Atheism and sexuality

As a group, atheists have sub-replacement levels of fertility.[1] On July 24, 2013, CNS News reported, "Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020...". See: Global atheism

Research indicates that religious women (especially evangelical/low church Protestant women) are more sexually satisfied than irreligious women.[2][3][4] See also: Atheism and women

Ben Freeland in his article No Sex Please, We're Atheists reported:

“  |  ...the public face of atheism tends to be dominated by the nerd set — scientists, computer engineers and other geeks who transitioned from awkward, socially (and sexually) insecure teenagers into cerebral adults who tend to view everything from the neck down as machinery necessary for getting the head from Conference A to Conference B.

International surveys of sexual satisfaction — as unreliable as such surveys are — also suggests that widespread atheism is bad news in the bedroom. According to Durex USA’s most recent international survey, the world’s most sexually satisfied country is the spectacularly religious Nigeria, with heavily Catholic countries like Spain, Italy, Brazil, and Mexico (and staunchly Orthodox Greece) in hot pursuit. Among the world’s most atheistic it’s a mixed bag...[5]

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A social science study also reports that Hispanic men are more sexually satisfied than other ethnic groups in the United States.[6] Hispanics are known for their religiosity. For example, in 2015, BloombergView reported concerning the United States: "According to a much-discussed 2012 report from the Pew Research Center on Religion and Public Life, only 3 percent of U.S. atheists and agnostics are black, 6 percent are Hispanic, and 4 percent are Asian. Some 82 percent are white. (The relevant figures for the population at large at the time of the survey were 66 percent white, 11 percent black, 15 percent Hispanic, 5 percent Asian.)"[7] See also: Western atheism and race

In 2011, The Daily Beast conceded in an article entitled Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us?, "The devout are actually having better sex than the rest of us."[3]

In the United States, the Republican Party has a large segment of religious conservatives and they are influential within the party.[8] ABC News reported that "More Republicans Satisfied With Sex Lives Than Democrats".[9]

## Contents

* 1 Sub-replacement fertility of atheist populations. High fertility rate of religious conservatives
* 1.1 Global atheism, aging populations and falling fertility rates
* 2 Atheism, marriage and sexuality
* 3 Irreligion and domestic violence
* 3.1 Secular Europe and domestic violence
* 4 Atheism and misuses of the body
* 5 Evolutionary belief and sexual immorality
* 6 Atheists/evolutionists cannot explain the origin of sexual reproduction
* 7 Irreligion/religion, athleticism, exercise and sexuality
* 7.1 Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism
* 7.2 Gallup study on religion and health behaviors
* 7.3 Self-discipline, regular exercise and religion
* 7.4 PZ Myers on atheist nerds and internet nerds
* 8 Atheism, sexuality and longevity
* 9 Atheist Greta Christina on atheism and sexuality
* 10 Christian satire about atheism and romantic love
* 10.1 Atheism and a lack of appreciation for the beauty of the human body
* 11 Atheism and loneliness
* 12 Ex-Christians, lower self-esteem and sexual satisfaction
* 13 Sex and Secularism study
* 13.1 PZ Myers, Pharyngula blog audience and the Sex and Secularism survey
* 13.2 American Atheists, Blair Scott and the Sex and Secularism survey
* 13.3 Secularism and Sex Survey, atheism, sex outside of marriage and aberrant sexual practices
* 14 Atheism and sexual immorality
* 15 Atheist controlled mainland China and the consumption of powdered baby flesh in order to try to boost stamina and sexual health
* 16 See also
* 17 External links
* 18 Notes

## Sub-replacement fertility of atheist populations. High fertility rate of religious conservatives[edit]

Eric Kaufmann, a professor at Birkbeck College, University of London, using a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the Western World.[10]

See also: Atheism and fertility rates and Atheism and marriage and Atheist marriages

As a group, atheists have sub-replacement levels of fertility.[11]

On December 23, 2012, Professor Eric Kaufmann who teaches at Birbeck College, University of London wrote:

“  |  I argue that 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious.

