cable News Network]]
* [[Fox News]] (see below).

Some media consumers do not consider [[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] to be part of the "mainstream media" as Fox News frequently presents viewpoints that do not fall in line with other mainstream outlets. For example, in 2007, the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] [[2008_Presidential_Election#Declared_Democratic_Party_Candidates|presidential candidates]] declared that they would not appear in debates hosted by Fox News, but they did appear on other MSM news outlets.

However, ratings indicate that because of its massive popularity, Fox News could be considered to be part of the mainstream media by definition. According to ratings organization [[Nielsen ratings|Nielsen]]:
:* Fox News has the 10 most viewed cable TV news shows (as of Dec 2009).
:* Fox News mean prime-time viewing figures are triple that of [[MSNBC]], and double that of CNN, and exceed the total ratings of CNN, MSNBC and [[CNBC]] combined.
:* "In 2006, more than half the people watching cable news were watching Fox News" <ref>Authors unknown. "[http://www.stateofthenewsmedia.org/2007/narrative_cabletv_audience.asp?cat=2&media=6 The State of the News Media 2007]." ''Project for Excellence in Journalism,'' 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.</ref>
[[File:Leftist News.gif | right]]
===CNN===
In 2006 CNN.com ran an article by columnist R. Emmett Tyrell Jr. entitled "Tyrell: Goodbye MSM... and good riddance!" <ref>[[R. Emmett Tyrell|Tyrell, R. Emmet]]. "[http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/02/tyrrell.msm/index.html?iref=newssearch Goodbye MSM... and good riddance!]" Creators' Syndicate, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2007, from [http://www.cnn.com CNN].</ref> Examining the relationship between the [[alternative media|alternative press]] and the MSM, Tyrell writes:

<blockquote> So we hear this week that President George W. Bush is taking delight in the spread of the "alternative press" (read conservatives on the Internet, in talk radio, in print, and at Fox) and the gentle detumescence of "mainstream media" (read liberal media, or more precisely, Democratic media). Well I join him in his satisfaction. </blockquote>

=='Alternative Media'==
Differing opinions also exist over the definition of a similar term - '''Alternative Media'''. Although some consider, for example, [[Rush Limbaugh]]'s launch to be the birth of 'alternative media', so too do the left consider publications like [[The Nation]] to be 'alternative media.'<ref>Albert, Michael. "[http://www.zmag.org/whatmakesalti.htm Alternative Media: What Makes Alternative Media Alternative?]" ''[http://www.zmag.org/ Z]'' Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2007.</ref> In fact, many would view the [[Village Voice]] group to be the most widely published 'alternative media' outlet in the United States.

By whatever definition, most media watchers would classify as "alternative media" any media organ that is primarily hosted on the [[Internet]] rather than printed and delivered or mailed to subscribers. The alternative media ''is not'' exclusively conservative. It includes [[liberal]] organs as well. Some writers on these organs have suggested that the mainstream media has a ''conservative'' bias--by which they actually mean that mainstream-media organs are not as revolutionary, or as radical, in their thinking as are the writers themselves.<ref>[[Peter Dreier|Dreier, Peter]]. "[http://alternet.org/workplace/58108/ For a Brief Moment, The Media Rediscover Poverty]." [http://alternet.org AlterNet.org], July 26, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.</ref><ref>[[Rory O'Connor|O'Connor, Rory]]. "[http://alternet.org/mediaculture/55915/ The Future of Citizen Journalism]. [http://alternet.org AlterNet.org], July 3, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.</ref><ref> [[Sheldon Rampton|Rampton, Sheldon]]. "[http://alternet.org/story/54339/ Has the Internet Changed the Propaganda Model?]" [http://alternet.org AlterNet.org], June 22, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2007.</ref>

At least one MSM organ, [[CBS]] News, attempted in 2006<ref>Pogue, David. "[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/09/sunday/main1786520.shtml?source=search_story Brave New Blogging World:
David Pogue Ventures Into The Blogosphere]." [http://www.cbsnews.com/ CBSNews.com], July 9, 2006. Retrieved August 2, 2007.</ref> to describe what a particular alternative-media segment (i.e., [[blog]]s) thinks of the MSM:
{{Cquote|They don't believe that you are unbiased, objective, fair a lot of times. And so what they want is they want to read a lot of different sources themselves. because they don't trust the mainstream media..that would be [you].}}

It is worth noting that liberal blog activity on the internet declined after the election of [[Barack Hussein Obama]] <ref>http://bloggasm.com/blog-traffic-for-liberal-blogs-down-58-in-three-months-following-election-conservative-blogs-down-36</ref>, and continued to decline after his reelection. This shows that the distaste for bias in the liberal MSM is spreading to the alternative media.

==See also==
*[[Liberal media]]
*[[Advocacy journalism]]
*[[Journalistic malpractice]]
*[[Deaths directly attributed to the liberal media]]
*[[Alternative media]]
*[[Biased journalists of the Obama administration]]
*[[Left-wing smear machine]]
*[[Government by Journalism]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.mediaresearch.org/biasbasics/biasbasics1.asp Media Bias Basics.]
*[http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/Media-Bias-Is-Real-Finds-UCLA-6664.aspx Media Bias Is Real-Finds UCLA Political Scientist.]
*[http://www.mrc.org/biasalert/archive.aspx Bias Alert.]
*[http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/communications/tv/mediacontrol.html Who Controls the Media?]
*[http://www.freepress.net/ownership/chart/main Ownership Chart: The Big Six.]
*[http://www.mathaba.net/news/?x=626979 Media Lies on Libya Ongoing.]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Liberalism}}

[[Category:Media]]
[[Category:Political Terms]]
[[Category:Newspapers]]
[[Category:United States Newspapers]]
[[Category:Broadcasters]]
[[Category:Liberal Organizations]]
[[Category:Liberal Media]]
[[Category:Anti Second Amendment]]

YouTube

2015-06-22T16:56:08Z

Chinken: /* Christian/Creationist YouTube video evangelism */ fix comma splicing

'''YouTube''' is a popular [[Internet]] site that lets people upload videos for the general public to watch. The "YouTube Generation" was named ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine's ''[[Person of the Year]]'' for 2006.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html</ref>
In October 2006, Youtube was purchased by [[Google|Google Inc.]]

The site has gained recognition as the best video sharing site on the web. A major flaw of the site is its poorly worded terms of conditions, which can warrant the deletion of almost any video that takes a stance against any religion or social agenda, deeming it as "hate speech". An example would be showing surgical operations but preventing showing abortion videos. YouTube is consistent when removing undercover videos that exposes dishonest counseling practices at [[Planned Parenthood]] [[abortion]] centers. <ref>[http://www.lifenews.com/nat5165.html YouTube Removes New Undercover Video Exposing Planned Parenthood on Abortion] LifeNews.com, June 25, 2009</ref> Also, they are known for censoring videos critical of Barack Obama or ones that show children singing praises of Obama by indoctrination. In addition, videos were censored if they were deemed anti-Islamic. <ref>[http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=22835_Jawa_Report_Video_Censored_by_YouTube&only Jawa Report Video Censored by YouTube, Littlegreenfootbalss.com, October 4, 2006]</ref> In addition, YouTube's community guidelines claim that material depicting shocking or disgusting (gory) content is prohibited, however countless videos get past the radar as long as they don't accumulate a large amount of attention.

On July 23, 2007, YouTube hosted an interactive debate between the [[Democratic]] candidates in the [[2008 Presidential Election]], in which YouTube users submitted videos of themselves asking questions. A similar debate involving the [[Republican]] candidates occurred on November 28. This led to controversy, as they used a question submitted by [[Keith Kerr]], who has ties to [[Hillary Clinton]]'s campaign.<ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23698</ref>

Slate states that YouTube may be operating at a loss of nearly half a billion dollars a year. <ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2216162/</ref> Suggesting that it may be a loss leader for parent company Google or perhaps an investment in changing the landscape of information flow in the public. Attempts to reduce the costs and increase profitable content have been met with hostility.

The most popular video on YouTube is Gangnam Style by South Korean rapper Psy and has surpassed a billion views. <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0</ref>
==Controversy==

Controversy arose after people such as [[Michelle Malkin]] claimed that YouTube censored [[conservative]] content. <ref>http://michellemalkin.com/2006/10/04/banned-on-youtube-3/</ref> This led the creation of a pair of video-sharing websites: [[QubeTV]], an alternative site whose origins are reminiscent of the creation of [[Conservapedia]] by people who believed [[Wikipedia]] to be [[liberal]], and the Christian alternative, [[GodTube]], which has been renamed <ref>[http://mashable.com/2009/03/10/tangle/ GodTube is Born Again as MySpace-Like Tangle] Mashable</ref> "[http://www.tangle.com/ Tangle]".

On August 6, 2007, a group of music publishing companies announced a [[lawsuit]] against YouTube for its hosting of [[copyright]]ed content without providing proper compensation to the copyright holders when the videos containing the content were viewed.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_hi_te/youtube_music_publishers;_ylt=AmjdpxJDZVebD_Qp.hhWImKs0NUE</ref>

In May 2009, in response to the suspension of the account of young Star Wars fan, Lukeywes1234, for being under the age of 13, a group of users from the sites ebaumsworld and 4chan, among others, launched an "International Porn Day" raid on YouTube. They managed to upload thousands of explicit videos which were often tagged to show up in searches containing words such as Jonas Brothers, Twilight, Hanna Montana, High School Musical and John McCain. It could take a couple of days for all porn to be removed from the search results, said parent company Google. <ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10245847-83.html?tag=newsFeaturedBlogArea.0 YouTube battling 'Porn Day' campaign] CNet News, May 20, 2009</ref> The delay was in part due to the raiders sowing confusion amongst YouTube users by purposely flagging non pornographic videos as containing inappropriate material.

