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Debate Info

109
90
Atheist are more peaceful Religious people more peaceful
Debate Score:199
Arguments:143
Total Votes:219
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 Atheist are more peaceful (75)
 
 Religious people more peaceful (62)

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Pharmacy(213) pic



Atheist are more peaceful than religious people

Which are more peacful, religious followers/practicioners or Atheist? People of religious faith promote peace and Atheist have never started a war. Which path should humanity follow?

Atheist are more peaceful

Side Score: 109
VS.

Religious people more peaceful

Side Score: 90

Religion has caused war in the past, most of it, in fact.

Atheists have yet to start a war with atheists because of atheism -> if Atheism could become a majority, religious wars wouldn't exist.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Lynaldea(1231) Disputed
1 point

Note, religion has not caused wars!

People have caused wars!

Indifference has cause wars!

Power hunger has caused wars!

Get your fundamentals correct!

Side: Religious people more peaceful
riahlize(1573) Disputed
5 points

By the doctrine of one religion telling someone that other people who commit this deed need to be put to death, then yes it's going to cause a war between people of varying beliefs.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Warjin(1577) Disputed
3 points

Fact: People caused wars in the name of religion all over the world.

Fact: Indifference due to religion caused wars.

Fact: Power hunger in the name of religion caused wars.

Open your eyes and see the truth, that truth is not pretty but the fact remains that religions have cause more wars then any other reason across the planet, religion is the worlds oldest weapon of mass destruction.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
2 points

"Religion has not caused wars!"

It's odd that you'd tell me to get my fundamentals correct, after saying that yourself.

What about the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan and the Crusades? The Holocaust? These are but a few I could name off of the top of my head. Every single one of those was a war, or a one-sided conflict on purely religious reasons, or, would not have occurred without religion.

People have caused wars!

It's hard to see a war starting without any people involved.

Indifference has caused wars!

I am not sure how that's possible. War is a struggle, brought about by differences. How many wars were started because, on a particular issue, a political leader said; "On that subject, my country isn't terribly bothered. TO ARMS, MEN!"

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
AveSatanas(4443) Disputed
1 point

Thats what we just said. Religion. .

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Jungelson(3959) Disputed
1 point

Oh I'm getting pissed off with this whole " _____ didn't cause _____ people did" YES WELL PEOPLE CREATED ALL THESE BAD THINGS, AND BECAUSE OF THESE BAD THINGS, CONSEQUENTLY OTHER BAD THINGS HAPPEN. The fact is, if there was no religion, there would be NO RELIGIOUS WARS!

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

All wars are casused by some religious affiliation...................................................

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
2 points

-American Revolution

-Mexican-American war

-Seven-years war

Relgion isn't always part of the cause of a war.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
KitKat101(32) Disputed
1 point

Atheism in itself is a form of religion. The religion of not believing in any divine being. What else would you call atheism.

And the question is ARE not WERE (present not past).

I don't have an opionion on this matter but at least I wanted to clarify.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
Cynical(1948) Disputed
1 point

Definition of religion: Religion is a collection of belief systems, cultural systems, and world views that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values.

The only thing that can define atheism is a lack of belief in a god/deity (or two+) - there is no uniting belief system, nor culture system, nor world view that atheists share besides the disbelief in a god/s. And atheism (in and of itself) does not have a proposed morality theory (I am not saying that atheism is immortal, here), so no, atheism isn't a religion.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

Atheism is not a form or religion, it never was. A dictionary would clarify this point to you, Sir. Atheism is the lack of belief in a God or deity. Not a belief that they are fictional, not a belief in any number of scientific theories, merely, that an Atheist does not believe in a God.

You try to dismiss the past as being irrelevant, at least to some degree, and to that I would object. If a killer is reading peacefully in his cell, did he therefore not butcher a man? Nay, the Church is no longer the force of war it once was, but it is yet the force of evil it always has been.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

Yes you have a point that religious wars would`t exist, but in time, if atheists become powerful. They will also succumb to division just as what happened to Christianity or another belief would stand up against it and there would also be another war. Upon difference in beliefs, war is most likely.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

There would be no war over "differing beliefs" like in Christianity, as the belief would be common. I'm not saying that there would be no war - perhaps politics would become the motivator - but certainly, there would be no religious war. None at all. Atheists don't differ in 'belief'.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
5 points

The question is, who is more violent of the two,tho. Not who is evil, that is irrelevant to the question.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
2 points

Wait, I'm sorry, what I just said made no sense at all, lol. based upon what we have seen (history), who is more violent? I assert that religious peoples are more violent than Atheist because they has an innate history of violence. Too many killings and bombings and wars have been caused by religion. Not only governments, nations and empires, but individual people have gone and killed senselessly due to their religious beliefs. Would they have done these things if they were not followers of a religion? I do not consider myself a religious person, nor do I consider myself an Atheist, but this answer is plain to me.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Lynaldea(1231) Disputed
0 points

Again, religion did not and has not caused wars.

