Diversity among Atheists?

[Elioenai26]

I have noticed a trend in speaking with atheists and studying their writings and the history of atheism in general.

An overhwhelming majority of atheists are male caucasians i.e. white males.

Does any atheist want to comment on this, as to why they think this might be and what, if anything, is signified by this statistic?

 

[Paradoxum]

I don't know much about it, but weren't the famous people of the past (atheist or not) mostly white males?

Education, culture, perhaps even biological tenancies could be reasons.

 

[Ken-1122]

I have noticed a trend in speaking with atheists and studying their writings and the history of atheism in general.

An overhwhelming majority of atheists are male caucasians i.e. white males.

Does any atheist want to comment on this, as to why they think this might be and what, if anything, is signified by this statistic?

I've noticed the same for Christians. Care to comment on that?

Ken

 

[NaCl]

I think this would have something to do with atheists being associated with the "intellectual elite", which has been predominately white and male. In addition you don't see as many minorities or women as scientists (or at least more outspoken ones), who also tend to have a leaning towards atheism/secularism. I'd say it's mostly a cultural thing.

This trend is exclusive to western nations; Asian countries like China and Japan have a larger ratio of atheists to theists.

 

[Buy Bologna]

I don't mean to be racist.

But I think a lot of it comes down to education. But that only goes so far cuz there are a lot of smart theist too.

One of my favorite scientist tho is Neil deGrasse Tyson, a black man. He's agnostic but very educated you see.

I honestly even think Obama could be atheist but he is too smart to know that mainstream America won't elect an atheist yet. He's hurdled enough just being the first black pres. But we are getting there. But the harvard grad in no dummy. Whether you like him or not.

Now here is some food for thought. Mississippi has the highest population of black people out of the rest of the 50 states. Guess what, Mississippi is also the most uneducated state. Oh, and lets not leave out the fact the Mississippi as also the most religious.

I don't think it's as much about being a certain race as it is about being educated.

 

[Stoneghost]

You and your "trends".

Maybe most of the atheists you meet are white because most Americans you have contact with are white? Not to completely blow your mind here but most of anything is going to be most of whatever the population is. So by extension of this truism most of the atheists in the world are Chinese, there are about a billion of them. They out number white atheists probably 3 to 1. When was the last time you were on a Chinese forum discussing atheism with them?

 

[Elioenai26]

You and your "trends".

Maybe most of the atheists you meet are white because most Americans you have contact with are white? Not to completely blow your mind here but most of anything is going to be most of whatever the population is. So by extension of this truism most of the atheists in the world are Chinese, there are about a billion of them. They out number white atheists probably 3 to 1. When was the last time you were on a Chinese forum discussing atheism with them?

Please forgive me if you think im making this up. I am not.

It's a statistic, not something that only I have observed.

When I say most atheists are white men, im talking about those white males who are leading the new atheist movement and holding rallies and seminars and writing books and speaking about atheism as if it were actually something desirable to be a part of.

Im not talking about chinese people at all nor am I talking about countries that are atheistic.

Im talking about those who are commonly associated with the new atheistic movement. Well over 90% are white men.

 

[BuffMonkey5]

Please forgive me if you think im making this up. I am not.

It's a statistic, not something that only I have observed.

When I say most atheists are white men, im talking about those white males who are leading the new atheist movement and holding rallies and seminars and writing books and speaking about atheism as if it were actually something desirable to be a part of.

Im not talking about chinese people at all nor am I talking about countries that are atheistic.

Im talking about those who are commonly associated with the new atheistic movement. Well over 90% are white men.

I thought you were originally referring to the atheists you have been talking to and the "general history of atheism."

And I don't think anything is signified by this "statistic" that you've "notice."

 

[quatona]

When I say most atheists are white men, im talking about those white males who are leading the new atheist movement and holding rallies and seminars and writing books and speaking about atheism as if it were actually something desirable to be a part of.

Yes, all atheists are white males - when you ignore the rest of them.

Im talking about those who are commonly associated with the new atheistic movement. Well over 90% are white men.

Ok, I´m taking your word for it for the sake of the argument.
I don´t know what to make of this phenomenon. But I am sure you will be able to come up with an interpretation that discredits atheism (and the obscure thread title already gives us a hint).