== Christian/Creationist YouTube video evangelism ==

Many YouTube users are vehemently anti-conservative, however videos directed at conservatives will usually garner high ratings, as with videos directed at liberals. Christian comments on some videos frequently attract insults by atheists. <ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52405</ref> In order to combat this vicious slander, Conservapedia has started [http://www.youtube.com/user/conservapediavideos its own YouTube channel].
Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) is one of the world's largest evangelism organizations within Christendom and has over 25,000 full time missionaries. In 2006, Alan Beeber of CCCI predicted that [[internet evangelism]] will result in more conversion than all other forms of evangelism for CCCI combined.<ref>http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf</ref>

YouTube is a popular online video sharing site that provides a method distributing Christian/creationist videos across the world. The YouTube search engine is the second largest search engine in the world.<ref>http://www.tgdaily.com/trendwatch-features/39777-youtube-surpasses-yahoo-as-world%E2%80%99s-2-search-engine</ref>There is a widespread problem with [[Atheistic bullying|atheist cyberbullying]] on YouTube toward [[Christian]] and [[creationism|creationist]] YouTube channels. [[CreationWiki]] has developed a web page entitled [http://creationwiki.org/YouTube_participant_advice YouTube participant advice] designed to show creationists how to thwart [[atheist bullying|atheist/evolutionist cyberbullies]]. Also, one popular Christian YouTube channel, [[shockofgod]], was shut down several times by atheist cyberbullying through false reports but [http://creationwiki.org/YouTube_participant_advice he was able to thwart their cyberbullying using some effective tactics].<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kax-zAJxi-U</ref> These false reports are not isolated incidents; many atheists will try this deceitful tactic to block out [[creation science]].

== See Also ==
* [[2008 YouTube presidential debates]]
* [[Duck Duck Go]] - [[Privacy]]-oriented Search Engine
* [[Edward J. Snowden]] - [[whistle blower]] of [[unconstitutional]] [[warrent]]less mass [[domestic surveillance]] by [[big government]] [[Police state]]
* [[Unalienable rights]] of the [[Bill of Rights]]: [[First Amendment]], [[Fourth Amendment]], [[Fifth Amendment]]
* [[Right to Privacy]] and [[Common law privacy rights]]
* [[Mass surveillance]] of [[Big government]] [[ObamaCare]] [[Welfare state]] leads to [[Nanny state]], leads to [[Police state]]: [[Globalist]]-[[Statist]]-[[Socialist]]-[[Communist]]
* [[America Rising (video)]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Police State]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Information technology]]
[[Category:Communication]]
[[Category:Google]]
[[Category:YouTube]]
[[Category:Websites]]

{{liberalism}}

Atheism and immaturity

2015-06-22T16:55:59Z

Chinken: expand upon atheist reaction

[[File:Georgetown 2.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref>]]
[[Vox Day]] declared:
{{cquote|...the age at which most people become [[atheism|atheists]] indicates that it is almost never an intellectual decision, but an emotional one.<ref>[http://voxday.blogspot.com/2011/01/answering-atheists-question.html Answering an atheist's question]</ref>}}

The [[Christian apologetics|Christian apologist]] [[True Free Thinker|Ken Ammi]] concurs in his essay ''The Argument for Atheism from Immaturity'' and writes:
{{cquote|It is widely known that some atheists rejected [[God]] in their childhood, based on child like reasons, have not matured beyond these childish notions and thus, maintain childish-emotional reactions toward the idea of God.<ref>[http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/argument-atheism-immaturity]</ref>}}

In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults. (For more information please see: [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]).<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref>

A 2012 study by the General Social Survey of the social science research organization NORC at the University of Chicago found that belief in God rises with age, even in atheistic nations.<ref>[http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations Belief in God rises with age, even in atheist nations]</ref>

The popular [[YouTube]] [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Shockofgod]] received many hostile responses from YouTube atheists when he asked atheists for proof and evidence that atheism is true and they could not provide any. Many atheists cited [[burden of proof]] to defend their views, saying (correctly) that proving a negative is impossible but also asserting that the [[Bible]] was not good enough evidence.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjS__cWr0Y0 The question that is causing atheists to leave atheism]</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and anger]] and [[Atheism and bitterness]]

== Paul Vitz and the psychology of atheism ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]]

It is often argued that a troubled/non-existent relationship with a father may influence one of the causes of atheism.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth12.html</ref> Dr. Paul Vitz wrote a book entitled ''Faith of the Fatherless'' in which he points out that after studying the lives of more than a dozen leading atheists he found that a large majority of them had a father who was present but weak, present but abusive, or absent.<ref>Vitz, Paul, [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt The Psychology of Atheism], September 24, 1997 (lecture notes taken by an audience member).</ref><ref>Anders, Kerby, [http://www.probe.org/content/view/36/91/ Atheists and Their Fathers] (Probe Ministries)</ref> Dr. Vitz also examined the lives of prominent theists who were contemporaneous to their atheist counterparts and from the same culture and in every instance these prominent theists had a good relationship with his father.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref> Dr. Vitz has also stated other common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref>

== See also ==

*[[Atheism and moral intelligence]]
*[[Atheism and profanity]]
*[[Atheism and intolerance]]
*[[Causes of atheism]]
*[[Books on the causes of atheism]]
*[[Ex-atheists]]
*[[Denials that atheists exist]]
*[[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
*[[Christian apologetics|Evidence for Christianity]]

{{Nb Atheism}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

United Kingdom Independence Party

2015-06-22T16:51:30Z

Chinken: update after 2015 elections

[[File:Farage.jpg|thumb|200px|Prominent UKIP MEP, [[Nigel Farage]], wants to take Britain out of the [[EU]] and subject immigration to legal controls]]

The '''United Kingdom Independence Party''', also known by the acronym '''UKIP''', is a British political party. Founded in 1993, it campaigns for [[British]] withdrawal from the [[European Union]] (EU). Its support-base is made up substantially of social conservative, traditional conservative and libertarian voters who are opposed to the surrender of British sovereignty. The current leader of UKIP is Nigel Farage. According to a [[YouTube]] interview with Nigel Farage in May 2015, the party has 47,000 members.

In the 2008 European elections UKIP came second with 16.5% of the vote and 13 of the UK's 78 seats in the [[European Parliament]]. In the Parliamentary election of May 6th 2010, UKIP got 3.1% of the vote, a total of 917,232, an increase of 50% on the previous parliamentary election vote. However, owing to the electoral system, they still did not receive any MPs. UKIP has 2 members in the [[House of Lords]].

Under the leadership of Nigel Farage, UKIP broadened its political agenda. It now has policies on tax, defence, the health service, education, electoral reform and constitutional reform.

UKIP attracts alienated voters, especially those on the right who are critical of the centralized and undemocratic structure of the [[EU]]. UKIP has endorsed a British centre-right economic agenda. It proposes a flat tax and opposes national identity cards. It is sceptical of the more extreme claims of AGW and critical of carbon-permits and other EU environmental policies as economically and environmentally harmful.<ref>http://www.ukip.org/page/ukip-manifesto</ref>

UKIP is frequently accused of being a racist party and associated with racist parties (such as the [[BNP]]) in the media. Most claims of UKIP being racist are defended by pointing to a couple of minor disgraced UKIP councillors or party members - these people have often been expelled from the party. UKIP membership is open to all regardless of ethnic origin and in the 2015 election UKIP fielded a significant number of candidates who are members of ethnic minorities. <ref>http://www.manzoor4mep.co.uk/</ref><ref>http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/election_2010/southampton_test/candidates/7984351.Pearline_Hingston__UKIP__Southampton_Test/</ref><ref>http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/tottenham</ref>

In 2013, UKIP achieved a milestone in the local elections when 147 councillors were elected across the UK adding to the 50-60 councillors that were already in place.

In the 2015 general election, UKIP won 12.9% of the popular vote, but due to the inconsistent electoral system, they received just 1 seat out of 650. It has less than 500 councillors out of 20,000 and 3 (out of 780) members of the House of Lords.

==Further reading==
* Daniel, Mark. ''Cranks and Gadflies: The Story of UKIP'' (2005) 199pp [http://books.google.com/books?id=My7bPb1XnVIC excerpt and text search]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.ukip.org/ UKIP - official website]

[[Category:British Political Parties]]

YouTube

2015-06-22T16:47:57Z

Chinken: /* Controversy */ fixed typo

'''YouTube''' is a popular [[Internet]] site that lets people upload videos for the general public to watch. The "YouTube Generation" was named ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'' magazine's ''[[Person of the Year]]'' for 2006.<ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html</ref>
In October 2006, Youtube was purchased by [[Google|Google Inc.]]

The site has gained recognition as the best video sharing site on the web. A major flaw of the site is its poorly worded terms of conditions, which can warrant the deletion of almost any video that takes a stance against any religion or social agenda, deeming it as "hate speech". An example would be showing surgical operations but preventing showing abortion videos. YouTube is consistent when removing undercover videos that exposes dishonest counseling practices at [[Planned Parenthood]] [[abortion]] centers. <ref>[http://www.lifenews.com/nat5165.html YouTube Removes New Undercover Video Exposing Planned Parenthood on Abortion] LifeNews.com, June 25, 2009</ref> Also, they are known for censoring videos critical of Barack Obama or ones that show children singing praises of Obama by indoctrination. In addition, videos were censored if they were deemed anti-Islamic. <ref>[http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=22835_Jawa_Report_Video_Censored_by_YouTube&only Jawa Report Video Censored by YouTube, Littlegreenfootbalss.com, October 4, 2006]</ref> In addition, YouTube's community guidelines claim that material depicting shocking or disgusting (gory) content is prohibited, however countless videos get past the radar as long as they don't accumulate a large amount of attention.