People kill people.

People brought wars upon themselves due to power hungry issues, selfish-ness, expansion, ect.

People are the problem, people and their judgement. Not religion.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

If you're willing to admit that a whole host of social issues and human emotions are responsible for the violence in this world, why not religion? If "expansion" can be blamed for any violence throughout history, religion certainly can.

Admittedly people do kill people, and people do bring wars, and people are the problem, but history would be very boring if it went something like, "Some people fought some people because people." We need to examine more than just that.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Facadeon(510) Disputed
1 point

If there was no religion, and no belief over a God that people take offence from if someone insulted their God, there would be no disputes/wars in religion, therefore religion is the sole cause of religious wars.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

Again, religion did not and has not caused wars.

This is a point to which you cling mostly dearly, but it is of no worth - religion can only exist in human minds, which are fallible, so saying that the problems are caused in human minds is obvious, but, where else can religion exist?

Religion has caused wars. Furthermore, Sharia law does in fact permit the killing of various infidel groups, and thus religion in itself causes war. The rest of the time, yes, the humans themselves err in the name of religion, but can it not be said that without religion, these wars would never have happened?

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
2 points

Atheists never had a Crusade. Atheists never had a inqusition.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Lynaldea(1231) Disputed
2 points

Atheists have nothing; they're exactly where they want to be.

Yet, atheists want to expand and be the "new power"..... what makes Atheism more greater than any Religion?

Side: Religious people more peaceful
Facadeon(510) Disputed
2 points

We support the expansion of knowledge, reason and truth.

Not occultist crap.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

Russia's persecution of religious groups seems close enough to a crusade to me.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
2 points

Yes, atheists are more peaceful than theists are. The main reason is :

Unlike theists, atheists have no hope after their death. So, they think in their minds "we will have nothing to do after our death; why should we engage in strife..." So, "When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing." (Prov 11:7)

On the other hand the theists think in their minds "God is so gracious to us that, He has been forgiving our sins. So, let's us sin..." thus sinning becomes a habit of theists when they see the mercy of God with them. So, Paul's (inspired by God) statement comes to true : "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom 5:20). But the theists forget that, God doesn't want us remain in sin for mercy. "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"(Rom 6:1)

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Facadeon(510) Disputed
2 points

"When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing." (Prov 11:7)

Unfair how you choose name the Atheist a 'wicked man' in this bible verse. (also, where are the women, in your sexist bible?)

Side: Religious people more peaceful
lolzors93(3225) Disputed
1 point

You apparently didn't read the rest of Romans 6 or go into Romans 7.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
3 points

I'll give you a tip don't even bother trying to debate sunialpani.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
sunialpani(214) Clarified
3 points

Dear Brother,

I mentioned about most of the Christians i.e. so called. I know that a real servant of the Lord is not comparable with worldly people. I am sorry if you thought I intended all Christians. Really it was so-called Christians. A real child of Jesus is, by no doubt, extremely peaceful which the world can not describe. Thanks.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Elvira(3446) Clarified
1 point

Sunipanini, are you going to put a santa hat on that bible?

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

History has shown that religion, not all but some, has caused much violence through out the world. Countless people have died in the name of it. Even now the worlds worst villains kill in the name of their god. So atheist are winning the "non violent fight".

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Lynaldea(1231) Disputed
2 points

Many people have died in the name of religion just as many have died in the name of no religion. It goes both ways.

The culprit of the violence?

Human beings and their nasty ways.

Religion and atheism have nothing to do with animals being violent. And oh yes, we're all a bunch of complex fucks.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
df0512(27) Disputed
1 point

I agree. Both sides are capable and have done acts of extreme violence. But the question is who is More violent. And in the past and present religious has been more violent.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
lupusFati(790) Disputed
2 points

To be fair, atheists are a fairly new group. And you cannot lump in every religion into one group and call them more violent, when not all are equal. History has not shown that religion has caused violence, but people who abuse the system to manipulate the masses... and this can be done with anything, not just religion. You take what's popular and appeal to the audience, get them to agree with you. If that requires being a 'man of god' or just 'someone concerned with the environment', so be it.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
df0512(27) Disputed
1 point

Yes religion is not the soul source of violence in the world. And yes people can manipulate anything to harm people. No one is denying that. It seems like everyone wants to beat around the bush and avoid something they know is true. The answer to the question being asked is Atheist are more peaceful. And not all violence in religion was a product of cunning manipulation. Some of it was done under the direct command of God, according to the bible. But every group in history has its dark past. I understand that. And I am not claiming one side is better then the other in anyway shape or form. Im am jus answering the question being asked. Im not even an atheist.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

To be fair, atheists are a fairly new group

Though it is no major crime, I feel obliged to inform you that this is incorrect - every child is born atheist, and has been since there have been humans. In fact, atheism has been around since the moment theism bloomed into the picture.

