FR> It indicates the fact that theism doesn't work; that atheism is
FR> superior to theism in that it imparts a superior ethic -- or a
FR> superior intelligence needed to escsape capture.  }:-}
rm> Superior?  I don't know,... I am not ready to accept
rm> any superiority over a theist (or fellow human).
We're not talking about human superiority, though.  We're talking about
superior systems of ethics and morality; superior systems of living one's
life and attempting to be a civilized participating citizen.
Nazi Germany's fascist Totalitarianism was fought against by the Allies,
not the Germans, Italians, and Japanese, per se.  It was fought against
because those ideologies are destructive and Democracy and self-rule are
superior ideologies.
I won't attempt to defend my comments above about what it "indicates."
I shouldn't have typed much of that, in retrospect.  I will defend the
comment that it indicates that theism doesn't work, however.  I stick by
that statement because the history of theism evidences the fact quite
well, I think.
rm> Hey, ever consider that maybe atheists declare a religion in
rm> order to lighten their sentences sometime down the road?
Absolutely.  O. J. Simpson's defense team planted a version of the
Christian mythologies on his coffee table before his fireplace the day
before his jury was scheduled to take a walk through the house.  It is
quite obvious that Christians are granted special dispensations which are
not granted to the rest of the populace and it's also obvious that many
people will jump onto Christianity in the hopes of being given those
special dispensations.
It's a weak area:  How can I tell what percentage of Christians adopted
their occultism as a matter of conveinience?  There is no way to tell
yet, in retrospect, one method of making a ballpark estimate is to see what
percentage of Jews, Muslims, Quakers et al. "switch" to Christianity for
matter of conveinience.  One would expect that atheists, holding honesty
in high regard -- would exhibit at best the same percentage of such behavior.
Unfortunately, such information about "conversions" isn't available.
rm> I mean if the panel of judges hears that such and such a prisoner
rm> is an atheist (and considering how most theists feel that atheists
rm> cannot be moral/ethical without God), what do you think that
rm> prisoner's chances are of getting an early parole? 
A snowball's chance in Valhalla.  }:-}  In fact in a society where the
populace is comprised mainly of Christians, we end up with a jury
consisting of mainly Christians.  And since, as you pointed out, there
is an insane and utterly unfounded belief that atheists are less moral
and ethical than theists, I can agree entirely that it would make sense
for an atheist to claim to be a theist.
An atheist, however, would be best served to claim to be a Quaker -- or
Mormon if she's on trial in Utah.
rm> Is it also possible that the data could be taken from personal
rm> records of the prisoners, (ie. I was baptized as Roman Catholic,
rm> though I denounce that religion)?  Someone can be Jewish without
rm> practicing Judaism.
Well, when you get to prison, be sure to let them know you stood under
the hair dryer and reversed the baptism ritual.  }:-}
I got some mail from Rabbis and from followers of Lord Krishna, by the
way.
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