(September 14, 2010 at 10:25 am)LastPoet Wrote: I have heard about these stats before, but in regards to debate morals with theists, I don't like to use the argument. Stats can be dicy, people can convert to god just to look good before parole boards, and even Atheists can be more successeful criminals than theists(wont get caught easily).
What I wonder though, is how good an outspoken atheist would do if he claimed before a parole board his atheism, and comparing it to a theist...
I agree. Stats can be dicy. They can be manipulated. But when even the most conservative estimate I can find put the UK population of Atheists at 15% and separate government stats put the Atheist and Agnostic prison population combined at 1%, it's hard to not see the implication.
Good question about an out spoken atheist in front of a parole board, another reason perhaps to hide Atheism while in prison. Although these statistics are based on the U.K. prison population, where if im honest, I don't believe as much weight would be put on someone's religious stand point as it would in perhaps some countries, but I guess thats hard to measure as it's a easily hidden prejudice.