What you meant to say was - "Atheists have only recently been able to profess their lack of faith without being murdered for it."

Side: Atheist are more peaceful

Just based on population ratio of religious people to atheist, there are many religious people, so the odds are stacked against religious people.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Lynaldea(1231) Disputed
1 point

So, there are many humans in the world.

Many humans are violent.

Many of them are religious.

Many of them are atheists.

Therefore, religious and atheist people are BOTH violent.

This is the more proper logic.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

Sure, both can be violent, but there are many more disciples of religion, so the likelihood is religious people are more violent.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful

Atheists don't have a long enough history as being a dominant mindset to attest for how proportionally equal they are to the mainstay of religious people in how peaceful they are.

Though, for what little we have seen in our history of 'organized atheism', they do appear to be somewhat more peaceful then the big three monotheistic, organized religions.

They don't see to more peaceful then Buddhism and religions similar to Buddhism, but the unfortunate fact is that those religions are not the dominant ones.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

What you say it partially true.

However, I cannot accept that religion and religious people are any more or less violent than any other atheist, or non believer, to do harm to others.

It's like I punch you in the face and say "I am a catholic by the way.. "

versus

I punch you in the face "I am atheist by the way..."

Whats the damn difference?

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
2 points

The way you put that, you seem to be arguing on terms of the relevancy religion has with violence. And in a way, you're correct to question why it's relevant.

But, it's relevant because religious views, or lack thereof, effect beliefs and mannerisms, which in turn effects an individuals motivations, reasoning, and reactions to stimuli. If a Catholic devoutly believes that Muslims are devil worshipers, and are evil, and are therefore a threat, then the way he reacts to certain stimuli is totally different then, say, a non-Catholic not having such a belief.

The relevance is plain and simply motivation. If someone is motivated to be violent because of a religious view, you could construe that as religious violence, and violence that is not motivated by religious views to be non-religious violence.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

Meh? I ain't startin' no wars yo! Unless you don't let me do what I what to do.... then I'll blow your fucking head off! Just sayin'.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

The question and options for this debate are very narrow-minded and is extremely stupid.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

They are both not peaceful because they are both humans. Lets not forget Stalin was atheist and he killed millions of people. But generally atheists are usually more peaceful

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

atheist are self-dpendent not "god-dependent".thus stay calm and cool but athesim doesn't mean not believing in anything....

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

For once i side with Atheism. Religion started the Curscaded and many wars. It has indirectly caused that but if you look at an atheist and a religious people at a whole then it is a little different.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful

Religion is the source of many of the world's problems. I am more anti-theist than atheist, meaning, I refuse to accept any religion or belief as fact. I think that this is truly how the world should work. We do not know the answers, and the fact that we fight over the answers is foolish. We do not know, we will never be able to find out. I live peacefully, acknowledging that I do not know the answers, I do not choose to fight with those who think differently, however a lot of times they choose to reprimand me, and shun me, and call me a 'nonbeliever' These people are definitely more confrontational than I am.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

Atheists are more peaceful than theists because theists are always in a worry to elevate their deity but sometimes theists do kind of hurt the theists by denying the presence of god. I mean the atheists should be quiet in front of them because we are not fools like the people who have desperate belief in God.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
4 points

To tell the honest truth, neither religious people or atheists are more peaceful. There are evil religious people, and evil atheists. There are good atheists and good religious people. There is simply no one answer.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
2 points

Yeah, I believe you there. Being peaceful is not just based on what religion or no religion you have. Being peaceful is up to the person..

Side: Religious people more peaceful

People are violent and aggressive little creatures, atheists and religious people fight each other, they just have different excuses.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
2 points

To tell the honest truth, neither religious people or atheists are more peaceful. There are evil religious people, and evil atheists. There are good atheists and good religious people. There is simply no one answer.

Side: Religious people more peaceful

Oh great another debate where athiests can say thier far surperior to christians and right in every way. Im gonna stay out of this one knowing its just going to be more made up lies -_-.

Side: Religious people more peaceful

not to mention all other religions.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
2 points

I think I am very peaceful because I have someone greater that is watching over me and protects me everyday from the this evil and corrupted generation that we are living in.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
Banana_Slug(845) Disputed
2 points

So you are peaceful only because you think that some mythical wizard is watching over your shoulder?

So without believing in magic and Judaic mythology you would be killing random people?

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
2 points

This is a loaded question if I've ever seen one. Still, guess I'll answer.

