One of the explanations for the poll results (besides traditions etc) is the income of the states. More income, more yuppies and more into material things. Less income, less into material things and more into God.

The study shows that states with the highest rates of illiteracy and failure to graduate from high school, are the most religious. It has always been held that those with the least amount of education are always the most religious, a fact proven by the areas of the world (or the country), that subscribe to the most outrageous fringe tenets of any religion, and that has been adequately proven.

Less education, usually less income, more uncertain of life, more angst, less leisure or too much spare time, more unhealthy, more fat, church a free entertainment, library would be better and also free but not as attractive as some drone at the pulpit telling you god loves you when the entire world seems to have forsaken you, when unemployment looms as a permanent state of being, when a high school education or even less won't take you far, when you are reading the bible you don't know if you are holding it upside down or right side up, yes, then god is indeed appealing, he is the only way, the life and the light--there isn't much else to look forward to, particularly if hitting the books didn't just appeal when hitting the books was the right thing to do--all over the bible belt this is the case--fat guys fanning themselves on the stoops of their homes, guzzling up the beer, their girls pregnant at age 13 years, abortion out of the picture, rolling in the hay on weekdays and appearing in church on Sundays, praising the lord with gusto, polishing their guns like the rich polish their silver, taking pot shots at squirrels, rabbits and human enemies, swearing allegiance to Jesus, capital punishment, the military, the flag, the country, weapons of mass destruction and just fertilized embryos--all in one breath, contradictions notwithstanding, this is usually the condition of those who love the lord to the extreme in the bible belt. Believe me there is nothing less materialistic about these folks--given the chance they'd grab the green back and make a wild dash for it as far away from their churches as they can get--love of the lord is not because of less materialism as Clay here would want us to believe--the average Christian loves money more not less than the average atheist--hire a Christian contractor to renovate your house and watch him rip you off faster than the nearest pick pocket--of course you will hear from the Christians then the fellow wasn't a Christian at all--that's the whole point folks--it is not hard to run into a whole lot of Christians who are not Christian at all--in fact that may even be the norm. So Marylanders, many, are lukewarm to religion--it shows they've got sense, it shows they've got gumption and it shows they use their noodles. Praise the non existent lord--Amen.
Ravensfan Anon

Anon – And I thought atheist considered themselves to be intelligent, nonjudgmental and unbiased. I guess you are as flawed as the rest of us. BTW that darn Mother Teresa there was a real greedy person alright. We sure couldn’t learn anything from her. You probably have no idea how petty and foolish that rant was. All I can say is if you are a happy atheist that doesn’t speak well for atheism.

Less education, less liberal ideas and ways, more God. More education, more liberal ideas taught, more liberal acceptance, less God. I dont remember any college courses that taught me anything about God. I do remember feminist professors, and gay ones.

Accepting your view that Mother Teresa was the creme de la creme of Christianity, that darn Mother Teresa is an example of all Christians Ravensfan? Surely you don't believe that? Note that I was talking about the Bible Belt Ravensfan. And taking another view of that darn Mother Teresa-- she converted the beggars she rescued from the streets of Calcutta, on their death beds to Catholicism--the woman was 100 % into conversions. Just doing her duty as a good Christian chugga lugging along, earning brownie points with the lord, on her way to sainthood. This was not a woman without an agenda as Chris Hitchens has pointed out many times. I notice Ravensfan your exchanges with Bankstreet--lame my man your opposition to gay marriage--you have no opposition at all and that is what the clever Bankstreet has exposed--he exposed YOU to YOU--you are a tolerant man who rides the Catholic high horse about certain social issues because you have been conditioned by the fathers and the mothers of this church to do so--left to yourself you are a sensible guy--again the inimical influence of the church on your natural thought processes is what is highlighted in your responses to Bankstreet--tis a pity Ravensfan--the church is one hell of a brainwasher and you are paradigmatic of this brain washing.
Ravensfan Anon

Clay -- Education is an opportunity to learn about the glories of Creation -- its marvelous diversity and its necessary accomodation of various perspectives. The fact that your education did not teach you "about God" perhaps speaks more to your own failure to receive learning. Yes, for some, education leads away from a creed-based world view. But, those who are truly educated come away from the experience better citizens of the world, with or without religious faith. Is that a bad thing?

