Comments on: Death Toll: Theism Vs. Atheism http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:14:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Adrian Hayter http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-4215 Adrian Hayter Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:07:05 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-4215 @Willywill3 I never claimed Stalin was closet atheist, the original writer did. To back up his assertion he outlined Stalin's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin#Religious_beliefs" rel="nofollow">contradictory beliefs</a>. As for putting faith in science and using science to kill billions, that is such a bullshit argument. Science tells us what is part of the natural world and how it works. We then use that knowledge to commit atrocities. That isn't the fault of science, it is the fault of humans. Otherwise, perhaps you should blame gravity for all the bombs dropped on cities. @Willywill3

I never claimed Stalin was closet atheist, the original writer did. To back up his assertion he outlined Stalin’s contradictory beliefs.

As for putting faith in science and using science to kill billions, that is such a bullshit argument. Science tells us what is part of the natural world and how it works. We then use that knowledge to commit atrocities. That isn’t the fault of science, it is the fault of humans.

Otherwise, perhaps you should blame gravity for all the bombs dropped on cities.

]]> By: Willywill3 http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-4213 Willywill3 Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:18:36 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-4213 Actually I find that to be very intriguing that you claim Stalin was a "closet theist" when that is a damn lie. Plus you must not forget those who solely put their faith into Science have used that same science to kill billions. China is an Atheistic country and besides all of that, the death tolls on both sides are a FUCKING ATROCITY. Actually I find that to be very intriguing that you claim Stalin was a “closet theist” when that is a damn lie. Plus you must not forget those who solely put their faith into Science have used that same science to kill billions. China is an Atheistic country and besides all of that, the death tolls on both sides are a FUCKING ATROCITY.

]]> By: Angel http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-3982 Angel Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:55:42 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-3982 Other than that I find this debate not a good one anyways because what it really proves is that both non-religious (that would include atheists) and religious ran forms of government have the potential to be mass killing machines. Then again, I guess one should also factor in differentiating between justified killings and unjustified killings. Other than that I find this debate not a good one anyways because what it really proves is that both non-religious (that would include atheists) and religious ran forms of government have the potential to be mass killing machines. Then again, I guess one should also factor in differentiating between justified killings and unjustified killings.

]]> By: Angel http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-3981 Angel Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:53:58 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-3981 One thing I could not find was the credentials of the person who did this research from the teapot Atheist blog site. I would hope this person has some credentials to establish some credibility at least. Furthermore, some of the sources he or she references are from Wikipedia and with no further sources mentioned. One place, this person inadequately provided sources for is for example with the information under with the link name, The Mughal conquest of North India. The link leads to a Wikipedia article and again no sources are mentioned. Wikipedia is by far not an authoriatative reference source. At the same time, I also found a site that says atheistic communism regimes have killed more and it references RJ Rummel works, who is a professor of political science at the University of Hawaii. The title of this article is, Just How Many People Has Religion Killed? by Kirk Durston, National Director, New Scholars Society. You can read it at this link, and then scroll down until you get to that article title. It also at the end provides a link to RJ Rummel's website. http://theroadtoemmaus.org/RdLb/21PbAr/Pl/DthByAthsm.htm. One thing I could not find was the credentials of the person who did this research from the teapot Atheist blog site. I would hope this person has some credentials to establish some credibility at least. Furthermore, some of the sources he or she references are from Wikipedia and with no further sources mentioned. One place, this person inadequately provided sources for is for example with the information under with the link name, The Mughal conquest of North India. The link leads to a Wikipedia article and again no sources are mentioned. Wikipedia is by far not an authoriatative reference source.

At the same time, I also found a site that says atheistic communism regimes have killed more and it references RJ Rummel works, who is a professor of political science at the University of Hawaii. The title of this article is, Just How Many People Has Religion Killed? by Kirk Durston, National Director, New Scholars Society. You can read it at this link, and then scroll down until you get to that article title. It also at the end provides a link to RJ Rummel’s website. http://theroadtoemmaus.org/RdLb/21PbAr/Pl/DthByAthsm.htm.

]]> By: flostre http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-3189 flostre Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:43:08 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-3189 Still, to be sound, you should not consider the total number of murders, but murders per theist vs. murders per atheist. Still, to be sound, you should not consider the total number of murders, but murders per theist vs. murders per atheist.

]]> By: Hann http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-2942 Hann Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:47:20 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-2942 Adrian, I was going to say the same thing. Ownage! XVX for life, R.A.S.H. 'til death. Adrian,

I was going to say the same thing. Ownage!

XVX for life, R.A.S.H. ’til death.

]]> By: Adrian Hayter http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-2418 Adrian Hayter Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:43:11 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-2418 Mike, Nice try. Epicurus was an atheist and predated Jesus. The ideas have been around since the beginning of time (everyone is born an atheist). Mike,

Nice try. Epicurus was an atheist and predated Jesus. The ideas have been around since the beginning of time (everyone is born an atheist).

]]> By: Mike http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-2417 Mike Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:21:21 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-2417 That's pretty impressive that Atheism could kill 95,000,000 people, since it's only been around for about a hundred years. That’s pretty impressive that Atheism could kill 95,000,000 people, since it’s only been around for about a hundred years.

]]> By: Adrian Hayter http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-2404 Adrian Hayter Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:41:09 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-2404 SocraticGadfly, I think you are missing the point. The Teapot Atheist never intended to evaluate theist caused deaths, but rather deaths caused by theist based nations. Lots of fundamentalists claim that atheist nations kill more people, but the adverse is true in this case. As for facts he get's wrong, I admittedly didn't look at all his cases, but I reckon if you take away those he did err in, you would still find the massive gap. SocraticGadfly,

I think you are missing the point. The Teapot Atheist never intended to evaluate theist caused deaths, but rather deaths caused by theist based nations. Lots of fundamentalists claim that atheist nations kill more people, but the adverse is true in this case.

As for facts he get’s wrong, I admittedly didn’t look at all his cases, but I reckon if you take away those he did err in, you would still find the massive gap.

]]> By: SocraticGadfly http://atheistblogger.com/2008/07/02/death-toll-theism-vs-atheism/#comment-2403 SocraticGadfly Mon, 07 Jul 2008 02:37:00 +0000 http://atheistblogger.com/?p=149#comment-2403 Sorry, but that's a HORRIBLE post by Teapot Atheist. In a number of cases he badly, and I charge deliberately, conflates correlation and causation. Example: Hirohito was divine, according to Shinto. That in no way means he invaded China because of his Shinto beliefs. Nonetheless, that's about the substance of much of Teapot Atheist's death claims. Second, in some cases, such as the "smallpox genocide" allegations, he simply gets facts wrong. In fact, in that case, he perpetuates an old, and hugely mistaken, myth. Sorry, but that’s a HORRIBLE post by Teapot Atheist. In a number of cases he badly, and I charge deliberately, conflates correlation and causation.

Example: Hirohito was divine, according to Shinto. That in no way means he invaded China because of his Shinto beliefs.

Nonetheless, that’s about the substance of much of Teapot Atheist’s death claims.

Second, in some cases, such as the “smallpox genocide” allegations, he simply gets facts wrong. In fact, in that case, he perpetuates an old, and hugely mistaken, myth.

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