Neither are more peaceful than the other, since they are all people. Wars may be started on religious basis, but they have also been waged for political reasons, as well as other, less intelligent reasons as well. The root cause is the corruption inherent in all mankind. So to say one group or the other is more peaceful is to be lying.

I only answer with 'religious people more peaceful' since I can't bring myself to hit the atheist option. My brother is an atheist and he's prone to anger/violence and has cut all ties with our family. So atheists aren't more peaceful than any other human being.

So again, loaded question.

Side: Religious people more peaceful

Religion does not necessarily reflect the person as a whole. Violence may come from an external source such as way of life, therefore religion is`t as violent as people think.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

Actually , it totally depends on the practisers who grasp on their on thinking . In my point of view , I don't see any conflict between the co-existence of these 2 thinkings . Apple appears in the eye of beholder , as a matter of fact, both deliver positive sort of teachings . Neer do I notice that these will coupled with myriads of shortcomings or disadvantages , instead , what do matters is the individual itself . Bias thought , will indefinitely , bring about disastrous and unpredictable conflicts and blood-shredding events . Hence , we should treat both of them in a balanced and just manner .

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

Remember Hitler? And Stalin's gulags and purges? Remember Mao Ze-Dong's "Great Leap Forward"?.......... All Atheist

Side: Religious people more peaceful
Banana_Slug(845) Disputed
2 points

Hitler practicing Catholic, Mao was Buddhist. Stalin was insane he hated religions and saxophone players equally.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Pharmacy(213) Disputed
2 points

provide sources for both Hitler and Mao. I believe you are mistaken.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

These people were not motivated on the basis of their lack of belief in god. With the possible exception of Stalin no atheistic tyrants pushed their atheism on the populace, and even in the case of Stalin he was arguably trying to replace mainstream religion with Stalin worship, so you couldn't consider him an atheist. Religious fanatics, by comparison, are driven almost exclusively by their religious beliefs.

Admittedly referencing Mao does refute the notion that atheist are a more peaceful people, but that was never my position, anyways. Just that atheism isn't a predominant factor in a tyrant atheist's regime the way religion would be a prominent factor in a religious tyrants regime. if anything, we see atheistic tyrants borrowing themes from religion to make their tyrannical rule more complete, like Hitler did.

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
1 point

Exactly, the essence of religion should not be dictated by those like Hitler, or whomever else that uses religion as a means of conquering and control and to bring war upon peoples; it's not the religious' fault, it's Hilter's fault, it's X, Y, Z person or persons using religion to be "violent" because "that's what they believe in".

Still, religion is not at fault for being violent. The person (s) is at fault. It's the way it's utilized poorly by X, Y, Z person(s).

Side: Atheist are more peaceful
Thejackster(518) Disputed
1 point

Christopher will sum this up for you.

Supporting Evidence: You've just been Hitch-slapped (m.youtube.com)
Side: Atheist are more peaceful

Correlation does not mean causation. There are more religious people out in the world than atheists, so it should be expected that more violent events will be prepitrated by relgious people, just because it is more likely in general that they are religious.

When people do bad things, they rationalize what they did with what they believe. While relgion can be used for such rationalization, it is not the only way to rationalize bad things. Look at the nazis. even though they were targeting a religous group during the holocaust, the reasons given for doing so were not relgious themselves. They used psudeo-sciences like eugenics.

The point i am trying to make is that religion is not the cause for the bad things in the world. The problem is naturally bad people using religion as excuses.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

The question and options for this debate are very narrow-minded and is extremely stupid.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

It would be hard to say who exactly. So many chrisians still struggle with happines and peace. Same with atheist. In fact, both groups can easily say and come off to be this peaceful person but only the person themselves know if they truly are or not. Some could even convince themselves that they are when they're really not. And when i say some i'm talking about both christians and atheist. Now, the only reason why i side with christians is bc i base my truth off the bible. According to the bible, it lets us know that a peace will come over us once we decide to follow God. That doesn't mean we'll just be this super happy person 247. We will still get mad, sad, hurt, and etc. However, its God's peace that at the end of the day should have us reassured that everything will be ok. I know this might frustrate a lot of people just by reading this simply bc i talk about my God the way i do, but if anything that should make you question yourself and ask "why am i getting so mad???". We're so quick to look at others and get mad and point out everythingt that they did that justifies why we can be mad at them, but never look at ourselves.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
1 point

Being peaceful comes when you look to something other than yourself. Anger comes when you feel your out of control, and you MUST release control to be peaceful. The Atheists I've met are more bitter than happy, a need to win rather than talk. (this is only my little piece of the world).

Serving others is a great thing, and there's no accident on why "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you," is in the Bible. It just works for peace.

Side: Religious people more peaceful
0 points

I think its your on faith what your thinkings are....

Religion can never define some one's personality.

Side: Religious people more peaceful