On July 23, 2007, YouTube hosted an interactive debate between the [[Democratic]] candidates in the [[2008 Presidential Election]], in which YouTube users submitted videos of themselves asking questions. A similar debate involving the [[Republican]] candidates occurred on November 28. This led to controversy, as they used a question submitted by [[Keith Kerr]], who has ties to [[Hillary Clinton]]'s campaign.<ref>http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23698</ref>

Slate states that YouTube may be operating at a loss of nearly half a billion dollars a year. <ref>http://www.slate.com/id/2216162/</ref> Suggesting that it may be a loss leader for parent company Google or perhaps an investment in changing the landscape of information flow in the public. Attempts to reduce the costs and increase profitable content have been met with hostility.

The most popular video on YouTube is Gangnam Style by South Korean rapper Psy and has surpassed a billion views. <ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0</ref>
==Controversy==

Controversy arose after people such as [[Michelle Malkin]] claimed that YouTube censored [[conservative]] content. <ref>http://michellemalkin.com/2006/10/04/banned-on-youtube-3/</ref> This led the creation of a pair of video-sharing websites: [[QubeTV]], an alternative site whose origins are reminiscent of the creation of [[Conservapedia]] by people who believed [[Wikipedia]] to be [[liberal]], and the Christian alternative, [[GodTube]], which has been renamed <ref>[http://mashable.com/2009/03/10/tangle/ GodTube is Born Again as MySpace-Like Tangle] Mashable</ref> "[http://www.tangle.com/ Tangle]".

On August 6, 2007, a group of music publishing companies announced a [[lawsuit]] against YouTube for its hosting of [[copyright]]ed content without providing proper compensation to the copyright holders when the videos containing the content were viewed.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070806/ap_on_hi_te/youtube_music_publishers;_ylt=AmjdpxJDZVebD_Qp.hhWImKs0NUE</ref>

In May 2009, in response to the suspension of the account of young Star Wars fan, Lukeywes1234, for being under the age of 13, a group of users from the sites ebaumsworld and 4chan, among others, launched an "International Porn Day" raid on YouTube. They managed to upload thousands of explicit videos which were often tagged to show up in searches containing words such as Jonas Brothers, Twilight, Hanna Montana, High School Musical and John McCain. It could take a couple of days for all porn to be removed from the search results, said parent company Google. <ref>[http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10245847-83.html?tag=newsFeaturedBlogArea.0 YouTube battling 'Porn Day' campaign] CNet News, May 20, 2009</ref> The delay was in part due to the raiders sowing confusion amongst YouTube users by purposely flagging non pornographic videos as containing inappropriate material.

== Christian/Creationist YouTube video evangelism ==

Many YouTube users are vehemently anti-conservative, however videos directed at conservatives will usually garner high ratings, as with videos directed at liberals. Christian comments on some videos frequently attract insults by atheists. <ref>http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52405</ref> In order to combat this vicious slander, Conservapedia has started [http://www.youtube.com/user/conservapediavideos its own YouTube channel].
Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) is one of the world's largest evangelism organizations within Christendom and has over 25,000 full time missionaries. In 2006, Alan Beeber of CCCI predicted that [[internet evangelism]] will result in more conversion than all other forms of evangelism for CCCI combined.<ref>http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/pdf/issues/LWP0206.pdf</ref>

YouTube is a popular online video sharing site that provides a method distributing Christian/creationist videos across the world. The YouTube search engine is the second largest search engine in the world.<ref>http://www.tgdaily.com/trendwatch-features/39777-youtube-surpasses-yahoo-as-world%E2%80%99s-2-search-engine</ref>There is a widespread problem with [[Atheistic bullying|atheist cyberbullying]] on YouTube toward [[Christian]] and [[creationism|creationist]] YouTube channels. [[CreationWiki]] has developed a web page entitled [http://creationwiki.org/YouTube_participant_advice YouTube participant advice] designed to show creationists how to thwart [[atheist bullying|atheist/evolutionist cyberbullies]]. Also, one popular Christian YouTube channel, [[shockofgod]], was shut down several times by atheist cyberbullying through false reports but [http://creationwiki.org/YouTube_participant_advice he was able to thwart their cyberbullying using some effective tactics].<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kax-zAJxi-U</ref> These false reports are not isolated incidents, many atheists will try this deceitful tactic to block out [[creation science]].

== See Also ==
* [[2008 YouTube presidential debates]]
* [[Duck Duck Go]] - [[Privacy]]-oriented Search Engine
* [[Edward J. Snowden]] - [[whistle blower]] of [[unconstitutional]] [[warrent]]less mass [[domestic surveillance]] by [[big government]] [[Police state]]
* [[Unalienable rights]] of the [[Bill of Rights]]: [[First Amendment]], [[Fourth Amendment]], [[Fifth Amendment]]
* [[Right to Privacy]] and [[Common law privacy rights]]
* [[Mass surveillance]] of [[Big government]] [[ObamaCare]] [[Welfare state]] leads to [[Nanny state]], leads to [[Police state]]: [[Globalist]]-[[Statist]]-[[Socialist]]-[[Communist]]
* [[America Rising (video)]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Police State]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Internet]]
[[Category:Information technology]]
[[Category:Communication]]
[[Category:Google]]
[[Category:YouTube]]
[[Category:Websites]]

{{liberalism}}

Conversion therapy

2015-06-22T00:22:26Z

Chinken: /* Notable study on reparative therapy reported in the Baptist Press */ typo

''See also [[homosexuality and the Bible]]''
 '''Conversion therapy''', also known as reparative therapy or Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (SOCE), consists of counseling or treatment to change someone's sexual attraction from homosexuality to heterosexuality. The [[Bible]] can be a powerful basis for the therapy. Perhaps because of its effectiveness, homosexual activists have sought laws prohibiting conversion therapy in many states, and [[liberal]] California, Oregon, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have banned this therapy for minors. But on February 24, 2015, an Oklahoma House committee passed a bill to protect the right to conversion therapy, and the therapy remains fully lawful in the vast majority of the [[United States]].

The successful approaches can range from a change in someone's activities, such as sports, to an elimination of the animosity that someone might be harboring, such as anger towards his father. Conversion to [[Christianity]] and regular attendance at church can help; Paul referenced converts from [[homosexuality]] to Christianity in the [[New Testament]]. [[Aversion therapy]], by which someone is averted from an unwanted activity or attraction by associating it with something mildly unpleasant, is an additional approach.

Sports activities correlated with very low rates of homosexuality are baseball, football, basketball, boxing, martial arts and wrestling.

Studies show that 25% of teenagers experience ambiguity in orientation at some point. Central to the [[homosexual agenda]] is to recruit as many of those teenagers as possible into the movement, without telling them that they can choose heterosexuality instead.

== Ex-homosexuals: Religiously mediated change in homosexuals vs. reparative therapy ==

[[Peter LaBarbera]] is the President of [[Americans for Truth]] which is a organization which counters the [[homosexual agenda]]. LaBarbera stated the following regarding Christian ex-homosexuals who reported being transformed by the power of God:
{{cquote|Another factor from my experience as a close observer of the “ex-gay” phenomenon is that many former homosexuals do not linger in “reparative therapy” programs, or participate in them at all. They attribute their dramatic and (relatively) rapid transformation to the power of God, and likely would not show up in a study of this kind. In fact, these “unstudied” overcomers would appear to be the most successful ex-homosexuals because they’ve moved on with their lives — as “reborn” Christians move on after overcoming any besetting sin.<ref>http://www.americansfortruth.com/news/landmark-study-change-for-homosexuals-is-possible.html</ref>}}

Peter LaBarbera's statement above concerning [[Overcoming Homosexuality|overcoming homosexuality]] certainly has [http://www.conservapedia.com/Ex-homosexuals#Reparative_Therapy some evidence supporting it]. In addition, in 1980 a study was published in the ''American Journal of Psychiatry'' and eleven men participated in this study. The aforementioned study stated that eleven homosexual men became heterosexuals "without explicit treatment and/or long-term psychotherapy" through their participation in a [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] church.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7435713 E.M. Pattison and M.L. Pattison, "'Ex-Gays': Religiously Mediated Change in Homosexuals," American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 137, pp. 1553-1562, 1980]</ref>

== Notable study on reparative therapy reported in the Baptist Press ==

There have been several studies regarding homosexuals becoming ex-homosexuals. For example, on September 13, 2007 [[Christianity Today]] published an article entitled ''An Older Wiser Ex-Gay Movement'' and below is an excerpt from that article which focuses on [[Reparative Therapy|reparative therapy]]:
{{cquote|Since its beginnings in the 1970s, the ex-gay movement has engaged gay advocates in a battle of testimonies. Transformed ex-gay leaders are the best argument for their movement. Likewise, those who've left the ex-gay movement in despair and disgust are the best counterargument. The debate continued this June, when Exodus International held its 32nd annual conference in Irvine, California, featuring dozens of speakers and seminar leaders who have quit homosexuality. Down the road outside the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, a news conference featured three former Exodus leaders saying "ex-gay" is a delusion.

