Can anyone explain to me how what this poll shows happened?

[amateurlyinsightful]

A Pew Poll showed that Atheists in 2007 were at 1.6%, and Jews were at 1.7%. While a 2009 Pew Poll said that Atheists in 2009 were at 5%, and Jews were at 4%.
Agnostics, and no religious affiliation also increased

[padraic]

The results of polls depend on what questions are asked.

The clip below IS satire,but only just.

[amateurlyinsightful]

The goal of a poll is supposed to be to objectively (using a science) determine something. Seeing as how Pew is up there with the best I don't see how they would try to "play" the public.

[CliveStaples]

(6th July 2012 07:54)amateurlyinsightful Wrote:  A Pew Poll showed that Atheists in 2007 were at 1.6%, and Jews were at 1.7%. While a 2009 Pew Poll said that Atheists in 2009 were at 5%, and Jews were at 4%.
Agnostics, and no religious affiliation also increased

Can you give a citation? Because that's a lot of unaccounted-for percentage points. They don't just disappear.

[amateurlyinsightful]

Yea, I'll put it up tomorow. I got to sleep first. I copy & pasted this from another post of mine somewhere else, and I remember it was hard to find in the first place

[Creed of Heresy]

Well now the numbers are up to 16%, as I recall. Either we're seeing a wild acceleration in atheistic mindsets or...I dunno, really. Maybe the polls are off? Somehow?

[CliveStaples]

(6th July 2012 10:23)Creed of Heresy Wrote:  Well now the numbers are up to 16%, as I recall. Either we're seeing a wild acceleration in atheistic mindsets or...I dunno, really. Maybe the polls are off? Somehow?

You'd need to see what was being categorized as 'atheist'. One poll I saw described as 'atheist' a positive response to the question, "Do you ever doubt that God exists?" So it depends on the methodology of the poll.

[Tempus]

(6th July 2012 10:57)CliveStaples Wrote:  You'd need to see what was being categorized as 'atheist'. One poll I saw described as 'atheist' a positive response to the question, "Do you ever doubt that God exists?" So it depends on the methodology of the poll.

This. The classification of 'atheist' seems to vary poll to poll. And sometimes the irreligious are thrown in too.

[NoraBrimstone]

What was this poll about? I have no idea what stats I am looking at...

[cato123]

(6th July 2012 09:52)CliveStaples Wrote:  

(6th July 2012 07:54)amateurlyinsightful Wrote:  A Pew Poll showed that Atheists in 2007 were at 1.6%, and Jews were at 1.7%. While a 2009 Pew Poll said that Atheists in 2009 were at 5%, and Jews were at 4%.
Agnostics, and no religious affiliation also increased

Can you give a citation? Because that's a lot of unaccounted-for percentage points. They don't just disappear.

http://religions.pewforum.org/reports/