I didn’t see anyone discussing this on these boards and as a CFI member and POI listener i figured it should be posted here. as an atheist i have to say i wasn’t as offended by the story as a lot of postings on other blogs, but the panel after it was ridiculous.
take a look.

they constantly quote a study that says atheists are only 3% of the population when i’ve heard DJ quote a study numerous times that puts it somewhere closer to 10-15%?

Well, it all depends. Technically they are correct. People who self identify with the term atheist is about 3%, but people who identify themselves as “non-religious” or “don’t believe in God” is about 15%.

It all depends on how the questions are worded. A lot of people don’t like the term atheist, so fewer say yes when you ask “Are you an atheist”. But if you say “Do you believe in God” about 10-15% say no.

....

The problem is that the term ‘atheist’ has a definite negative connotation, particularly in this country. It seems eminently clear to me that many people who are de facto atheists will not self-describe themselves that way, simply because they feel the term is negative.

I started up another thread on this very topic awhile back.

Many of the comments quoted in that blog about atheism are abhorrent, and a clear message about why the work of organizations like CFI, and books like those from Dawkins and Harris are so important.

You might have read it on Dawkins’s site by now: Dawkins is going to appear on CNN with Paula Zahn tomorrow, February 8, at 8:00 p.m. EST.

This was clearly a dog and pony show with no attempt at balance or understanding.

[quote author=“George Benedik”]You might have read it on Dawkins’s site by now: Dawkins is going to appear on CNN with Paula Zahn tomorrow, February 8, at 8:00 p.m. EST.

Sweet!

Dawkins’s comment on tonight’s upcoming discussion with Paula Zahn on CNN:

[quote author=“Dawkins”]Various people on Pharyngula have made the point that it would have been better to have had American voices rather than my English one on CNN tonight. The same thought occurred to me yesterday. I suggested some names, including Michael Newdow who was actually slandered by one of the morons on the previous program. Unfortunately, however, CNN were adamant that they wanted a one-on-one between me and Paula Zahn. So I’ll just have to do the best I can, with apologies to those who could surely have done a better job. I think it is possible that CNN don’t want to concentrate on American attitudes to atheists this time, so much as on atheism more generaly (I was told that Paula Zahn is reading The God Delusion).
Richard

Yeah, I thought about this today too and posted a common on the Dawkins forum about it. Oh well. I’d be happy to go on there myself for that matter :p

[quote author=“rationalrevolution”]I’d be happy to go on there myself for that matter :p

The other night on American Idol I heard some girl saying she should be the next Idol because she is an American.   

I am sure Dawkins will do fine. :wink:

This is an issue where CFI should be involved. We should be getting DJ, Paul Kurtz or Eddie Tabash on that show, seriously, this is disappointing.

Damn, it looks like Anna Nicole Smith is stealing this show.

It has been rescheduled for tomorrow at 8:00 p.m.

We need to get them to take Eddie Tabbash on there for the panel.

Interesting rant rebuttal from Brian Sapient
http://www.briansapient.com/media/CNNbashesAtheists.mp3

Am I hearing it wrong or did Dawkins refer to evolution as “just an opinion”?:shock:

If you missed it, you can watch it here . (It is impossible to get to Dawkins’s site these days.)

I think he was equating opinion with atheist. That atheism is an opinion. But he was equating atheists wholesale with some types of science (cosmology and evolution) which i think is probably unsupportable opinion