Education can be, as with colleges like Bob Jones University, a Christian experience. However, for most schools, education is a golden opportunity for satan to teach people that it isnt Christ Who they should be concerned about, it isnt accepting Him that will help them, it is learning about all the diversity in our world and all the people who see things the other way, whether it is an acceptance of homosexuality and teaching kindergarten kids that two mommies is ok, non biblical views of creation, chanting in the temple of the ancient gods, or porn in the student center. Is that a good thing? Never. Have a good one.

I doubt there are few who wouldn't agree that Osama bin Laden should be hunted down and killed for the good of all, because of his fanatic religious beliefs and what they require. Personally, death is too good for him, with life in prison in a padded, 24/hr. a day, well lit cell, with the "Barney" song play continuously until he dies a natural death (I like justice as opposed to revenge). Clay seems to be making the argument that such people exist within the Christian community, by everything he utters. His way or the highway seems to be the only way he will be happy with society and that makes him potentially as dangerous as the threat posed by Osama bin Laden. Clay, just to be on the safe side, you should find a nice cave in Idaho and get it set up against the day you will need it.

Clay -- Short answer to your question: Yes. (although I'm not entirely sure about the porn-in-the-student-center part)

Wow! I am not a formally religious person but I do believe in God and I have about had it with these so called Progressive Liberals telling everyone that anyone that believes in God is a moron. What arrogance. The rants of this aethist "clown" anonymous are almost funny they are so hateful. Maybe if we all pray for him, he will have some family to love and some friends in his life to share the coming holy days of Christ mass. A blessing on you , who ever you are.

nickle - Perhaps if you had read some of the discussions Ravensfan Anon and I have had, you would find that he is anything but a Progressive Liberal and that when it comes to almost anything outside of delusional superstitionism (religion), he leans to the right.

The American Atheist Association conducted a survey of their members a few years ago and strangely enough, most of them declared they were Republicans. Even the most doctrinaire anti-communist bonehead hack writer the Right has produced, Ayn Rand, was a staunch and vocal Atheist. You will find that Atheists generally feel that anyone who blindly believes something without any proof, to be a moron, it is not their fault that religion universally falls into that category.

Nickel,
What arrogance makes you imagine you should pray for those who don't subscribe to your nonsense? Pray for yourself Nickel and leave those who don't believe in your brainwash-hogwash alone. Also don't imagine atheists have no family to love or people to share their time with. The prejudiced one is you pal--you should get yourself a mirror and remove the mote in your eye before you remove the speck in mine--here's wishing you a less blind 2010.
Ravensfan Anon

Clay – Bob Jones University has a bit of a checkered past. In 2008 the University declared itself "profoundly sorry for having allowed "institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful." In 1966 under penalty of expulsion, the University forbade any BJU dormitory student from attending the Billy Graham meetings. Bob Jones, Jr., condemned Billy Graham's "ecumenical evangelism" as unscriptural and "heretical," I won’t even get into the un-Christian comments about Catholicism made as they are far too numerous.

What exactly are you basing your comments on other schools on? Is it first hand knowledge or something you’ve read or heard about? Our world is diverse and we do need to learn about. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to stick our heads in the sand. You also confuse accepting with condoning. Unless you were going for a degree in theology why would you expect any college course to be teaching you anything about God? Isn’t that what your Church is supposed to be doing for you?

Clay – Bob Jones University has a bit of a checkered past. In 2008 the University declared itself "profoundly sorry for having allowed "institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful." In 1966 under penalty of expulsion, the University forbade any BJU dormitory student from attending the Billy Graham meetings. Bob Jones, Jr., condemned Billy Graham's "ecumenical evangelism" as unscriptural and "heretical," I won’t even get into the un-Christian comments about Catholicism made as they are far too numerous.

What exactly are you basing your comments on other schools on? Is it first hand knowledge or something you’ve read or heard about? Our world is diverse and we do need to learn about. Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to stick our heads in the sand. You also confuse accepting with condoning. Unless you were going for a degree in theology why would you expect any college course to be teaching you anything about God? Isn’t that what your Church is supposed to be doing for you?

Anon – “the average Christian loves money more not less than the average atheist” Funny I didn’t see where you referenced that to the bible belt as you did the rest of that little tirade of yours. I never said Mother Tersa was anything you did. I simply used her to refute that comment. Your comment on what she did is it based on something besides your slanted opinion on the Church? What she was 100% into helping people something I really don’t hear about atheists Anon. In fact I can’t remember ever hearing about any atheist charity that helps those in need. Maybe they do exist. If so they are quite far behind Christianity in that regard.

I know what bothers you about my exchange with Bankstreet. It’s that you have bought into the same atheist dogma Robert spouts and believe all Christians are the same. When you encounter one who doesn’t fit in your stereotype you can’t comprehend it. What I said to Bankstreet is the exact position of the Catholic Church. If you weren’t so caught up in your own dogma and looked objectively you would see that at times you are no better than Clay when it comes to how you view the world. The only difference is you are on the opposite extreme. Maybe you need to check your own brain for washing before concerning yourself with mine.

"anyone who blindly believes something without any proof, to be a moron"

Robert I guess that makes you one since you believe in health care system that has no proof either. I also struggle with your comments regarding the number of atheist who are Republicans. You failed to actually provide a link. As you are so fond of telling me isn’t the burden of proof on you? Also does that group represent a representative sample of all atheists?

Anon - Nickel is right on one point. You and Robert pretty much do tell everyone that anyone that believes in God they are a moron. Your advice was good you may want to follow it yourself and save the prejudice views on religion and the name calling behind as we enter the new year.

ravensfan - It has reached the point where all Ravensfan Anon and I have to do is make any comment at all and you go pattycakes like, off on a tangent of self deprecation (although you don't see it that way). It is now only necessary to set the spark and you do the rest of the work for us.

Atheists, by the way, are not organized into little clubs like you delusionalists. There is no dogma to be enforced by a social group of like minded people. We are individuals and our charity efforts are therefore not the big splash that occurs when the priests whip you into guilt driven generosity, but I will bet that the individual Atheist gives as much, if not more as the religious individual.

As to health care, I know what doesn't work and why, and being the rational type, I'm not averse to trying something new, even if it hasn't had a track record. The track record of the present system is its own condemnation. It is too bad you don't have the courage to face new ideas, especially when the ones you hold are as corrupted as our present health care system. I cannot embrace god concepts because they are unfounded, I can support a new untested path for health care, because the proof will be forthcoming soon enough, after it is implemented. My definition of moron is solid and I stand on it. Anyone who formulates a belief system (religious or non-religious) based on superstition, myth, or blind ignorance, is a moron. It is not the fault of Atheists that religion belongs in the above category, that is the fault of religion.

Who cares whether or not some Christian once wiped their rear with their left hand? Find reasons for getting close to God instead of farther away. In hell your rear may burn too much to even sit down.

Robert – So now you are saying there are NO atheist organizations? You referenced one yourself “The American Atheist Association”. That sure sounds like an organized group to me. Maybe you should think a little more before you respond next time. You must be looking in the mirror at yourself when that spark gets set by someone else. I doubt seriously individual atheists give as much or more. But if you can prove that with something I’ll concede it. Make sure you get it from a neutral source and not one of those non-existent organizations like the American Atheists Association.

You have no clue what does work. I’ve already agreed change is needed. Your solution is like trying to put out a fire by grabbing the nearest can and hoping that it has water rather than gas in it. You mistake stupidity for courage. I’m sure you stand on your definition of moron as do I of what I said. There is actually a greater foundation for God then your health care solution which would actually make your definition apply that much more to you. I don’t hold atheism to blame for anything except creating narrow minded bigots like you. As I’ve said many times if you are what atheism is about then I’m glad I have enough sense to reject their man made dogma for something better.

ravensfan - You are like a brain damaged pit-bull. You latch on and go for any hold you can find, or can concoct, to keep your assault against reason and logic going. Your god concepts are ALL man made and will never be shown to be true, unlike the alternative to the "death for profit" health system you seem intent on tacitly protecting, by denying any attempt for MEANINGFUL reform.

Atheist organizations are not set up like religions, with churches and a cadre of priests (enforcers). They do not try to control and coerce behavior of members, with most Atheists never having any affiliation with any such group, ever. That they can be accessed for information on what the organized forces of delusional stupidity (religion)are trying to do, is helpful, or we would already be suffering in the theocratist state that religion seems determined to impose on all of us.

As to my not having a clue as to what will work, I have no choice but to question your thought processes, due to the fact that the way you are acting is exactly the way the insurance industry wants you to act. By a feigned support for change that will not and cannot work, as long as the insurance industry has their hand in the pot, you are acting as their bull-work against the only thing they fear the most, universal health care without them. As long as they can get wimps and simps like you to quake in fear of anything that represents change from their control and manipulation, we are going to be saddled with a continuation of the money funnel out of our pockets and into the pockets of those at the top, no matter how many of us have to suffer and die in the process.

Robert – Well at least you’ve expanded your vocabulary to add a new insult. I was getting a bit tired of reading same old ones used over and over. I can see where you would believe that pointing out your mistakes, flaws and logical fallacies an assault against reason and logic? You might want to actually spend a little more time studying how reason and logic are used in an argument. Your problem is you suffer from this almost arrogant notion that you know better than anyone. Since you don’t believe in God those who do are somehow intellectually inferior. Your solution for healthcare is the only true reform.

I could really care less how atheist organizations are set up. They also don’t do much in terms of helping the less fortunate either. From the little I have seen they spend most of their efforts bashing those who believe in God, generating the kind of propaganda you spout and trying to convince their member that we believers are the delusional ones. What I find amusing about you is you are so sure you are right yet feel the need to attack and belittle those who don’t agree rather than support your views with any logical or reasonable argument. You use the terms a lot but I sincerely doubt you know what they mean sometimes.

You are free to question my thought process. I question yours all the time. There are times I even wonder if you think period. The very fact that you see single payer as the only solution shows who the real pit bull is. You have doggedly claimed that system as the fix despite questions from me and others. I even acknowledged I would accept it if you could support it with more than the rhetoric of the far left. So far you haven’t. My guess is you can’t. As long as we have arrogant, narrow minded, uninformed people like you screaming for change for change’s sake nothing can be solved. You have NO CLUE how much more is involved in fixing health care than simply fixing or eliminating the insurance industry. You just keep singing of the left wing nut case hymn sheet and attacking anyone who suggests that your change might not fix the problem. I’ve been rather generous so far. Now let me say it a little more direct. If the only change made is changing from private to public insurance things will only get worse. Anyone who has observed how the government has handled things in the past that can stand there and maintain that single payer is the fix is a dim witted fool. Thankfully those who think like you are a minority so you won’t have the opportunity to throw gas on the fire.

ravensfan - It is evident that your only purpose now, is to just infuriate me to the point where I tell you in plain language, to do something to yourself that is anatomically impossible, so that the moderator of this forum invites me not to participate anymore. You can't win the argument, you can't discredit me, so now in an effort to shut me up, you are using a tactic that is so obvious and right out of the handbook of childish playground behavior. You are waving your hands in my face in an effort to make me blindly strike out at you. Anything that I say is dismissed out of hand, so being cordial in our exchange makes very little sense. Although you are every bit as worthless as Clay, you are dangerous because you at least, are clever enough to be deceptive in your responses in an effort to appear reasonable, except that you are not. You defend a status quo that is collapsing and you cleave to institutions that cannot adapt to new realities fast enough to handle the reality that is soon to slap you in the face. We are at a point in history that is pivotal and rarely do the participants understand that major forces are at work that will rewrite their environment. Such upheavals have occurred in the past, be they war, or plague, or total financial collapse, but the next one is close and only a few of us are qualified enough to be aware of its nearness and nature, and it is going to be a doozy. You, will be caught up in the wave and in your pitiful ignorance, you will lash out at what you perceive to be the cause, but because you are so dense, you will pick the easy victim and like clueless idiots of the past, you will find new witches to burn to placate your fears and you will do it in the name of some god or another. You may even take up arms against your perceived enemies during this time, but because you are a fool, you will retaliate against the wrong people. You are the epitome of the teabagger, devout, loyal and totally walking around wearing your sphincter muscle as a helmet. Anything that challenges your static view, or requires change is classified as "leftist" in your feeble mind, which can only feed at the trough of simplistic slogans and manufactured patrio-fascism that serves as your "intellectual" center. You make me sick.

Robert –Had you stopped at the first sentence I would have simply apologized since I have no plan to get you kicked off the forum. I actually feel sorry for you. You really believe all that nonsense you just spewed out. I won the argument a long time ago Robert. And no one does a better job of discrediting you than you do to yourself with your insult ridden personal attacks anytime anyone even dares question you on a topic. I just kept it going to see if your mind might be opened to the fact that your solution is not the only solution and in fact may not even be the solution. The only reason you perceive me as dangerous is I don’t fit in that bigoted stereotype you have about those who believe in God. All you appear to know how to do is mock, attack and belittle. The one skill you don’t appear to have is to listen. Even now you are still trying to paint me as some diehard conservative Christian fundamentalist. My question is who are you trying to convince, me others or yourself. I certainly hope you don’t consider yourself one of those qualified few. They would be open minded people with the ability to listen and look at all sides of an issue. Those are skills you are greatly lacking my friend. What you are is a left wing extremist. Much or your economic and political points are straight off the extreme left hymn sheet. What makes you sick is that I know it and unlike you have the ability to question my own views, values & beliefs. That’s why I am at peace with myself. You want so desperately to think all believers are brainwashed delusional fools with some bringing about the end of the world complex. If you want to see who’s the deluded one take a look in the mirror.This was written by a former atheist and it applies equally to you Robert..
“I was an atheist at one time. And like many atheists, the issue of people believing in God bothered me greatly. What is it about atheists that we would spend so much time, attention, and energy refuting something that we don't believe even exists?! What causes us to do that? When I was an atheist, I attributed my intentions as caring for those poor, delusional people...to help them realize their hope was completely ill-founded. To be honest, I also had another motive. As I challenged those who believed in God, I was deeply curious to see if they could convince me otherwise. Part of my quest was to become free from the question of God. If I could conclusively prove to believers that they were wrong, then the issue is off the table, and I would be free to go about my life.”

ravensfan - There is no such thing as a former Atheist. Atheism is not a club, it is a level of understanding, that once achieved, cannot be denied. Anyone who claims to be an Ex-Atheist is probably an agnostic (aka; fence sitting chicken $#!+ Atheist) who could not reach full rationality. Once you reach the point where you realize there is no basis that can justify any kind of infantile god concepts, there is no going back. The strength of character and the level of understanding needed to make the leap of logic, precludes any real bonafide Atheist from ever falling back into the contrived offal pit that is delusional superstitionist religious belief.