Let´s not forget, though, that in the history of western civilazation (and this is the context in which the "new atheism movement" has developed) the majority of philosophers have always been white males.

 

[Stoneghost]

It's a statistic, not something that only I have observed.

Have you seen this statistic in print of some kind?

When I say most atheists are white men, im talking about those white males who are leading the new atheist movement and holding rallies and seminars and writing books and speaking about atheism as if it were actually something desirable to be a part of.

I could say the same thing of Christianity or the Republic or Democratic party or even internet standards organization meetings and Oscar's night. What is the significance of this "trend"?

 

[Dave Ellis]

The places that have the most outspoken Atheists that we'd be aware of are Europe and North America.

White males make up a large percentage of the population in those regions... so it's natural to assume that they'd be one of (if not the) largest segment of the Atheist demographic.

Most Christian preachers and televangelists are also white men.... probably for the same reason.

I fail to see what point you're trying to make here?

 

[Elioenai26]

I thought you were originally referring to the atheists you have been talking to and the "general history of atheism."

And I don't think anything is signified by this "statistic" that you've "notice."

The prominent atheistic writers in history have been white men.

Thanks for contributing to this thread, it is much appreciated.

 

[Elioenai26]

Yes, all atheists are white males - when you ignore the rest of them.




Ok, I´m taking your word for it for the sake of the argument.
I don´t know what to make of this phenomenon. But I am sure you will be able to come up with an interpretation that discredits atheism (and the obscure thread title already gives us a hint).

Let´s not forget, though, that in the history of western civilazation (and this is the context in which the "new atheism movement" has developed) the majority of philosophers have always been white males.

This is not a personal attack on anyone.

I just wanted to know what people thought about the lack of diversity among the "new atheist" movement.

That's all.

 

[Elioenai26]

The places that have the most outspoken Atheists that we'd be aware of are Europe and North America.

White males make up a large percentage of the population in those regions... so it's natural to assume that they'd be one of (if not the) largest segment of the Atheist demographic.

Most Christian preachers and televangelists are also white men.... probably for the same reason.

I fail to see what point you're trying to make here?

I never said I was trying to make a point.

I just wanted to know what people thought about the fact that the overwhelming majority of outspoken atheists that we know of are white males.

 

[quatona]

This is not a personal attack on anyone.

I just wanted to know what people thought about the lack of diversity among the "new atheist" movement.

"Diversity" as in "distribution by gender and race", to be precise.
In my country there are at least 90% whites. So no surprise there.
About the gender thing: The women are probably busy doing the housing.

 

[dysert]

I honestly even think Obama could be atheist but he is too smart to know that mainstream America won't elect an atheist yet. He's hurdled enough just being the first black pres. But we are getting there. But the harvard grad in no dummy. Whether you like him or not.

(I realize this is off topic, but I couldn't let it pass. I don't think Obama is as smart as everyone used to think he is. If you're driving a car toward a cliff, you don't give it more gas -- you try to stop, or turn to avoid the cliff. Put another way, if you see entitlement-type policies failing all around you, you don't try to emulate the very practices that have caused those countries to fail.

No, Obama is no smarter than the average person or else he'd realize what he's been doing for 3.5 years isn't working and is leading us towards a Greek-like state.)

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[quatona]

The prominent atheistic writers in history have been white men.

So have the prominent writers in history in general. Thus, "new atheism" is well within that overall trend.

 

[ThinkFreeDom]

Actually you are right. I saw a study that found that 58% of those who self-identify as atheist are male. I can't find it now. This article is worth a look though:

Why are Most Atheists Male?

 

[JGG]

Please forgive me if you think im making this up. I am not.

It's a statistic, not something that only I have observed.

Im talking about those who are commonly associated with the new atheistic movement. Well over 90% are white men.

I would love to see where this statistic came from, and how it was obtained. Any chance you have a citation?

 

[Eudaimonist]

Most Christians I had met in the US were white. That's not to say that I hadn't met any black Christians, but most were white. Does this mean anything other than that most Americans are white, or that most people I had socialized with were white? I doubt it.


eudaimonia,

Mark