▲ 815 ▼ Americans overestimate the size of minority groups and underestimate the size of most majority groups (lemmy.world) submitted 1 year ago by Wulri@lemmy.world to c/mildlyinteresting@lemmy.world 278 comments fedilink hide all child comments Source: https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/41556-americans-misestimate-small-subgroups-population
[–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 77 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (11 children) Only 3% Atheists... And all of them are here on Lemmy. permalink fedilink source hideshow 11 child comments replies: [–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 point 1 year ago There's kind of a lot of Christians here actually... Or at least apologists. permalink fedilink source parent [–] DrCake@lemmy.world 56 points 1 year ago (8 children) I know Americans love Jesus a whole lot but really only 4%. That just seems crazy low permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 8 child comments replies: [–] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 88 points 1 year ago (7 children) I think it's because people are still uncomfortable answering "atheist" on questionnaires and polls. It's easier to say "no religious affiliation", and most people are probably agnostic instead of atheist anyway. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments replies: [–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 45 points 1 year ago You're right. This survey lists 29 % of Americans as "Religiously unaffiliated". Of those 5 % are Atheists, 6 % Agnostic and 19 % "Nothing in particular". permalink fedilink source parent [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 10 points 1 year ago (3 children) Yea, similarly there is no way 70% of Americans are Christian. That's probably just the way they are raised and are likely to fill out if you don't feel comfortable saying "atheist". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago 70% Christian, 3% Atheist, 1% Muslim, 2% Jewish... WTF are the other 24%? Don't tell me there are that many Buddhist/Hindu/Shinto/etc. folks here! Something's not adding up. permalink fedilink source parent [–] j4k3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 child) You might be surprised about places other than SoCal and NY NY. Like growing up in Tennessee Alabama and Georgia, everyone seemed to have some affiliation. The level of engagement varied, but I never met someone that was an openly staunch atheist in real life. There is a deep stigma about such a thing in the South, - sadly. There, even extremists like Church of God are nominalized (screaming you're going to hell for an hour, exorcism/miracle drama nonsense, mobbing behaviors, religious masochism). It is likely one would need to be second or third generation removed from and religious social support network in a family unit before a person would truly answer atheist on such a poll. I don't think many people grow to the point of self awareness to care to define an anti religious god certainty at this stage in human cultural evolution. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago While I have not lived in the south I do have some deeply religious and conservative family members, so I do see where you're coming from. I just think even a good chunk of the people you mentioned have an affiliation to fit in and not because they are genuinely religious, i.e. pray regularly and go to church every Sunday. In other words, it's a cultural thing. They probably wouldn't go so far as to consider themselves atheist, but I could easily see them considering themselves culturally Christian and non-religious in practice. I have no idea what percentage that actually breaks down to, but my guess is it's a decent amount lower than 70%. permalink fedilink source parent [–] NABDad@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 child) I wouldn't answer atheist because I feel that's as much a belief as any religion. I'm agnostic. The most undecided choice possible. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] cheers_queers@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 year ago Atheism is nothing more than a lack of belief in any god. permalink fedilink source parent [–] collapse_already@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago Depending on who is doing the polling, I'm not answering truthfully. I don't want proselytizing and I don't want to risk getting sent to any Aushwitz that they are building. I doubt I am alone. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 point 1 year ago There's kind of a lot of Christians here actually... Or at least apologists. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] DrCake@lemmy.world 56 points 1 year ago (8 children) I know Americans love Jesus a whole lot but really only 4%. That just seems crazy low permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 8 child comments replies: [–] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 88 points 1 year ago (7 children) I think it's because people are still uncomfortable answering "atheist" on questionnaires and polls. It's easier to say "no religious affiliation", and most people are probably agnostic instead of atheist anyway. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments replies: [–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 45 points 1 year ago You're right. This survey lists 29 % of Americans as "Religiously unaffiliated". Of those 5 % are Atheists, 6 % Agnostic and 19 % "Nothing in particular". permalink fedilink source parent [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 10 points 1 year ago (3 children) Yea, similarly there is no way 70% of Americans are Christian. That's probably just the way they are raised and are likely to fill out if you don't feel comfortable saying "atheist". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago 70% Christian, 3% Atheist, 1% Muslim, 2% Jewish... WTF are the other 24%? Don't tell me there are that many Buddhist/Hindu/Shinto/etc. folks here! Something's not adding up. permalink fedilink source parent [–] j4k3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 child) You might be surprised about places other than SoCal and NY NY. Like growing up in Tennessee Alabama and Georgia, everyone seemed to have some affiliation. The level of engagement varied, but I never met someone that was an openly staunch atheist in real life. There is a deep stigma about such a thing in the South, - sadly. There, even extremists like Church of God are nominalized (screaming you're going to hell for an hour, exorcism/miracle drama nonsense, mobbing behaviors, religious masochism). It is likely one would need to be second or third generation removed from and religious social support network in a family unit before a person would truly answer atheist on such a poll. I don't think many people grow to the point of self awareness to care to define an anti religious god certainty at this stage in human cultural evolution. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago While I have not lived in the south I do have some deeply religious and conservative family members, so I do see where you're coming from. I just think even a good chunk of the people you mentioned have an affiliation to fit in and not because they are genuinely religious, i.e. pray regularly and go to church every Sunday. In other words, it's a cultural thing. They probably wouldn't go so far as to consider themselves atheist, but I could easily see them considering themselves culturally Christian and non-religious in practice. I have no idea what percentage that actually breaks down to, but my guess is it's a decent amount lower than 70%. permalink fedilink source parent [–] NABDad@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 child) I wouldn't answer atheist because I feel that's as much a belief as any religion. I'm agnostic. The most undecided choice possible. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] cheers_queers@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 year ago Atheism is nothing more than a lack of belief in any god. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] walden@sub.wetshaving.social 88 points 1 year ago (7 children) I think it's because people are still uncomfortable answering "atheist" on questionnaires and polls. It's easier to say "no religious affiliation", and most people are probably agnostic instead of atheist anyway. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments replies: [–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 45 points 1 year ago You're right. This survey lists 29 % of Americans as "Religiously unaffiliated". Of those 5 % are Atheists, 6 % Agnostic and 19 % "Nothing in particular". permalink fedilink source parent [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 10 points 1 year ago (3 children) Yea, similarly there is no way 70% of Americans are Christian. That's probably just the way they are raised and are likely to fill out if you don't feel comfortable saying "atheist". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago 70% Christian, 3% Atheist, 1% Muslim, 2% Jewish... WTF are the other 24%? Don't tell me there are that many Buddhist/Hindu/Shinto/etc. folks here! Something's not adding up. permalink fedilink source parent [–] j4k3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 child) You might be surprised about places other than SoCal and NY NY. Like growing up in Tennessee Alabama and Georgia, everyone seemed to have some affiliation. The level of engagement varied, but I never met someone that was an openly staunch atheist in real life. There is a deep stigma about such a thing in the South, - sadly. There, even extremists like Church of God are nominalized (screaming you're going to hell for an hour, exorcism/miracle drama nonsense, mobbing behaviors, religious masochism). It is likely one would need to be second or third generation removed from and religious social support network in a family unit before a person would truly answer atheist on such a poll. I don't think many people grow to the point of self awareness to care to define an anti religious god certainty at this stage in human cultural evolution. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago While I have not lived in the south I do have some deeply religious and conservative family members, so I do see where you're coming from. I just think even a good chunk of the people you mentioned have an affiliation to fit in and not because they are genuinely religious, i.e. pray regularly and go to church every Sunday. In other words, it's a cultural thing. They probably wouldn't go so far as to consider themselves atheist, but I could easily see them considering themselves culturally Christian and non-religious in practice. I have no idea what percentage that actually breaks down to, but my guess is it's a decent amount lower than 70%. permalink fedilink source parent [–] NABDad@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 child) I wouldn't answer atheist because I feel that's as much a belief as any religion. I'm agnostic. The most undecided choice possible. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] cheers_queers@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 year ago Atheism is nothing more than a lack of belief in any god. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Gloomy@mander.xyz 45 points 1 year ago You're right. This survey lists 29 % of Americans as "Religiously unaffiliated". Of those 5 % are Atheists, 6 % Agnostic and 19 % "Nothing in particular". permalink fedilink source parent
