Is the internet destroying religion?

[CapnAwesome]

Cap'n. I believe you are looking at the wrong statistic. Don't look at the literacy rate at the time the printing press was invented. Look at the literacy rate afterwards!! The printing press drove remarkable literacy rates. And that was down to one thing: the bible. Look at literacy rates of the founding generations in America - all free people learned to read, and they learned to read so that they could read the bible, first the Geneva Bible then the 'King James' bible. And it then didn't stop at the bible. Once the people could read, they were open to all sorts of material. Just think of the impact of Thomas Paine's 'Rights of Man' in America. It was arguably the catalyst that drove independence and was a major stepping stone to the French Revolution. It certainly inspired Washington and Franklin to believe in independence. And then his 'The American Crisis' ("These are the times that try men's souls") enthused and galvanised Americans when all was looking lost.

The printing press drove remarkable literacy rates in all layers of society (we are not just talking about an elite; the printing press absolutely crushed the previous paradigm of reading only being for the elite classes), and drove huge political changes, and changes in world order that are arguably still reaching their conclusion. It opened up all levels of society to new knowledge; it empowered the working classes and even empowered slaves who could use the bible against their owners. I see nothing of that sort happening with the internet, certainly nothing on that scale. I can only imagine what George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Paine would make of the use we put a remarkable new technology to.

Well I did mention that about the literacy rate actually. However it took centuries to have anything close to mass literacy. Centuries. Where as the internet is in it's infancy and look what's happened with it. Who knows where it will go.

[Polaris]

As a theist, the internet is a huge blessing. Since many atheists (well the ones I have met online which is a rather small yet vocal subset of atheists; the ones offline I have met in person have been quite intelligent) focus on the websites with little academic validity...if that is all a nonbeliever is exposed to, it makes the job of converting them to a particular faith much easier. If theists can beat you at your own game, then you have nothing.

[CapnAwesome]

As a theist, the internet is a huge blessing. Since many atheists (well the ones I have met online which is a rather small yet vocal subset of atheists; the ones offline I have met in person have been quite intelligent) focus on the websites with little academic validity...if that is all a nonbeliever is exposed to, it makes the job of converting them to a particular faith much easier. If theists can beat you at your own game, then you have nothing.

Atheist forums is definitely far from an academic website and most of the Theists on here consistently look like idiots. Only smug self possessed theists think that you are beating us at anything. Plus one look at de-conversion statistics (http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/ ) shows that the number of Atheists, Agnostics and those identifying as no religion have gone through a huge increase almost directly starting with the internet age. So yeah, the internet does not help your cause.

[DramaQueen]

The Internet helped understand more about islam (from the Muslim side), look at what happened.

[Polaris]

As a theist, the internet is a huge blessing. Since many atheists (well the ones I have met online which is a rather small yet vocal subset of atheists; the ones offline I have met in person have been quite intelligent) focus on the websites with little academic validity...if that is all a nonbeliever is exposed to, it makes the job of converting them to a particular faith much easier. If theists can beat you at your own game, then you have nothing.

Atheist forums is definitely far from an academic website and most of the Theists on here consistently look like idiots. Only smug self possessed theists think that you are beating us at anything. Plus one look at de-conversion statistics (http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/) shows that the number of Atheists, Agnostics and those identifying as no religion have gone through a huge increase almost directly starting with the internet age. So yeah, the internet does not help your cause.

I'm beating you and I'm using your own bullshit against you to do so.

The Internet helped understand more about islam (from the Muslim side), look at what happened.

Yes, the Moslem use of the internet has vastly surpassed anything the atheists have been able to muster. If it wasn't for creating extremists to serve organizations like the Islamic State, then it wouldn't be so bad (speaking from someone who doesn't have much affinity for people converting to Islam).

[CapnAwesome]

Atheist forums is definitely far from an academic website and most of the Theists on here consistently look like idiots. Only smug self possessed theists think that you are beating us at anything. Plus one look at de-conversion statistics (http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/) shows that the number of Atheists, Agnostics and those identifying as no religion have gone through a huge increase almost directly starting with the internet age. So yeah, the internet does not help your cause.

I'm beating you and I'm using your own bullshit against you to do so.

Oh wow! I gave convincing statistics that shows that Atheism, Agnosticism and non-religion have been on the rise since the age of the internet, but you said that you are beating me! Wow! That is convincing!

[Polaris]

I'm beating you and I'm using your own bullshit against you to do so.

Oh wow! I gave convincing statistics that shows that Atheism, Agnosticism and non-religion have been on the rise since the age of the internet, but you said that you are beating me! Wow! That is convincing!

You mean "The page you are looking for falls outside of the margin of error."

So how do you pronounce Utah? Oooh-tah or you-tah?

[CapnAwesome]

Oh wow! I gave convincing statistics that shows that Atheism, Agnosticism and non-religion have been on the rise since the age of the internet, but you said that you are beating me! Wow! That is convincing!

You mean "The page you are looking for falls outside of the margin of error."

So how do you pronounce Utah? Oooh-tah or you-tah?

You could click the very obvious link that says 'nones on the rise' you know. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/ The first thing that shows up. I don't think it will really make a difference to your argument (not that you really have presented one.) The best you could do is argue that Atheism etc is on the rise for other reasons than the internet. It would be a mighty coincidence though.

[Polaris]

You mean "The page you are looking for falls outside of the margin of error."

So how do you pronounce Utah? Oooh-tah or you-tah?

You could click the very obvious link that says 'nones on the rise' you know. http://www.pewforum.org/2012/10/09/nones-on-the-rise/ The first thing that shows up. I don't think it will really make a difference to your argument (not that you really have presented one.) The best you could do is argue that Atheism etc is on the rise for other reasons than the internet. It would be a mighty coincidence though.

It's on the rise because people actually go out there and make a difference. You fuckers have helped to increase new-age Christianity in America. Congratusufuckinglations.

I really should thank you as you helped to make Christianity awesome.

[CapnAwesome]

I'm not really sure what you are suggesting. That somehow Atheist arguments make Christians convert to New age nonsense? I think you need to elaborate more before I can really respond to that.