New research may change the terms of debate. Psychologists Stanton Jones of Wheaton College and Mark Yarhouse of [[Regent University]] released today a book detailing their findings from the first three years of an ongoing study. They are investigating participants in 16 different ex-gay programs associated with Exodus, the largest ex-gay ministry group.<ref>[http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26429 Study on reparative therapy - Baptist Press]</ref>}}

The study started out with 98 people with 72 of them being men and 26 of them being women.<ref name="bp26429">http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=26429</ref> Some of the participants quit the study because they believe they had positively changed and didn't see a need to continue while others quit because they decided they didn't want to change from a homosexual to a ex-homosexual.<ref name="bp26429" /> As a result, 73 subjects completed the study.<ref name="bp26429" />

According to the Baptist Press, here are the results: 15 percent of subjects experienced substantial change; "23 percent said their conversion was successful and that [[homosexual attraction]] was either missing or "present only incidentally or in a way that does not seem to bring about distress." They were labeled "success: chastity."; 29 percent of subjects experienced modest success; 15 percent of subjects experienced no change and were undecided about what to do next; "4 percent had not changed and had quit the change process, but had not embraced the "gay identity."; "8 percent had not changed, had quit the process and had embraced the "gay identity."; and malfunctions in the taping of the interviews accounts for the remaining 5 percent. <ref name="bp26429" />

Previously, Dr. Robert Spitzer published a study in the journal ''Archives of Sexual Behavior'' performed using reparative therapy had some subjects experiencing change.<ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/evidencefound.html</ref>

== Conservative Criticism of Reparative Therapy ==
Although many conservatives approve of reparative therapy there are many that do not which will be elaborated on shortly. Conservative Christians believe that a homosexual can choose to become an ex-homosexual, however, the point of difference is whether it was chosen in the first place. The Pew Research Center states the following regarding Americans' views on how homosexuality first originates:
{{cquote|Asked why some people are homosexual, 42% say it is "just the way that some people prefer to live," compared with 30% who think homosexuality is something people are born with and 14% who believe it develops because of the way people are brought up. The view that homosexuality is innate is more prevalent now than in 1985, when 20% believed that homosexuality is something people are born with.<ref>http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=764</ref>}}

Author and ex-lesbian Alma Kramer takes the position that [[Homosexuality and Choice|homosexuality is a sin and sin is a choice]] when she wrote the following:
{{cquote|I made a choice in my life that put me in bondage for 20 years. While it is true that there were certain things in my childhood that happened or didn't happen that influenced my choice, I still made a choice.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 proves that sin is a choice and that you can change. The New International version says, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." WOW!! I am so glad we can change. I can remember the time when I thought that there was no way out.<ref>http://www.setfree1.com/2.html</ref>}}

Dr. [[James Dobson]] and other advocates of reparative therapy do not believe that homosexuality first originates as a result of choice.<ref>http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/20061125_james_dobson_identifies_homosexuality/</ref>

==Refusal to study conversion therapy scientifically==
Political adherence to the [[homosexual agenda]] results in refusal even to consider the possibility that conversion therapy is effective. Politics may explain the American Psychological Association's refusal to cooperate in a proposal to study the effectiveness of conversion therapy:
{{cquote|"NARTH offered to join with the American Psychological Association (APA) in conducting a detailed study of the effectiveness of reparative therapy. The APA refused to cooperate."<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_nart.htm#study Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance]</ref>}}

The opposition to conversion therapy is sometimes ideologically based, and it directs attention away from the harm that [[gay affirmative therapy]] can cause.
The ''American Journal of Psychotherapy'' published a case study about a client who was supposedly harmed by treating him for "[[internalized homophobia]]".<ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/lcreview.html]</ref>

A therapist reports that, after conversion, a previously homosexual man tends to be physically attracted to only his girlfriend or wife. A heterosexual male is typically attracted to women in addition to his wife, while a converted former homosexual is typically physically attracted to only his girlfriend or wife.

Homosexuality is highly correlated to someone's activities and culture. For example, training in baseball and figure skating begin when a boy is only about six years ago. After years of engaging in those activities, often for hours each day, upon reaching adulthood fewer than 1 in 1000 baseball players are homosexual, while estimates are that 33% of male figure skaters are -- a 300-fold difference after doing different activities.

In some cases, the therapy addresses hatred a male patient had for his father while growing up. By repairing that relationship (see also the [[Prodigal Son]]), the therapist can be successful in enabling the patient to become heterosexual. Paul endorses the equivalent of [[Christian]]-based conversion therapy in [[1 Corinthians 1-8 (Translated)#6:11|1 Corinthians 6:11]].

Predictably, advocates of the [[homosexual agenda]] oppose and even seek to prohibit reparative therapy, analogous to how some countries prohibit conversion to [[Christianity]]. But conversion therapy remains fully legal and effective in nearly all of the United States, with the exception of recent laws concerning minors which passed in [[liberal]] California and New Jersey.

== See also ==

*[[Ex-homosexuals]]

== External links ==

*[http://narth.com NARTH, National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality]
*[http://jonahweb.org/sections.php?secId=2 JONAH, Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing.]
*Arthur Goldberg, "Light in the Closet: Torah, Homosexuality, and the Power to Change (2009) (available on Amazon)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{homosexualityb}}
[[Category:Homosexuality]]
[[Category:Medicine]]

Aversion therapy

2015-06-22T00:12:08Z

Chinken:

'''Aversion therapy''' is a psychological behavior [[therapy]] which seeks to rid an individual of an undesired behavior by pairing that behavior with an aversive consequence. The term was first coined in 1946. It is an example of negative [[reinforcement learning]].

So if every time an individual went to smoke he was given a painful shock, or if his [[cigarette]]s had been laced with a substance that induces vomiting, those would be examples of aversion therapy. These techniques can be used in [[conversion therapy]], or to cure any number of addictions or bad habits.

==Sources==
Abnormal Psychology, Rosenhan & Seligman, 1984

[[Category: Psychology]]

Atheism and a lack of appreciation for the beauty of the human body

2015-06-21T23:35:27Z

Chinken: move link to somewhere more relevant

[[File:Kim Il Song.jpg|thumb|alt=atheism|right|175px|[[Kim Il Sung]] was a [[communism|communist]] dictator and an obese atheist who died of a heart attack.<ref>http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/kim-il-sung.html</ref> See also: [[Atheism and obesity]] ]]

Christians and other theists have produced great works of art such as statues and paintings that depicted the beauty of the human body. See: [[Christian art]] and [[Christian paintings]]

The Bible teaches that God formed the first man and woman and that his original [[creation]] was "very good".<ref>[http://creation.com/made-in-the-image-of-god Made in the image of God] by Russell M. Grigg</ref> Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God made the first man and woman "in His own image".<ref>[http://creation.com/made-in-the-image-of-god Made in the image of God] by Russell M. Grigg</ref>

The psalmist [[King David|David]] wrote: "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple."(Psalm 27:4). The [[fall of man]] caused death, disease and suffering to enter into the world. The Bible also declares that [[Sarah]], [[Abraham]]'s wife, had both inner and outer beauty.<ref>[https://bible.org/seriespage/yes-my-lord%E2%80%94-ithe-story-abraham-and-sarahi Yes, My Lord— The Story of Abraham and Sarah]</ref> The [[Song of Solomon]] features two lovers who tell each other how beautiful they are.

In addition, theologically [[Conservative Christianity|conservative Christians]] and other theologically conservative members of the Abrahamic faiths believe in the existence of objective beauty. See: [[Argument from beauty]]

On the other hand, a significant amount of [[atheism|atheists]] lack an appreciation for the importance of maintaining [[Atheism and health|good health]] and for keeping up a presentable appearance unencumbered [[Atheism and obesity|by excess weight]]. In addition, atheists commonly reject the existence of objective beauty and insist that beauty is merely subjective.<ref>[http://mereorthodoxy.com/is-beauty-objective/ Is Beauty Objective?] by Keith E. Buhler, posted October 24, 2007
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/badcatholic/2011/10/beauty-is-objective.html Beauty Is Objective]
*[http://www.everyjoe.com/2014/07/03/politics/robbed-of-beauty-by-the-left/ How We’ve Been Robbed of Beauty by the Left]</ref>

'''Please see:'''

*[[Atheism and health]]

*[[Atheism and obesity]]

*[[New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight|New Atheism and obesity]]

*[[American Atheists and obesity]]

*[[Atheism and the fat acceptance movement]]

*[[China and obesity|Obesity and atheistic China]]

*[[Secular Europe and obesity]]

*[[Millennials, irreligion and obesity]]

*[[Generation X, irreligion and obesity]]

*[[Baby boom generation, irreligion and obesity]]

=== Very religious are more likely to practice healthy behaviors ===

According to the [[Gallup poll|Gallup Inc.]], "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."<ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx</ref> Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868765 Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen C., Health Psychol. 2000 May;19(3):211-22.]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/ ''The role of spirituality in health care'', roc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2001 October; 14(4): 352–357.]</ref>

__TOC__

== Atheism has a poor track record in terms of creating art/music ==

[[File:Creation of Adam.jpg|thumbnail|400px|right|[[Michelangelo]]'s ''Creation of Adam'']]
See also: [[Atheism and musical–rhythmic intelligence and artistic intelligence|Atheism and art/music]]

As noted above, [[theism|theists]] have created many great works of art dealing with the human physique such as [[Michelangelo]]'s ''Creation of Adam''.

