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Study Says that Older People are More Likely to Believe in God

Researchers from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago say older people are more likely to believe in god. They assert this to be true unilaterally throughout the world. Per the article:

Across the world, people have varying levels of belief (and disbelief) in God, with some nations being more devout than others. But new research reveals one constant across parts of the globe: As people age, their belief in God seems to increase. The new study is based on data collected as part of the General Social Survey by researchers at the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago.... "This suggests that belief in God is especially likely to increase among the oldest groups, perhaps in response to the increasing anticipation of mortality."...."Belief in God has decreased in most countries, but the declines are quite modest, especially when calculated on a per annum basis," the researchers write in their April 18 report of the survey....."If the modest, general trend away from belief in God continues uninterrupted, it will accumulate to larger proportions and the atheism that is now prominent mainly in northwest Europe and some ex-Socialist states may spread more widely," they write, adding that it is possible the trend could go the other way, with belief in God seeing a rebound.

http://news.discovery.com/human/god-faith-aging-120429.html

Tags: Atheism, Jubinsky, Theism

2 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on June 28, 2012 at 5:58pm

I agree with those who do not want a funeral of any kind. If family and friends want to gather for a picnic in the summer in my memory, that is a great idea. None of this traveling over icy roads or going long distances for me. If we haven't talked or seen each other it is because we have busy lives, or are too tired to make the effort. So, what is the point of an after-death obligation? I hope people remember me for my strength and courage and vision and efforts to leave the Earth in better health than when I came on board. Even if they remember my idiosyncrasies, that would be just dandy.

Permalink Reply by Madhukar Kulkarni on June 28, 2012 at 3:06pm

The NORC must have discovered that there are less numbers of old atheists and more numbers of young atheists. This is quite natural. Atheism was less prevalent in the past compared to the present times. I am 72 now and still a strong atheist and will remain so till death catches up with me. I have already told my sons that there will be no funeral rites for me. No 'mantras' to be chanted, no priests to be invited. I want my body to be creametd, not because I believe in the Hindu custom, but because I think it is the right way to dispose off a dead body. This obviates any need for ever increasing burial grounds. My ashes will not be immersed in water, as is the Hindu custom, but they will be scattered in a strong wind, flowing over a high place, like a fort. There is a good and tall fort very near my city. we are emotional people and nobody will appreciate the idea of music when everybody is experiencing grief. I did think of donating my body for medical research, but here we require the signatures of all the sons on the donation contract and I know that my emotional children will want to give me a decent creamation. They will never agreee to sign the donation papers.

Permalink Reply by Joan Denoo on June 28, 2012 at 6:01pm

Hi Madhukar, your idea sounds splendid! I do want my cremains scattered over some fertile ground or in a river. Perhaps the Salmon River where I spent many summers with my grandparents.

Permalink Reply by Steph S. on June 28, 2012 at 6:04pm

I've heard about this statistic.

Permalink Reply by Jessica on August 27, 2012 at 6:11pm

hmm...this study doesn't say much for me. The fear of death and realizing that I am not getting younger I am sure I can get but at the same time I don't feel it could be used as anything other than just a study. I am sure there will be those out there who claim this is just more proof god exist but for me, I don't think anything will change my mind. Not even death.

Permalink Reply by John Jubinsky on August 28, 2012 at 5:30am

I agree.

Permalink Reply by Jessica on August 27, 2012 at 6:12pm

Well said. Couldn't agree more

Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on August 28, 2012 at 6:57am

I think accepting reality over fairy tales is like jumping in cold water of a mountain stream on a hot, summer day (which I try to do as often as possible). Chicken shits stay on the bank, safely tucked in to religious fantasy, but they never get to appreciate the full range of experience life has to offer.