More atheist men than women?

[brewer]

I've got no clue. Here in the heartland not to many of us come out. I know three others, 2 men, 1 woman. But then belief isn't discussed that much. Mostly assumed.

[ReptilianPeon]

More Atheist men than women? I'd say yes given my own study of the England and Wales census data. I'm not claiming it's representative though, just that it would add credence to the theory. Though not all religions have more women in their numbers so it's probably not as black and white as it can be made out to be.  You can find my source here in a neat table.

There are around 10% more irreligious men (7,747,750) than women (6,349,479). There were also more men who did not state their religion by around 2%. If all religious people are lumped together, there are 929,160 more religious females than males which means there are 2% more religious females than males.

However, interestingly, not all religions had more women than men. Excluding those classed as "Other Religion", only three of the six religions can claim to have more women than men in their numbers. People who come under "Other Religion" are 106,125 males and 134,405 female which translates to 12% more females than males.

Christianity (2,512,563 more women which translates to around 8% more women), Buddhism (14,451 more women which translates to around 6% more women) and Judaism (6,720 more women which = 3% more women) could claim to have more women in their numbers than men. Sikhism had about equal numbers of men and women as there were only around 1% more men (4,928) than women in their numbers.

You hear all these brash statements about how the Muhammadan religion is the best religion for women and how women are converting all the time and yet they had loads more men than women in their numbers, which strikes me as odd given all the rhetoric I hear. It's almost as if they are lying in an attempt to spread Stockholm Syndrome. There were 112,514 more Muhammadan men than women (around 4% more men) which is odd given the general trend that women tend to be more religious than men and this is supposedly the best religion for a woman. They, along with Hinduism, buck the trend of women being more religious - so maybe there is a connection between the two?

Hinduism isn't far behind though, at around 3% more men (421,054) than women (395,579). Maybe the connection between the two religions is honour killings? After all, it is claimed that it is a cultural thing rather than something relating to any particular religion. Or maybe the reason is not honour killings at all - I can't say for sure. Could it simply be that these two religions are much more oppressive to women than the others, hence women want to leave them?

[robvalue]

When I go down the pub, I've met many happily married atheist blokes. Mainly because they can't remember who their wives are

Not exactly on topic but I just thought of it and it's funny*, so there!

*Void where prohibited

[Thumpalumpacus]

This is a profoundly wrong pair of assertions.

Men can give birth?

Women cannot give birth without them. I had expected you to have known that.

What is wrong with that particular assertion is that women are necessary but not sufficient to give life in and of themselves; men are still required.

And what is wrong with the other assertion, that only men can give spiritual life, is easily shown wrong. I think we've all learnt about love from our mothers, and if that ain't spiritual, then I don't know what is.

Your mileage seems to vary.

[The Valkyrie]

Men can give birth?

Women cannot give birth without them.  I had expected you to have known that.

What is wrong with that particular assertion is that women are necessary but not sufficient to give life in and of themselves; men are still required.

And what is wrong with the other assertion, that only men can give spiritual life, is easily shown wrong. I think we've all learnt about love from our mothers, and if that ain't spiritual, then I don't know what is.

Your mileage seems to vary.

"...men are still required"

For the moment.

[Whateverist]

Men can give birth?

Women cannot give birth without them.  

What about turkey bastors and public toilets.  So long as we continue to let if fly for free they'll never need us again.  Come on guys, we're better than this.

[Catholic_Lady]

Men can give birth?

Women cannot give birth without them.  I had expected you to have known that.

What is wrong with that particular assertion is that women are necessary but not sufficient to give life in and of themselves; men are still required.

And what is wrong with the other assertion, that only men can give spiritual life, is easily shown wrong. I think we've all learnt about love from our mothers, and if that ain't spiritual, then I don't know what is.

Your mileage seems to vary.

Women can't get pregnant without them. But we still carry life within us for 9 months and give birth on our own, no man needed while we do both of these amazing and uniquely feminine things. :-)

[Whateverist]

But we still carry life within us for 9 months and give birth on our own, no man needed ..

That's great darlin'.  When you get a chance, could you bring me a sammich?

[Catholic_Lady]

But we still carry life within us for 9 months and give birth on our own, no man needed ..

That's great darlin'.  When you get a chance, could you bring me a sammich?

Um let me think... nope!

[Thumpalumpacus]

Women cannot give birth without them.  I had expected you to have known that.

What is wrong with that particular assertion is that women are necessary but not sufficient to give life in and of themselves; men are still required.

And what is wrong with the other assertion, that only men can give spiritual life, is easily shown wrong. I think we've all learnt about love from our mothers, and if that ain't spiritual, then I don't know what is.

Your mileage seems to vary.

"...men are still required"

For the moment.

I'll be worried when a toy can ... well, never mind, this ain't A69.