[–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 10 points 1 year ago (3 children) Yea, similarly there is no way 70% of Americans are Christian. That's probably just the way they are raised and are likely to fill out if you don't feel comfortable saying "atheist". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 3 child comments replies: [–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago 70% Christian, 3% Atheist, 1% Muslim, 2% Jewish... WTF are the other 24%? Don't tell me there are that many Buddhist/Hindu/Shinto/etc. folks here! Something's not adding up. permalink fedilink source parent [–] j4k3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 child) You might be surprised about places other than SoCal and NY NY. Like growing up in Tennessee Alabama and Georgia, everyone seemed to have some affiliation. The level of engagement varied, but I never met someone that was an openly staunch atheist in real life. There is a deep stigma about such a thing in the South, - sadly. There, even extremists like Church of God are nominalized (screaming you're going to hell for an hour, exorcism/miracle drama nonsense, mobbing behaviors, religious masochism). It is likely one would need to be second or third generation removed from and religious social support network in a family unit before a person would truly answer atheist on such a poll. I don't think many people grow to the point of self awareness to care to define an anti religious god certainty at this stage in human cultural evolution. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago While I have not lived in the south I do have some deeply religious and conservative family members, so I do see where you're coming from. I just think even a good chunk of the people you mentioned have an affiliation to fit in and not because they are genuinely religious, i.e. pray regularly and go to church every Sunday. In other words, it's a cultural thing. They probably wouldn't go so far as to consider themselves atheist, but I could easily see them considering themselves culturally Christian and non-religious in practice. I have no idea what percentage that actually breaks down to, but my guess is it's a decent amount lower than 70%. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] grue@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago 70% Christian, 3% Atheist, 1% Muslim, 2% Jewish... WTF are the other 24%? Don't tell me there are that many Buddhist/Hindu/Shinto/etc. folks here! Something's not adding up. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] j4k3@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 child) You might be surprised about places other than SoCal and NY NY. Like growing up in Tennessee Alabama and Georgia, everyone seemed to have some affiliation. The level of engagement varied, but I never met someone that was an openly staunch atheist in real life. There is a deep stigma about such a thing in the South, - sadly. There, even extremists like Church of God are nominalized (screaming you're going to hell for an hour, exorcism/miracle drama nonsense, mobbing behaviors, religious masochism). It is likely one would need to be second or third generation removed from and religious social support network in a family unit before a person would truly answer atheist on such a poll. I don't think many people grow to the point of self awareness to care to define an anti religious god certainty at this stage in human cultural evolution. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago While I have not lived in the south I do have some deeply religious and conservative family members, so I do see where you're coming from. I just think even a good chunk of the people you mentioned have an affiliation to fit in and not because they are genuinely religious, i.e. pray regularly and go to church every Sunday. In other words, it's a cultural thing. They probably wouldn't go so far as to consider themselves atheist, but I could easily see them considering themselves culturally Christian and non-religious in practice. I have no idea what percentage that actually breaks down to, but my guess is it's a decent amount lower than 70%. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] seeking_perhaps@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago While I have not lived in the south I do have some deeply religious and conservative family members, so I do see where you're coming from. I just think even a good chunk of the people you mentioned have an affiliation to fit in and not because they are genuinely religious, i.e. pray regularly and go to church every Sunday. In other words, it's a cultural thing. They probably wouldn't go so far as to consider themselves atheist, but I could easily see them considering themselves culturally Christian and non-religious in practice. I have no idea what percentage that actually breaks down to, but my guess is it's a decent amount lower than 70%. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 child) I wouldn't answer atheist because I feel that's as much a belief as any religion. I'm agnostic. The most undecided choice possible. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment replies: [–] cheers_queers@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 year ago Atheism is nothing more than a lack of belief in any god. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] cheers_queers@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 year ago Atheism is nothing more than a lack of belief in any god. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] collapse_already@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago Depending on who is doing the polling, I'm not answering truthfully. I don't want proselytizing and I don't want to risk getting sent to any Aushwitz that they are building. I doubt I am alone. permalink fedilink source parent
