Lacking any knowledge of empirical research regarding such questions, plus the fact that millions of people are given bibles, Qur'ans, and other similar texts from the moment they are born and remain religious throughout their lives, I vote for the third variable (or a constellation of variables).
Miguel -- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christopher D. Green" <chri...@yorku.ca> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <tips@fsulist.frostburg.edu> Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 5:35:15 PM Subject: Re: [tips] Atheism and Knowledge About Religion Wuensch, Karl L wrote: http://tinyurl.com/37t55hv So, does atheism cause one to learn more about religion, does knowing more about religion cause one to become atheist, or might there be a third variable (or constellation of variables) accounting for the correlation between atheism and knowledge about religion? Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists, was quoted in the New York Times version of this story as saying: “I have heard many times that atheists know more about religion than religious people,.... Atheism is an effect of that knowledge, not a lack of knowledge. I gave a Bible to my daughter. That’s how you make atheists.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/us/28religion.html?_r=2&hp Chris Green York U. Toronto ============= --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@jab.org. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=5246 or send a blank email to leave-5246-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
