Anyone ever heard of Paul Vitz?

[orogenicman]

He is a tenured psychologist at New York University. He claims that people become atheists because they were raised fatherless. I bring this up because I've been in a running debate (if you can call it that) with a venomous theist who has bought into this nonsense, and not only makes this same argument, but argues that atheists are mentally ill. He cites a study done that claims that atheists are autistic. I pointed out that what the study actually says is that a significant number of those with autistic disorders don't believe in god is not the same as all atheists being autistic. Of course, he's convinced that the contrary is true and insists that this study validates his bigoted belief. It's just sad, really. The real question in my mind is how New York University has managed to lower their standards to the extent that they gave this Vitz guy tenure.

[Epimethean]

I just looked him up. Reading now.

[Tempus]

I remember reading about this a while ago. Obviously it wasn't very interesting at the time since I don't remember anything else about it. Have there been any studies done regarding it? Seems a little narrow to peg the cause as solely on being fatherless. What about motherless? Orphaned? I'd be interested to see the results.

[Minimalist]

He claims that people become atheists because they were raised fatherless.

I am an atheist and my dad just passed away at 93.

I'd say this guy is an idiot.

[Epimethean]

My dad's still kicking. Seventy-nine and cantankerous as ever. I think the fact that he's Catholic has more to do with my discovery of atheism than his supposed non-existence.

[KichigaiNeko]

Was raised WITH my Dad in attendance (not an absent father figure)



I would recommend this graphic for your rabid theist.

[Tiberius]

Tenure isn't generally given based on a person's belief, or even one one particular area of their research. It is given on their research in general, and in Vitz's case, he has published a load of papers and books on varying subjects in Psychology. He certainly deserves tenure, despite what he might believe.

[orogenicman]

Tenure isn't generally given based on a person's belief, or even one one particular area of their research. It is given on their research in general, and in Vitz's case, he has published a load of papers and books on varying subjects in Psychology. He certainly deserves tenure, despite what he might believe.

I'm not talking about his personal beliefs. He is teaching that atheists are the way they are because of fatherlessness. And he cites his own so-called research when he makes the claim. He has written at least one book on it, and goes on religious lecture tours promoting this nonsense. He is promoting it as a scientific fact. And the religious right is eating it up. He promotes atheism as a form of mental illness.

[jackman]

it sounds like he's more or less *allowed* to have opinions like that by the very nature of him attaining tenure. given his freedom (as stated below), removing him from that post is also going to be extremely unlikely for both the school or the courts. a shame it is.

Academic tenure is primarily intended to guarantee the right to academic freedom: it protects teachers and researchers when they dissent from prevailing opinion, openly disagree with authorities of any sort, or spend time on unfashionable topics.

[downbeatplumb]

How many fatherless theists are there I wonder?

Anyhoo my dad has always been there and I am an atheist.