Despite [[atheism]] being around since at least [[ancient Greece]], there has not been a strong tradition of creating musical and artistic works related to atheism. Musical/artistic talent can be enhanced through practice and the atheist creed of "there is no God" is not an inspiring creed that produces a significant amount of music/art. For example, despite [[Wikipedia]] being founded by an atheist and an agnostic, there are no articles specifically devoted to the topics of atheist music or atheist art at Wikipedia, but Wikipedia does have articles devoted specifically to [[Christian art]] and [[Christian music]].

For more information please see: [[Atheism and musical–rhythmic intelligence and artistic intelligence|Atheism and art/music]]

== Atheism and other misuses of the body ==
[[Image:115523-004-FA619CA3.jpg|thumb|right|251px| The perverse and cruel atheist [[Marquis de Sade]] in prison, 18th century line engraving. See: [[Atheism and sadism]]
 
Marquis de Sade experienced grotesque obesity during his life.<ref>http://www.neilschaeffer.com/sade/bibliography/quills.htm</ref> ]]
The [[Barna Group]] found that atheists and [[agnostics]] in America were more likely, than [[theist]]s in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: [[Illegal drugs|illegal drug use]]; excessive drinking; [[fornication|sexual relationships outside of marriage]]; [[abortion]]; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; [[Profanity|obscene language]]; [[gambling]]; [[pornography]] and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in [[homosexuality]]/[[bisexuality]].<ref>http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard</ref> Given the [[Homosexuality and Health|many diseases associated with homosexuality]], the [[Bible|biblical]] prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the [http://creationwiki.org/Bible_scientific_foreknowledge many examples where the Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time].

See also:

* [[Atheism and moral intelligence]]

'''Articles related to atheism and sexual immorality: '''

*[[Abortion and atheism]]

*[[Atheism and hedonism]]

*[[Atheism and pornography]]

*[[Atheism and child pornography]]

*[[Atheism and rape]]

*[[Atheism and sexually transmitted diseases]]

*[[Atheism and homosexuality]]

*[[Atheism and sadism]]

*[[Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA]]

*[[Atheist leaders and immoral relationships]]

*[[Atheism and bestiality]]

'''Atheism and suicide:'''

*[[Atheism and suicide]] (Atheists are more likely to commit [[suicide]])

== See also ==

*[[Atheism and musical–rhythmic intelligence and artistic intelligence]]

*[[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]]

* [[Atheism and love]]

*[[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]

Humor:

*[[Essay: Penn Jillette's walrus slide vs. thin Indian Christian lady dancers|Atheist Penn Jillette's walrus slide vs. thin Christian lady dancers]]

*[[Essay: Indian Christian culture is better than low class atheist "culture"|Indian Christian culture is better than low class atheist "culture"]]

*[[Essay: Great and inspiring art by atheists on atheism|Great and inspiring art by atheists on atheism]]

== External links ==

*[https://answersingenesis.org/kids/anatomy/the-human-body/ The human body: God's masterpiece]
*[http://www.icr.org/article/mankind-pinnacle-gods-creation/ Mankind--The Pinnacle of God's Creation] by Jerry Bergman, Ph.D.

== Notes ==

<references/>

[[Category: Atheism]]
[[Category: Obesity]]

Atheism and poor relationships with parents

2015-06-21T23:14:13Z

Chinken: /* Atheism has a lower retention rate than other worldviews */ rename section title so it is more relevant to the article's topic

[[Image:DrVitz.jpg|thumbnail|225px|right|[[Ex-atheists|Ex-atheist]] [[Paul Vitz]] ]]
The ''Cambridge Companion to [[Atheism]]'' which was edited by the atheist [[philosophy|philosopher]] [[Michael Martin]] declared:
{{cquote|Continuity and discontinuity in any identity may be a function of interpersonal networks, especially involving intimate relations. Apostasy and conversion can both be seen as a rejection of parental identity and parental beliefs. It “might well be symptomatic of familial strain and dissociation... apostasy is to be viewed as a form of rebellion against parents” (Caplovitz and Sherrow, 1977:50).<ref>''The Cambridge Companion to Atheism'', edited by [[Michael Martin]], page 302, published in 2006</ref>}}

A troubled/non-existent relationship with a father can influence a person to become an atheist.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth12.html</ref> Dr. [[Paul Vitz]] wrote a book entitled ''Faith of the Fatherless'' in which he points out that after studying the lives of more than a dozen leading atheists he found that a large majority of them had a father who was present but weak, present but abusive, or absent.<ref>Vitz, Paul, [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt The Psychology of Atheism], September 24, 1997 (lecture notes taken by an audience member).</ref><ref>Anders, Kerby, [http://www.probe.org/content/view/36/91/ Atheists and Their Fathers] (Probe Ministries)</ref> Dr. Vitz also examined the lives of prominent theists who were contemporaneous to their atheist counterparts and from the same culture and in every instance these prominent theists had a good relationship with his father.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref> Dr. Vitz has also stated other common factors he observed in the leading atheists he profiled: they were all intelligent and arrogant.<ref>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/vitz.txt</ref>

The book ''Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences'' by John J. Pasquini, Th.D. indicates that many of the prominent atheists (and prominent [[practical atheism|practical atheists]]) who had dysfunctional/absent fathers that he lists in his book also had dysfunctional/absent mothers.<ref>Atheist Persona: Causes and Consequences by John J. Pasquini, 2014, University Press of America, page 3</ref>

== Few children raised in atheist households stay atheists ==

''See also:'' [[Atheism has a lower retention rate compared to other worldviews]]

In 2012, a [[Georgetown University]] study was published indicating that only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an [[Atheism|atheist]] household remain atheists as adults.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/study-atheists-have-lowest-retention-rate-compared-to-religious-groups-78029/ Study: Atheists Have Lowest 'Retention Rate' Compared to Religious Groups</ref> Similarly, according to recent research by the Pew Research Forum on Religion and Public Life, in the United States, a majority of those surveyed who were raised in atheist or [[agnosticism|agnostic]] households, or where there was no specific religious attachment, later chose to join a religious faith.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/defectors-to-faith-mark-a-growing-trend/story-e6frg7ko-1225710667095</ref><ref>http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1204/religion-changes-affiliations-survey</ref>

== See also ==

*[[Irreligion and domestic violence]]

*[[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence]]

*[[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence]]

*[[Atheism and bitterness]]

*[[Atheism and immaturity]]

*[[Causes of atheism]]

*[[Teenage atheism]]

==External Links==

* [http://www.ad2000.com.au/articles/2002/mar2002p16_955.html Faith of the Fatherless, the Psychology of Atheism]
* [http://www.paulvitz.com/ Paul C. Vitz Resource Center]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Atheism]]

CE

2015-06-21T23:09:15Z

Chinken: typo

One suggestion for the origin of the term '''"Common Era" (CE)''' is an anti-Christian attempt to conceal that Jesus is the historical basis for the primary calendar dating system. "Common Era" has no real meaning, and even the origin of this term is unclear. A later edition (11th) defines it as the Christian Era. The first recorded use of the phrase "common era" was in 1708.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=D_wvAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA515&dq=%22common+era%22&lr=lang_en&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=800&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1740&as_brr=0&cd=2#v=onepage&q=%22common%20era%22&f=false ''History of the Works of the Learned'', January 1703]</ref>

The established calendar dating system, which uses the [[Anno Domini]] ('AD') notation, is based on the calculations of [[Dionysius Exiguus]] for the birthyear of [[Jesus]] relative to the foundation of Rome.<ref>[http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/calendars.html Index to Calendars, NASA site]</ref> At the time, dates used the 'AD' system instituted by pagan and murderer Emperor Diocletian, which used the first year of his reign as year 1. (In that system, "AD" stood for Anno Diocletiani, and should not be confused with the present-day AD system.) Because Dionysius Exiguus in the year 525 wanted to end the memorialization of an evil man who persecuted Christians, he invented a new numbering system based on his calculations of the birth year of Jesus Christ. However, as he miscalculated, the terms BCE/CE are more accurate than BC/AD as the last few years BC were not actually Before Christ, and hence 1 AD is not actually the first year after Jesus' birth.

While the use of the phrase "Common Era" has existed for hundreds of years, only recently have [[political correctness|politically correct]] [[liberals]] attempted to replace all instances of 'AD' with 'CE.' The original use of 'CE' was to avoid the common practice of countries basing their dates on when their rulers reached power <ref>ex. 15 years in the rulership of King Steven the Third</ref> or were born, i.e. the "regal era" from the birthdate of Jesus Christ, which belonged to all men "the common era." While use of "Common Era" attempts to erase recognition for the Christian basis of the calendar, there are no similar attempts to erase non-Christian religious names from the calendar, such as the days of the week named after Norse gods. Numerous texts, particularly schoolbooks, have replaced "B.C./A.D." with "Common Era" symbols over the past decade. This is part of a [[United Nations]] effort to remove Christ from the Christian calender and replace other cultures' orthodox calenders with it. <ref> Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi A. Annan in "Common values for a common era" on 28 June 1999 [http://www.un.org/News/ossg/sg/stories/articleFull.asp?TID=37] </ref>

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Dating Systems]]

Die Endlösung

2015-06-21T22:30:13Z

Chinken: Redirected page to Holocaust

#REDIRECT [[Holocaust]]

Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries

2015-06-21T22:24:43Z

Chinken: /* Recent intelligence trends in secular Europe/Australia and the religious United States */ why is this there? looks like a typo

[[File:800px-Mikolow protestant church pulpit.jpg|thumbnail|250px|right|[[Harvard University]] historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> (Picture: Protestant church pulpit) ]]
Factors such as greater wealth with its attendant better quality of education/health/nutrition help increase standardized [[Intelligence testing|intelligence tests]] (IQ) scores.<ref>[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/intelligence-quotient-james-flynn Received wisdom: Average IQ is falling in Britain and beyond, explains Philip Hunter] by Philip Hunt, March 21, 2012, Published in April 2012 issue of Prospect Magazine</ref>

Developed countries with greater wealth, better educational systems and nutrition often have a cultural heritage of [[Christianity]] and often have significant Christian populations within them.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/global-christianity-exec/ Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population], Pew Forum, December 10, 2011</ref><ref>[https://www.cai.org/bible-studies/these-were-christian-nations These Were Christian Nations]</ref> In terms of economic development, biblical Christianity has historically had a positive affect on countries.<ref>
*[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012
*[http://creation.com/christianity-as-progress ''Christianity as progress: A review of The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success by Rodney Stark Random House, New York, 2005''] by Lael Weinberger
*[http://creation.com/the-biblical-origins-of-science-review-of-stark-for-the-glory-of-god The biblical origins of science: A review of For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery by Rodney Stark] by Alex Williams</ref> [[Harvard University]] historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history." (See: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic and capitalism]]).<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>

== Flynn effect on intelligence: Religious/secular nations trends ==

The Flynn effect is the significant and long-sustained increase intelligence test scores measured in many parts of the world from roughly 1930 to the present.<ref name=R2000>Raven, John (2000). The Raven's Progressive Matrices: Change and Stability over Culture and Time. Cognitive Psychology 41, 1–48 (2000) {{doi|10.1006/cogp.1999.0735}}. John Raven, 30 Great King Street, Edinburgh EH3 6QH, Scotland. http://eyeonsociety.co.uk/resources/RPMChangeAndStability.pdf</ref> In many parts of the world, such as the developing world, biblical Christianity is seeing rapid growth (see: [[Global Christianity]]) which has the potential to improve their economies and thus improve their societal cognitive abilities as well given the link between economic well-being and increased cognitive abilities (see also: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic and capitalism]] and [[Atheism and intelligence]]).<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/global-christianity-exec/ Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population], Pew Forum, December 10, 2011</ref><ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> Furthermore, religiosity has a positive correlation with health and increased health has a beneficial effect on intelligence (see: [[Atheism and health]]).

In some secular, economically developed countries, the Flynn effect has ceased and their scores on standardized intelligence tests are falling.<ref>
*[http://www.examiner.com/article/how-the-world-s-iq-is-decline How the world's IQ is in decline] by Gunjan Singh - Cognitive Science Examiner, July 31, 2010
*Richard Lynn and Tatu Vanhanen (2006). IQ and Global Inequality. Washington Summit Publishers: Augusta, GA. ISBN 1-59368-025-2
*[http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ ''The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ''] by Thomas Hally
*[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/intelligence-quotient-james-flynn Received wisdom: Average IQ is falling in Britain and beyond, explains Philip Hunter] by Philip Hunt, March 21, 2012, Published in April 2012 issue of Prospect Magazine</ref>

== Recent intelligence trends in secular Europe/Australia and the religious United States ==

[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|280px|right|Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref> In [[Sweden]], phenotypic intelligence is now declining.<ref>[http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ ''The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ''] by Thomas Hally</ref> ]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and intelligence]]

To a certain extent intelligence is heritable and the link between higher IQ individuals having fewer kids is known as dysgenic fertility.<ref>[http://www.examiner.com/article/how-the-world-s-iq-is-decline How the world's IQ is in decline] by Gunjan Singh - Cognitive Science Examiner, July 31, 2010</ref>

Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among [[Atheist Population|atheistic populations]]: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."<ref>[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref> Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."<ref>[http://www.scilogs.eu/en/blog/biology-of-religion/2011-01-06/atheists-a-dying-breed-as-nature-favours-faithful-sunday-times-jan-02-2011-jonathan-leake-full-draft-version Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful]</ref>

Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]]'s academic work and his book ''Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?'' argue using a wealth of demographic data that due to the higher birth rates of religious conservatives (and the below replacement level of the irreligious) and religious immigration to the [[Western World]], atheism/secularism will decline in the Western World as early as 2021 or by 2050.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London]</ref><ref>[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/2011/05/eric-kaufmann-shall-religious-inherit.html Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?]</ref><ref>[http://kitmantv.blogspot.com/search/label/atheist%20demographics Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series]</ref><ref>[http://fora.tv/2010/09/05/Eric_Kaufmann_Shall_the_Religious_Inherit_the_Earth Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation]</ref>

In his paper, ''The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ'', Thomas Hally wrote:
{{cquote|In many areas phenotypic intelligence has been increasing (the Flynn Effect) while genotypic intelligence is decreasing due to the negative association between intelligence and that which is known as ³dysgenic fertility´. Gains of as much as 7.5 IQ points in phenotypic intelligence are much greater than the 0.43 IQ points per generation in the world-wide genotypic IQ that had been estimated for the period 1950-2000. The situation in the industrially developed world appears to follow the lead of the United States and a handful of other developed nations in so far as the phenotypic IQ has been increasing at a greater rate as a result of environmental improvements.

In [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], [[Great Britain]] and [[Australia]] phenotypic intelligence has stabilized and now is declining.<ref>[http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ ''The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ''] by Thomas Hally</ref>}}
[[File:Union jack.jpg|thumbnail|280px|right|In godless [[Great Britain]], phenotypic intelligence is now declining.<ref>[http://www.academia.edu/1203173/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_World_1_ ''The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ''] by Thomas Hally</ref><ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/05/14/whats-the-most-godless-place-on-earth/ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth?] by [[Hemant Mehta], May 14, 2012</ref> ]]
In 2012, it was reported that Norway was the eighth most godless country on earth.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/05/14/whats-the-most-godless-place-on-earth/ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth?] by [[Hemant Mehta], May 14, 2012</ref>

Sweden is one of the most [[atheism|atheistic]] countries in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref> In 2012, it was reported to be the 4rth most godless place on earth.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/05/14/whats-the-most-godless-place-on-earth/ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth?] by [[Hemant Mehta], May 14, 2012</ref> Sweden also has the 3rd highest rate of belief in evolution as far as [[Western World]] nations.<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds]</ref> See also: [[Sexual immorality and Sweden]]

Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the [[Western World]].<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/21329204.html Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds]</ref> In addition, in 2005 [[Denmark]] was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are [[agnosticism|agnostics]]/atheists/non-believers in God.<ref>[http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)]</ref>

According to Rabbi [[Shmuley Boteach]] and an article on Belief.net, Britain (which was the fountainhead of Darwinism) has become one of the most godless places on earth.<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/watchwomanonthewall/2011/07/has-godlessness-truly-%E2%80%98doomed%E2%80%99-great-britain.html HAS GODLESSNESS TRULY ‘DOOMED’ GREAT BRITAIN?]
by Hallowell”Billy Hallowell</ref> In 2012, Great Britain was reported to be the sixth most godless country on earth.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/05/14/whats-the-most-godless-place-on-earth/ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth?] by [[Hemant Mehta], May 14, 2012</ref>

Post World War II, Australia has become a highly secularized country.<ref>Buttrose, Larry. [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/sport-grog-and-godliness/story-e6frg6zo-1225769660554 Buttrose, Larry. Sport, grog and godliness, The Australian. Retrieved on 11 September 2009</ref>

== Atheism, intelligence and dysfunctional individuals/families/communities ==
[[File:Estocolmo The Royal Official Castle.jpg|thumbnail|270px|right|In atheistic [[Sweden]], 81 percent of women said they had been harassed at some point after the age of 15 - compared to the EU average of 55 percent.<ref>[http://www.thelocal.se/20140305/sweden-out-top-in-eu-domestic-violence-league Sweden stands out in domestic violence study] Published: 05 Mar 2014 08:3</ref> See: [[Irreligion and domestic violence]] ]]
Children in dysfunctional homes/communities and/or homes/communities with financial problems often door poorer on intelligence tests.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-17/news/mn-2176_1_sexual-abuse Studies Link Childhood Abuse to Adult Social Dysfunction : Research: Neglect is tied to lower IQs and misuse of drugs, alcohol. Results also dispel notions related to temperament and prostitution.] February 17, 1991|THOMAS H. MAUGH II | TIMES SCIENCE WRITER</ref><ref>[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/intelligence-quotient-james-flynn Received wisdom: Average IQ is falling in Britain and beyond, explains Philip Hunter] by Philip Hunt, March 21, 2012, Published in April 2012 issue of Prospect Magazine</ref>

As far as a comparison between atheistic/[[theism|theistic]] homes/individuals, please see:

*[[Atheism and health]]

*[[Atheism and suicide]]

*[[Irreligion and domestic violence]]

* [[Atheism and anger]]

*[[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]]

*[[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]]

*[[Atheist marriages]] and [[Atheism and marriage]]

* [[Atheism and poor relationships with parents]]

*[[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]

== Economic and societal deterioration in secular Europe ==
[[File:Sweden location.png|thumbnail|right|200px|In 2014, Sweden's new Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Loefven said, "Sweden is in a serious situation -- unemployment has become entrenched at high levels, school results have collapsed and the welfare system has major shortcomings".<ref>[http://www.afp.com/en/news/new-feminist-government-green-tinge-sweden New 'feminist' government with a Green tinge in Sweden]</ref>]]
As noted above, a countries economic health and educational system has an effect on IQ scores.

On October 3, 2014, ''L’Agence France-Presse'' reported:
{{cquote|Sweden's new Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Loefven unveiled what he called a "[[feminism|feminist]]" government including Green Party ministers for the first time in the Nordic country.

"The Swedish people voted for a change of government and a new political direction. A new government comprised of the Social Democrats and the Green Party is ready to take up the task," Loefven said in his inaugural speech to parliament.

"Sweden's new government is a feminist government," he said.

Half his cabinet is female, including Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson and Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem, a former EU commissioner.

Green Party leaders Aasa Romson and Gustav Fridolin were appointed ministers for the environment and education, respectively, and the party will also control Sweden's overseas aid agency Sida and the consumer affairs ministry.

He repeated election pledges to create jobs, recruit more teachers and increase the compulsory school age from 16 to 18.

"Sweden is in a serious situation -- unemployment has become entrenched at high levels, school results have collapsed and the welfare system has major shortcomings," he said.<ref>[http://www.afp.com/en/news/new-feminist-government-green-tinge-sweden New 'feminist' government with a Green tinge in Sweden]</ref>}}

=== Reports of secular Europe's societal and economic decline ===

In recent times, there have been a number of articles published on European decline:
 
'''Societal decline:'''

*[http://creation.com/why-is-england-burning Why is England burning?] by [[Creation Ministries International]], August 13, 2011
*[http://creation.com/bbc-sexual-perversion ‘Sexual perversion is good for you’, claims BBC] by Creation Ministries International, September 27, 2012
 
'''Economic decline:'''

*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/shelliekarabell/2014/09/16/is-europe-in-decline-one-professor-thinks-so/ Is Europe In Decline? One Professor Thinks So] - ''Forbes'' magazine, 9/16/2014
*[http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2012/05/30/whats-really-behind-europes-decline-its-the-birth-rates-stupid/ What's Really Behind Europe's Decline? It's The Birth Rates, Stupid], ''Forbes'' magazine, 5/30/2012
*[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/1202/The-eurozone-crisis-explained-in-5-simple-graphs/Debt-as-a-percentage-of-GDP The Eurozone explained via 5 simple grafts] - ''Christian Science Monitor'', 2011

== Atheism, obesity, secular Europe and falling rates of intelligence ==
[[File:Europe pol 2004.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to the [[World Health Organization]], "[[Obesity]] is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Its prevalence has tripled in many countries of the WHO European Region since the 1980s, and the numbers of those affected continue to rise at an alarming rate."<ref>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/obesity World Health Organization - Obesity in Europe]</ref>]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism, obesity, secular countries and falling rates of intelligence]]

[[Obesity]] is a significant problem in many atheistic countries (see: [[Secular Europe and obesity]] and [[China and obesity]]).

In the journal article ''Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications'', psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on [[self-control]]/self-regulation.<ref>[http://www.psy.miami.edu/faculty/mmccullough/Papers/Relig_self_control_bulletin.pdf Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications]</ref><ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054</ref> Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in ''Psychological Science'' found that religion replenishes self-control.<ref>[http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/05/02/0956797611431987.abstract ''Religion Replenishes Self-Control'', ''Psychological Science'', June 2012 vol. 23 no. 6 635-642, Kevin Rounding, Albert Lee, Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji at Queen’s University]</ref><ref>[http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/qu-qsf012412.php Study finds religion helps us gain self-control]</ref> Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10868765 Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen C., Health Psychol. 2000 May;19(3):211-22.]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1305900/ ''The role of spirituality in health care'', roc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2001 October; 14(4): 352–357.]</ref>

According to the [[Gallup poll|Gallup Inc.]], "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."<ref>http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx</ref>

For more information, please see: [[Atheism and obesity]]

Medical studies indicate that excess weight impairs brain function (see also: [[Physical and mental health related problems associated with obesity|Health effects of obesity]])<ref>
*[http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=110328 Obesity Linked to Changes In Cognitive Patterns, Psychiatric News, Joan Arehart-Treichel, Clinical and Research News, September 15, 2006]
*[http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2009/08/25/as-waistlines-widen-brains-shrink.html As Waistlines Widen, Brains Shrink: The obese and overweight have less neurological tissue, study finds, U.S News & World Report August 25, 2009]
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21167850 Western diet consumption and cognitive impairment: links to hippocampal dysfunction and obesity, Physiol Behav. 2011 Apr 18;103(1):59-68. Epub 2010 Dec 16.]
*[http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100714112832.htm Obesity Harms Women's Memory and Brain Function, Study Finds, Science Daily, July 15, 2010]
*[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/2568718/ Mental health, family function and obesity in African-American women, J Natl Med Assoc. 2005 April; 97(4): 478–482.]
*[http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/20061101/obesity-alzheimers-risk Obesity and Alzheimer's: High Insulin Levels Linked to Alzheimer's]
*[http://thehealthage.blogspot.com/2009/08/obese-people-are-more-at-risk-to.html Obese people are more at risk of Alzheimer’s]
*[http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/05/obesity-in-middle-age-may-increase-risk.html Obesity in Middle Age May Increase Risk of Dementia]</ref>

According to the [[World Health Organization]]:
{{cquote|Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Its prevalence has tripled in many countries of the WHO European Region since the 1980s, and the numbers of those affected continue to rise at an alarming rate.<ref>[http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/noncommunicable-diseases/obesity World Health Organization - Obesity in Europe]</ref>}}

== Secular European countries, religious immigration and IQ ==

Developed countries with greater wealth, better educational systems and nutrition often have a cultural heritage of [[Christianity]] and often have significant Christian populations within them.<ref>[http://www.pewforum.org/2011/12/19/global-christianity-exec/ Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population], Pew Forum, December 10, 2011</ref><ref>[https://www.cai.org/bible-studies/these-were-christian-nations These Were Christian Nations]</ref>

Formerly Christian countries which have become secularized very often have sub-replacement fertility rates and policies which encourage immigration (and as noted above, [[Eric Kaufmann|many of these immigrants]] are religious). See also: [[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]] and [[Secular Europe|Growth of evangelical Protestantism in Europe]]

=== Multiculturism, assimilation and the desecularization of Europe ===

''See also:'' [[Secular Europe|Desecularization of secular Europe in the 21st century]] and [[Secular Europe|Growth of evangelical Protestantism in Europe]]

[[File:Europe map CIA 2005.jpg|thumbnail|right|175px|In the Europe of tomorrow, immigration and religious fertility will increase the proportion of committed Christians in Europe, many from the developing world.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century] by [[Eric Kaufmann]]</ref> ]]
Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]] in an academic paper entitled ''Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century'' wrote:
{{cquote|Ethnicity and race may succumb to liberal modernity, but committed religious populations cannot be assimilated to liberal secularism fast enough to compensate for their demographic advantage in a world of plunging fertility and growing migration. In the end, it is a battle between religious fertility on the one hand, and, on the other, religious decline through the 'assimilation' of religious offspring into secularism. This paper argues that the weakness of secularism and a widening secular-religious fertility gap points toward a religious victory...

The principle of tolerating and 'celebrating' diversity is a corollary of postmodern relativism which opens up space for antimodern religious 'diversities' to take root. If they are demographically-powerful religious movements like Islamism or evangelical Christianity, they will exploit this weakness to progressively erode the hegemony of western secular humanism....

In the Europe of tomorrow, immigration and religious fertility will increase the proportion of committed Muslims and Christians, many from the developing world. It may seem fanciful to imagine a moral conservatism uniting white and nonwhite Christians as well as Muslims against 'secular humanists'. However, a version of this process has occurred in the United States, and it can be argued that the cocktail of cultural relativism, secular exhaustion and demographic change is even more potent in Europe than America. The division between native ethnic groups and immigrant groups is currently more important in Europe, but as the Muslim and religious Christian minorities grow, they will become as important for conservative politicians as the religious Hispanics of America whom the Republicans have so assiduously courted. At some point, it will make more electoral sense for European conservatives to appeal to a trans-ethnic coalition of moral conservatives than it will to stress anti-immigrant themes and ethno-nationalism. The liberal-left will find it extremely difficult to craft a defense of secularism given its investment in cultural relativism, the exhaustion of its secular religions, and its laissez-faire attitude to demographic change.

Standing back from the fray, we can think of demography as the achilles heel of liberalism.<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/RD/uploads/1-Shall%20the%20Religious%20Inherit%20the%20Earth.pdf Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century] by [[Eric Kaufmann]]</ref>}}

=== Immigrant group's IQ can rise if there is economic opportunity ===

As far as immigrants, IQs differ by country which is not surprising since poverty and its attendant maladies such as poor nutrition lowers a nation's IQ. In short, factors such as greater wealth with its attendant better quality of education/health/nutrition help increase IQ scores.<ref>[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/intelligence-quotient-james-flynn Received wisdom: Average IQ is falling in Britain and beyond, explains Philip Hunter] by Philip Hunt, March 21, 2012, Published in April 2012 issue of Prospect Magazine</ref>

However, if there is economic opportunity for immigrants from poor countries, an immigrant group's IQ rises and can even surpass the native population's IQ depending on their ambition/discipline level since wealth and higher IQs is highly correlated (Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D. points out that it is often a person's work ethic and frugality that leads to wealth more than a person's intelligence.<ref>''The Millionaire Mind'' by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D.</ref> In addition, the social scientists Andrea L. Duckworth and Martin Seligman found that higher degrees of [[self-control|self-discipline]] better predict higher academic grades than IQ scores do among adolescents.<ref>[http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~duckwort/images/PsychologicalScienceDec2005.pdf Self-Discipline Outdoes IQ in Predicting Academic Performance of Adolescents], Andrea L. Duckworth and Martin Seligman, Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania</ref>).

