Perhaps the Howard/Abbott/Morrison governments’ policies of tax breaks for megachurches and religious chaplains but no secular counsellors in schools worked, and in a decade’s time, it will be common knowledge that Australia is a fervently religious place, like America.

Another factor for soul belief is the research that shows the mental capacity for theory of mind results in children as young as six naturally modelling personality as separate from the body, and so jumping to the conclusion they are independent phenomena. Therfore evolution of the brain explains the myth of the soul.The fact that you can read this and imagine it was written by a person you have never met is evidence for this.

Based on biased and leading survey by an organisation with a vested interest in the results, I call BS on this.

to quote Phineaus T Barnum, "there is one born every minute" and this survey just helps to confirm that. If they had asked the respondents if they believed there was an invisible man in the sky who made the universe in 6 days, is all powerful, created the covid virus and the vaccine, will tear you apart with bears if you dont believe in him but loves you and needs your money. Then you may have gotten a different result!

If religious instruction were not allowed until the child had attained the age of reason, we would be living in a quite different world. - Hitch

Wow............. talk about massaging the questions to get the desired outcome. Most atheists would end up in the "believing" side with how those were worded. Are you open? Yes, I'm open to being wrong. BAM! Now I'm down as a believer.

A sad reflection on Australian education

Doesn’t mean much. The survey was carried out by McCrindle Research for the Centre for Public Christianity. Firstly, who is going to trust a survey on religious attitudes commissioned by a christian organisation. Secondly, McCrindle Research left/was removed from the Australian Market and Social Research Society a few years ago after an ABC (yes the same ABC that published this article) investigation exposed McCrindle Research for over exaggerating response bases. Does this mean that the survey is misleading? Nope. But i wouldn’t be trusting it until a more reputable research center conducts the same research commissioned by a more objective organisation.

An opinion piece from an author with a vested interest on a "survey" of a vanishingly small number of people with a link to the data that doesn't work from a body with, again, a vested interest. Shame, ABC, this is not news and should not be on your platform

Ask a thousand people in front of a church when the sermon ends and you get a surprisingly high belief in religion. Same as this survey. Not like the survey collection sponsor is unbiased.

0.004% of Australia was asked

Was this survey done in a country town? 😂

Ooops a daisy ...I thought scomo was his right hand man...and the media tell us ALL the facts ...how delusional of me...

A low bar, for sure, but at least this crud is labelled as opinion.

I prefer to believe in Easter bunnies who bring chocolates.🤣

1000 people is an extremely low sample size. And how can the writer say 'only 48 per cent". That figure is way too high.

McCrindle research = not a random sample

I don't have a problem with McCrindle Research at all but there's WAY TOO LITTLE info about this tiny (1,000!) cross section. The contention that contemporary narcissisism may explain belief in the concept of a 'soul' rings true.

Little declasse of ABC holding such a poll on religious beliefs at Easter. I wonder if they would do this over Ramadan? My bet would be a firm no.

View more comments

Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc

Not an isolated experience: ... See MoreSee Less

Why an Arab Australian chose atheism: 'I don't have to believe in God to be a good human'

www.sbs.com.au

This episode of ‘My Arab Identity’ looks at the challenges faced by Kareem, a general practitioner in Sydney, who embarked on a journey of spirituality and identity which re-shaped his view of rel...

View Comments

Likes: 108
Shares: 6
Comments: 7

Comment on Facebook

it always perplexes me that there are people in this world that need some invisible force sitting on their shoulder to do the right thing in life, like they would do otherwise if that force was not there.Just feels like that point about men who say "she asked for it" ... are you in such little control of your actions you can't stop yourself from acting out against a woman? Or are you in such little control of your own actions you need someone to constantly tell you "don't be a dick"?

I used to be Christian, I always found it strange when people said stuff like "If god wasn't real, there would be no reason to do good things". My instinctive logical response was "well, doesn't that mean you're a bad person if that's your only reason for doing good?".

Exactly the mindset of the religious people who have been almost irreversibly brainwashed to think that one has to believe in God to be a good person.

Awesome reading. That thinking is part of our evolution as humans. Many people and cultures are still stuck with archaic religious believes.🤷🏻‍♂️

Atheism isn't something you choose. Absence of belief leaves one with no other avenue.

No,.you don't. In fact,.you don't need to mention God at all...

'U dont have to believe in god to b a good person'. One of the most annoying silly comments out there. Its true, but still reeks of religious b.s. I hear the empasise on 'have'. I think they mean the opposite.

View more comments

Twitter

Retweet on Twitter Atheist Foundation of Australia Retweeted

'; Justin Murray @WorkMX

‘It’s our turn’: Inside the Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover

The Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover

”It‘s not branch stacking, it‘s participation,” the conference convenor declared. ”It‘s just...

www.smh.com.au

Retweet on Twitter Atheist Foundation of Australia Retweeted

'; Si Gladman @si_gladman

“(The) event logo features seven mountains. This suggests that the event is part of the extremist Dominionist movement that aims to install Christian dominance in seven realms of society...” Why are @stoker_aj and @mattjcan guest speakers at this event? #auspol #auspol2021 https://twitter.com/OfNoosa/status/1363010606253572097

NoosaTempleOfSatan @OfNoosa

Why are Senators @stoker_aj and @mattjcan speaking at Church&State event? It appears to be a Christian Dominionist event. Organiser @DavePellowe was photographed with #ProudBoys https://noosatempleofsatan.org/christianity/are-these-senators-proud-to-go #auspol

Retweet on Twitter Atheist Foundation of Australia Retweeted

'; Qld Parents 4 Secular State Schools @psss_qld

Same in Qld. @gracextwo @QLDEducation have an "Every Day Counts" campaign but uphold policy that robs students in schools with RI of 4-8 learning days Every. Year. Participation stats show majority DON'T do RI but #ReligiousPrivilege
#qldpol #nswpol #DoubleStandards https://twitter.com/DanielGuenthe14/status/1361814703446454277

Daniel Guenther @DanielGuenthe14

@TeachersFed @jack_waight @pruecar

000,000’s students prohibited from curriculum learning every week for DoE policy on SRE

@smitchellmlc refuses to keep/ publish stats on SRE participation

Will U hold her to her own standard on evidence based policy?

@JaneCaro @Peter_Fitz

Retweet on Twitter Atheist Foundation of Australia Retweeted

'; NoosaTempleOfSatan @OfNoosa

Is your religion fading into irrelevance? Well, @MartynLloydIles of the @ACLobby has just the thing for you! Yesterday, he suggested that military conflict with China could turn things around for Christianity. Read here: https://noosatempleofsatan.org/australian-christian-lobby/christian-lobby-head-suggest-a-war-with-china-could-restore-christianity/
#SatanSaysNoWar #auspol

Image for the Tweet beginning: Is your religion fading into

Twitter feed image.

Retweet on Twitter Atheist Foundation of Australia Retweeted

'; Rationalist Society @AusRationalist

Gay conversion practitioners be warned, the human rights watchdog has its eye on you

Human rights watchdog to turn its attention to gay conversion therapy

Victoria‘s outgoing human rights commissioner has been given a range of new powers designed to tackle church g...

www.theage.com.au

Donate
Become a Member
Contact Us
Quotes
Resources

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram