Atheism

My limited vocabulary has gotten me published many times...in may national newspapers and magazines.

How about you?

What If They’re Right About the Afterlife? Evidence of the Role of Existential Threat on Anti-Atheist Prejudice
Corey L. Cook1⇑
Florette Cohen2
Sheldon Solomon3
1Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, University of Washington Tacoma, Tacoma, WA, USA
2College of Staten Island CUNY, New York, NY, USA
3Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
Corey L. Cook, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, University of Washington Tacoma, 1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA. Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Terror management theory posits that the uniquely human awareness of death gives rise to potentially paralyzing terror that is assuaged by embracing cultural worldviews that provide a sense that one is a valuable participant in a meaningful universe. We propose that pervasive and pronounced anti-atheist prejudices stem, in part, from the existential threat posed by conflicting worldview beliefs. Two studies were conducted to establish that existential concerns contribute to anti-atheist sentiments. Experiment 1 found that a subtle reminder of death increased disparagement, social distancing, and distrust of atheists. Experiment 2 found that asking people to think about atheism increased the accessibility of implicit death thoughts. These studies provide the first empirical link between existential concerns and anti-atheist prejudices.
terror management theory mortality salience prejudice atheists

Terror management theory posits that the uniquely human awareness of death gives rise to potentially paralyzing terror

One thing I have to say is that you are quite ignorant about what atheism is.

and what is that we are all ignorant of?

You seem to ignore that I was talking to Frank.

However, my conversation with Frank is none of your business ...

Frank wrote:

My limited vocabulary has gotten me published many times...in may national newspapers and magazines.

How about you?

I'm not here to boast about my achievements, though they seem to rank well above your own.

Ever got a national trophy for technology innovation?

How many books did you write?

I just read Frank's pretentious nonsense about "God detection" on the other thread. Since he would be first to brag that he "did not know the true nature of the reality of God's existence" (since he asserts that about all "existence") then he eliminates all possibility of "God detection" byhim out of his own mouth. But has he got the brains to see he has shot himself in the foot ?

What on Earth are you babbling about, Fresco?

I see no link and quote.

Any reason for that?

Put it here...so we can examine what you are saying...and see if I have "shot myself in the foot"...or if you have.

When you've done some of the above reading you might be qualified to give an opinion on what I have said,

"You can't understand, but I can!! I'm an expert, I'm a genius, and I'm here to announce my superiority day-in, day-out, for decades.

my actual experience of perceptual research may be deemed to give me a certain advantage in some areas.

I refer to your first supercilious posting in which you suggested correcting "no God" to "no God detected ". There was no need to read any further than such nonsense.

As a fun thread…this is fine, Edgar…clever and humorous.

But there is a serious aspect to it…and I suspect there is a serious subtext intended. I’d like to discuss it a bit in a friendly way…without anger or insults, if possible.

If your title here were, “Another day…no gods detected” it would be completely logical…as would all the follow up posts. But with the title it has…something is awry.

Not too many decades ago, one could have created a similar thread entitled, “Another day…and there are no germs… none, zilch, nada, null, zero.” That also would become completely logical with a similar minor alternation "Another day…no germs detected.”

The fact that we were not able to detect germs...did not mean there were no germs...just that we were not able to detect them. There was (is) no reason for germs...no need...and Occam's razor would suggest we not even consider it.

But germs exist.

Your thread got me to thinking: Another day…we still do not know the true nature of the REALITY of existence…and we do not know if there are gods involved or not.

So...you are the one shooting yourself in the foot

I refer to your first supercilious posting in which you suggested correcting "no God" to "no God detected ". There was no need to read any further than such nonsense.