For example, Ron Untz wrote:
{{cquote|Perhaps the strongest evidence supporting this cultural rather than genetic hypothesis comes from the northwestern corner of Europe, namely Celtic Ireland. When the early waves of Catholic Irish immigrants reached America near the middle of the 19th century, they were widely seen as particularly ignorant and uncouth and aroused much hostility from commentators of the era, some of whom suggested that they might be innately deficient in both character and intelligence. But they advanced economically at a reasonable pace, and within less than a century had become wealthier and better educated than the average white American, including those of “old stock” ancestry. The evidence today is that the tested IQ of the typical Irish-American—to the extent it can be distinguished—is somewhat above the national white American average of around 100 and also above that of most German-Americans, who arrived around the same time.<ref>[http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/race-iq-and-wealth/ Race, IQ, and Wealth
What the facts tell us about a taboo subject] By Ron Unz • July 18, 2012</ref>}}

In addition, often immigrants are more entrepreneurial which can provide an economic boost to countries which will help boost their national IQ scores. In 2012, ''The Economist'' magazine pointed out that one of the significant factors for secular Europe's economic malaise is a chronic failure to encourage entrepreneurial activity.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/node/21559618 Les misérables]</ref> Historically, atheists have often tilted to left in their politics and as a result [[socialism]]/[[communism]] has often been prevalent in atheistic countries rather than [[free market]] [[capitalism]] which encourages entrepreneurship (see: [[Atheism and politics]] and [[Atheism and communism]]).

=== Protestant work ethic, European immigrants, wealth and IQ ===

On July 12, 2012, the ''Christian Science Monitor'' reported:
{{cquote|French scholars say, evangelicalism is likely the fastest-growing religion in France – defying all stereotypes about Europe’s most secular nation...

Daniel Liechti, vice-president of the French National Evangelical Council, found that since 1970, a new evangelical church has opened in France every 10 days. The number of churches increased from 769 to 2,068 last year.<ref>[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2012/0712/In-a-France-suspicious-of-religion-evangelicalism-s-message-strikes-a-chord In a France suspicious of religion, evangelicalism's message strikes a chord]</ref>}}

As noted above, in terms of economic development, biblical Christianity has historically had a positive affect on countries.<ref>
*[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012
*[http://creation.com/christianity-as-progress ''Christianity as progress: A review of The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success by Rodney Stark
Random House, New York, 2005''] by Lael Weinberger
*[http://creation.com/the-biblical-origins-of-science-review-of-stark-for-the-glory-of-god The biblical origins of science: A review of For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery by Rodney Stark] by Alex Williams</ref> Also, as mentioned above, [[Harvard University]] historian Niall Ferguson declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history." (See: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic and capitalism]]).<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> European countries with a cultural heritage of Protestantism are often economically prosperous and have among the highest IQs in Europe (Yet, as noted above as they have become secularized some of the countries IQs are falling due to "dysgenic fertility").<ref>[http://iqcomparisonsite.com/NationalIQs.aspx IQs of countries]</ref> Accordingly, evangelical Christians from Africa and other countries could prove to be an economic long-term benefit to France/Europe and higher wealth is associated with higher IQs. [[Global Christianity]], particularly [[conservative Christianity]], is seeing a significant amount of growth in the world today which certainly could affect future European immigration.

=== Immigrant groups, IQ and discrimination/poor assimilation ===

On the other hand, as far as immigrants immigrating into a more prosperous country, if there is widespread discrimination against an immigrant group and/or poor assimilation, the immigrant's group IQ will not see as big a jump due to the slower economic progress of the immigrant group.

The London School of Economics and Political Science reported:
{{cquote|There is growing concern in France that [[Islam|Muslim]] immigrants from North Africa are poorly integrated into French society, often due to discrimination. But are they discriminated against because of their religion, or because of their national or ethnic origins? Claire Adida, David Laitin and Marie-Anne Valfort address this very issue, and find that Muslims face significantly higher levels of discrimination from rooted French (defined as French nationals with four grandparents born in metropolitan France) than do their Christian counterparts, and that the dynamics leading to such discrimination are likely to endure.<ref>[http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/01/31/muslims-france-north-africa-senegal-discrimination/ Muslim immigrants have come to expect discrimination in France because of their religion, and this is unlikely to change]</ref>}}

In France, Britain, Sweden and other European countries, Muslims have often not assimilated well into countries and Muslim riots have ensued.<ref>[http://www.bnp.org.uk/news/christians-killed-muslim-riots-%E2%80%93-scary-glimpse-britains-future-under-islam Muslim riots in Britain]</ref><ref>[http://www.bnp.org.uk/news/christians-killed-muslim-riots-%E2%80%93-scary-glimpse-britains-future-under-islam Muslim riots in France]</ref><ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2013/05/youth-rioting-in-sweden-its-the-muslims-stupid/ 'Youth rioting' in Sweden? It's the Muslims, stupid]</ref><ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/muslim-protesters-in-europe-protest-for-peace-by-threatening-to-kill-jews/ Muslim Protestor in Europe]</ref> [[Islam]]ic cultures are very different from cultures which have been influenced by Christiannity. For example, Muslim countries are often less democratic and frequently have significant corruption issues (NGO Transparency International's annual index finds Muslim-majority countries are 8 of 10 most corrupt nations<ref>[http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/174773#.VJFQE3uMG1s Index: 8 Muslim-Majority Nations Among 10 Most Corrupt]</ref>).

Corruption often depletes a countries wealth so many Muslim nations which lack natural resources such as Middle Eastern oil, have many poor citizens.<ref>[http://www.transparency.org/whoweare/organisation/faqs_on_corruption/2/ Effect of corruption on a country], Transparency International]</ref><ref>[http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d07_1369844469#XH6cmvzQxi4IoFcs.99 Muslims are the world’s poorest, weakest and illiterate]</ref>

In 2013, LiveLeak reported about Muslim economic performance:
{{cquote|The combined annual GDP of 57 Muslim countries remains under $2 trillion. America, just by herself, produces goods and services worth $10.4 trillion; China $5.7 trillion, Japan $3.5 trillion and Germany $2.1 trillion. Even India’s GDP is estimated at over $3 trillion (purchasing power parity basis).

Oil rich Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Kuwait and Qatar collectively produce goods and services (mostly oil) worth $430 billion; Netherlands alone has a higher annual GDP while Buddhist Thailand produces goods and services worth $429 billion.

Muslims are 22 percent of the world population and produce less than five percent of global GDP.<ref>[http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=d07_1369844469#XH6cmvzQxi4IoFcs.99 Muslims are the world’s poorest, weakest and illiterate]</ref>}}

And since poverty is related to lower IQs, poor Muslim countries have lower national IQ scores than [[Western World]] countries.<ref>[http://www.photius.com/rankings/national_iq_scores_country_ranks.html National IQs]</ref>

Another reason for culture clash among seculars/[[atheism|atheists]] and Muslims is that both groups have a history of intolerance and/or militancy (see: [[Militant atheism]] and [[Atheism and anger]] [[Suppression of alternatives to evolution]] and [[Atheism and Mass Murder]] and [[Irreligion/religion and war/peace|Islam and War]]), so a certain amount societal friction is a natural result. The atheist Pat Condell is among the most vociferous anti-Muslim video makers on YouTube. However, since atheists are often [[leftism|leftists]] and [[multiculturism]] is a part of leftism, many atheists decry anti-Muslim discrimination (The multiculturism of atheists frequently does not extend to Christian culture. In such cases, atheist tolerance of Muslims may be in some cases an example of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"). In many Muslim countries, atheists often face severe punishments.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/blogs/erasmus/2014/12/atheism-belief-and-persecution The Cost of Unbelief], The Economist</ref>

==== New Atheists and accusations of Islamophobia ====

The [[New Atheism|New Atheists]] [[Richard Dawkins]], [[Sam Harris]] and the late [[Christopher Hitchens]] have received multiple accusations of engaging in [[Islamophobia|Islamophobic]] behavior.<ref>
*[http://www.salon.com/2013/03/30/dawkins_harris_hitchens_new_atheists_flirt_with_islamophobia/ Dawkins, Harris, Hitchens: New Atheists flirt with Islamophobia] by Nathan Lean, ''Salon'', March 30, 2013
*[http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/apr/03/sam-harris-muslim-animus Sam Harris, the New Atheists, and anti-Muslim animus] by Glenn Greenwald, ''The Guardian'', April 3, 2013</ref> On the other hand, defenders of atheist criticisms of [[Islam]]/Muslims indicated that New Atheists should be able to criticize Islam without being accused of Islamophobia.<ref>[http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2013/04/new-atheism-should-be-able-criticise-islam-without-being-accused-islamophobia New Atheism should be able to criticise Islam without being accused of Islamophobia] by Andrew Zak Williams, ''New Statesman'', Published 19 April, 2013</ref>

=== Future of immigration to Europe uncertain ===

The future of immigration to Europe is difficult to determine. Should Europe's economic condition worsen in the future it will be less attractive to immigrants and anti-immigration politics could heighten due to increased competition for scarcer job opportunities. In addition, anti-Muslim sentiments in Europe appear to be rising so the proportion of immigration from Muslim countries could be affected due to politicians catering to anti-Muslim public sentiments.

== See also ==

*[[Atheism and intelligence]]
*[[Atheism and the theory of multiple intelligences]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category: Christianity]]