Atheists and the Federal Bureau of Prisons

	Duration: 04:04 minutes Upload Time: 07-07-03 11:43:04 User: Desertphile :::: Favorites :::: Top Videos of Day
Description: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdVucvo-kDU This evening I noticed a YouTube video by zakiechan titled "Atheist." That video cites data I originally published in the year 1997. This no longer surprises me, since I have seen that data has been used and abused in scores of places on the Internet. The data is usually used by atheists to show that the prison population in the United States is made up mostly of Christians, with a tiny fraction of one percent of the prison population being atheists. If I had known the data would be misused and abused I would not have published that data. In brief, the history of that data is as follows. In the FidoNet message conference called HOLYSMOKE in 1997, the issue came up regarding the hypothesis that atheists commit far fewer crimes than theists; one of the people who held the contrary opinion, Jesse J., said quote "Indeed, if there were no God, I would _have_ to be selfish, I believe, because there would be no one else watching out for me, and no reason to put anyone or anything ahead of me." His argument was that people must believe in a god or gods to be ethical, moral, and law abiding. His belief was known to be false, yet nobody in HOLYSMOKE could point to hard data showing it was false. And by the way, I would hate to be this guy's neighbor if and when he ever abandons belief in his god. One HOLYSMOKE contributor, Rod S., decided to contact the Unites States Federal Bureau of Prisons and ask if there was data regarding the religious affiliations, if any, of incarcerated prisoners. Research Analyst for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Denise Golumbaski, performed a database query on 5 March 1997 that compiled that data, and mailed it to Mister S. Of the 96,968 prisoners in Federal facilities who reported a religion affiliation or reported they were atheists, 156 of them said they were atheists. The overwhelming majority said they were Christians. In 1997 I widely published the data in FidoNet, Usenet, and in two skeptic related magazines. If I recall correctly, the Bay Area Skeptics also published the data. The Freedom From Religion Foundation contacted me asking if the data was legitimate; if I recall correctly, so did Fundamentalists Anonymous. I told them all what I will say now. It was never my contention, nor Mister S's, that the numbers actually mean anything. For all anyone knows, 100% of the USA Federal Prison Population is made up of atheists. Or flying saucer cult adherents. Or Branch Davidians. The only thing the data shows is that most prisoners said they were Christians: that does not mean they were. There are many reasons why atheist prisoners would say they are Christians: Christian prisoners in the United States are granted privileges other theists, and non-theists, are not granted. It is in atheists' self-interest to say they are Christians. I should also note that this does not mean there are more atheists in USA Federal prison than 0.21 per cent: it just means that the probability there are many more is very likely.
Comments
smaakjeks ::: Favorites My point is that merely because some are desperate it does not necessarily follow that they turn to any of the gods. Outside or within prison. 07-08-24 07:30:42 _____________________________________________________
questioneverything8 ::: Favorites If I understand your point correctly, people who are desperate enough to turn to crime, see crime as there way out or a way to salvation from their situation. However when he is put into prison he has no where to turn except maybe to God. 07-08-23 23:53:35 _____________________________________________________
smaakjeks ::: Favorites If people who are down on their luck in life turn to God, who do you think turn to crime in the first place if not the desperate? 07-08-22 08:18:01 _____________________________________________________
Reschat ::: Favorites Still: Same point. 07-08-16 01:55:23 _____________________________________________________
Desertphile ::: Favorites "...why are there still so many (over 25%) still saying they are not Christian?" There aren't. 83.76% say they are Christian; the rest are mostly Islamists, Jews, Hindu, and others. 07-08-15 22:07:27 _____________________________________________________
Reschat ::: Favorites I don't quite believe you (it is properly a little true - but not so much that it compromises the results). If people lied about their lack of religion because of benefits being an Christian in jail - why are there still so many (over 25%) still saying they are not Christian? 07-08-15 03:44:57 _____________________________________________________
Desertphile ::: Favorites "we got beaten by the mormons...." And *THAT* is a scary thought to contemplate! :-) Thank gods there are almost no Scientologists. 07-08-13 21:08:32 _____________________________________________________
liserdarts ::: Favorites It is in an atheist's best interest to identify themselves as a Christian, when not incarcerated too... hmmm 07-08-05 18:43:25 _____________________________________________________
DaVinci85 ::: Favorites we got beaten by the mormons.... 07-08-04 15:16:21 _____________________________________________________
wsmith68 ::: Favorites I really don't give a shit what anyone thinks about religion. Its a personal thing. The whole idea that someone is superior to someone else because they are a Muslim or Baptist or Catholic or Jew or Atheist, is sickening. With that said, you are all crazy. I am an agnostic. L O fuckin L ! 07-07-26 18:13:53 _____________________________________________________