Part 1: Atheists claim that they are MORE moral than Christians.

Atheists claim that they are more moral than their Christian counterparts? Our first question may be: Yes, but why? But our second question might be: Is this claim true?

A a random sample of 1003 adults were surveyed in May, 2008 by The Barna Group for their participation in a number of negative behaviors within the previous week. The results showed that there were vast differences in the behaviors of evangelicals compared to agnostics/atheists.

Moral Behaviors of Evangelicals vs. Atheists6
Sin Evangelicals Atheists
Viewing pornography 12% 50%
Profanity in public 16 60
Gambling 2 ?7
Gossiping 4 34
Sex with non-spouse 3 ?7
Retaliation ?7 11
Drunkenness 0.5 33
Lying 1 ?7
Average 6 29

These results show that atheists/agnostics participate in morally questionable behaviors to a much greater degree than evangelical Christians – an average of nearly five times the frequency! The data calls into question the atheists’ claim that moral choices are deterministic and the people do not have the ability to exercise free will. If human behavior were merely a combination of genes and biochemistry, then beliefs would have no effect on moral choices. Obviously, this is a failed hypothesis, since beliefs do influence behavior. Another study, published in 2008, showed that increasing belief in determinism negatively impacted moral behavior (cheating).8

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Categories: Apologetics, Evil and Suffering
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One thought on “Part 1: Atheists claim that they are MORE moral than Christians.”

  1. While I support the conclusions of this, I can’t necessary endorse the methodology. I suspect the Christian respondents would have felt (perhaps implicit) pressure not to reveal their sinfulness in lieu of the questions raised. Atheists are unlikely to have had similar concerns.

    The bigger evidential question relates to the 20th (and early 21st) Century. It’s very clear that those who uphold an atheist world view do not have moral constraints and cause immense damage. One only needs to think of Hitler, Pol Pot, Stalin (and other Russian leaders), Mao, etc. to see the very real implications of holding an atheist world view. No further surveys are needed!

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