On the other hand, the secular West and East Asia has very low fertility and a rapidly aging population... In the coming decades, the developed world's demand for workers to pay its pensions and work in its service sector will soar alongside the booming supply of young people in the third world. Ergo, we can expect significant immigration to the secular West which will import religious revival on the back of ethnic change. In addition, those with religious beliefs tend to have higher birth rates than the secular population, with fundamentalists having far larger families. The epicentre of these trends will be in immigration gateway cities like New York (a third white), Amsterdam (half Dutch), Los Angeles (28% white), and London, 45% white British. [12]

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Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."[13] Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."[13]

In March 2010, The Telegraph published an article entitled Atheism is doomed: the contraceptive Pill is secularism's cyanide tablet which indicated:

“  |  Across the western world the fertility rate of religious conservatives far outstrips that of non-believers, so much so that modern liberal secularism is endangered. That, anyway, is the thesis of Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, a fascinating new book by Eric Kaufmann of Birkbeck University, which is published later this month. It may well be one of the most significant books of our era.[14] |  ”

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In addition, women are less likely to become atheists (see: Atheism and women).

On July 24, 2013, CNS News reported, "Atheism is in decline worldwide, with the number of atheists falling from 4.5% of the world’s population in 1970 to 2.0% in 2010 and projected to drop to 1.8% by 2020...". See also: Sub-replacement levels of fertility of atheists

### Global atheism, aging populations and falling fertility rates[edit]

See also: Global atheism and aging populations

Global atheism is facing significant challenges in terms of aging populations in East Asia and Europe and this will be a significant cause of desecularization in the 21st century (see: Global atheism and aging populations).

As atheist populations rise in age, the fertility rates of atheistic countries could drop further. The Rand Corporation indicates, "Nearly all European nations are experiencing long-term downtrends in fertility, and consequently, ageing of their populations. These demographic trends could have potentially damaging consequences for European economies."[15]

## Atheism, marriage and sexuality[edit]

Jesus Christ and his apostles taught a gospel of love.[16] For example, the New Testament teaches that a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). See also: Atheism and love

See also: Atheism and marriage and Atheist marriages and Atheism and love

According to Dr. Justin Lehmiller, research indicates that married couples have sex with much greater frequency than single people.[17] In addition, Lehmiller indicates that "Across all ages and genders, married people typically have more sexual contact than their single counterparts."[17]

Christian apologist Michael Caputo wrote: "Recently the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has published its mammoth study on Religion in America based on 35,000 interviews... According to the Pew Forum a whopping 37% of atheists never marry as opposed to 19% of the American population, 17% of Protestants and 17% of Catholics.[18] See also: Atheism and marriage

According to the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) over 50% of all atheists and agnostics don’t get married.[19] The fertility rate is significantly lower in the atheist population (see: Atheism and fertility rates).

Furthermore, the Christian apologist Ken Ammi wrote in his atheism article at Creation Ministries International:

“  |  “According to Barna, ‘Forty-two percent of adults who associate with a faith other than Christianity had co-habited, while atheists were the most likely to do so (51%).

“It is critical to stress that it is a well known fact that cohabiters experience a very high number of ‘breakups’ before getting married. ‘Millions of people … believe that cohabitation is a prelude to marriage. And for many, it is. However, Smock reports that 45% of cohabitations break up with no marriage. Another 10% continue cohabiting.’

“Barna did not include this enlightening fact in his research. Thus, if 21% of atheists divorce after marriage, and 45 % break up once or more before marriage, what we have is the astounding rate of about 66% of atheist couples experiencing ‘at least’ one break up. If, however, the number is 37%, then we have a shocking figure of 82% …

“What needs mentioning is the fact that many atheists do not cohabit as a prelude to marriage. They in fact see cohabitation as ‘equivalent’ to any marriage relationship … These break ups were not included in the Barna research …

“The appellation ‘Christian’ a Christian does not make. There are great numbers of people in this world who call themselves ‘Christians’ but have never internalized the teachings of Jesus Christ." … [20]

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See also: Atheism, marriage and quarrelsome individuals

## Irreligion and domestic violence[edit]

Research suggests that irreligiousity is a causal factor for domestic violence.[21]

See also: Irreligion and domestic violence

The abstract for the 2007 article in the journal Violence Against Women entitled Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence indicated:

“  |  The authors explored the relationship between religious involvement and intimate partner violence by analyzing data from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. They found that: (a) religious involvement is correlated with reduced levels of domestic violence; (b) levels of domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; (c) the effects of religious involvement on domestic violence vary by race/ethnicity; and (d) religious involvement, specifically church attendance, protects against domestic violence, and this protective effect is stronger for African American men and women and for Hispanic men, groups that, for a variety of reasons, experience elevated risk for this type of violence.[22] |  ”

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Also, a quote from the journal article Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence:

“  |  Another line of thought suggests that religious people may be less likely to perpe- trate domestic violence (Fergusson, Horwood, Kershaw, & Shannon, 1986). A 1999 study of U.S. couples found that both men and women who attend religious services regularly are less likely to commit acts of domestic violence than those who attend rarely or not at all (Ellison et al., 1999). A follow-up study identified three pathways through which religious involvement may operate; namely, increasing levels of social integration and social support, reducing the likelihood of alcohol or substance abuse, and decreasing the risk of psychological problems (Ellison & Anderson, 2001). However, even after considering such indirect effects of religion through the use of sta- tistical controls, that study found that regular religious involvement still had a protec- tive effect against the perpetration of domestic violence by both men and women (Ellison & Anderson, 2001). In addition, that study showed that evidence of such pro- tective religious effects persisted regardless of whether domestic violence was measured using data from self reports or partner reports, which makes it difficult to attribute these observed religious effects to simple social desirability or other response bias.[22] |  ”

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### Secular Europe and domestic violence[edit]

See: Secular Europe and domestic violence

## Atheism and misuses of the body[edit]

Portrait of the perverse and cruel atheist Marquis de Sade in prison. See: Atheism and sadism Marquis de Sade experienced grotesque obesity during his life.[23]

The Barna Group found that atheists and agnostics in America were more likely, than theists in America, to look upon the following behaviors as morally acceptable: illegal drug use; excessive drinking; sexual relationships outside of marriage; abortion; cohabitating with someone of opposite sex outside of marriage; obscene language; gambling; pornography and obscene sexual behavior; and engaging in homosexuality/bisexuality.[24] Given the many diseases associated with homosexuality, the biblical prohibition against homosexuality is quite arguably one of the many examples where the Bible exhibited knowledge that was ahead of its time.

See also:

* Atheism and cannibalism

* Atheism and suicide (Atheists are more likely to commit suicide)

* Atheism and morality

* Atheist population and immorality

Articles related to atheism and sexual immorality:

* Abortion and atheism

* Atheism and hedonism

* Atheism and pornography

* Atheism and child pornography

* Atheism and rape

* Mass rape of German women by the Soviet army

* Mass raping of Chinese woman by Japanese officers and soldiers

* Atheism and sexually transmitted diseases

* Atheism and homosexuality

* Atheism and sadism

* Atheism, pederasty and NAMBLA

* Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships

* Atheist conferences and inappropriate sexual activity

* Atheism and incest

* Atheism and bestiality

## Evolutionary belief and sexual immorality[edit]

The evolutionist and atheist philosopher Peter Singer defends the practice of bestiality (as well as abortion, infanticide and euthanasia). Despite holding these immoral views the liberal and pro-evolution academic establishment rewarded his views with a bioethics chair at Princeton University.[25]

See also: Evolutionary belief and sexual immorality and Social effects of the theory of evolution

Since World War II a majority of the most prominent and vocal defenders of the theory of evolution which employs methodological naturalism have been atheists or agnostics.[26]

In July 2000, Creation Ministries International reported:

“  |  For years, many people have scoffed at any suggestion that the evils in society could be linked with the teaching of the theory of evolution. But new research has confirmed what Bible-believers have known all along—that the rising acceptance of Darwin’s theory is related to declining morality in the community.

The research survey of 1535 people, conducted by the Australian National University, revealed that belief in evolution is associated with moral permissiveness. Darwin himself apparently feared that belief in evolution by the common man would lead to social decay. The survey showed that people who believed in evolution were more likely to be in favour of premarital sex than those who rejected Darwin’s theory. Another issue which highlighted the contrast between the effect of evolutionary ideas and that of biblical principles was that Darwinians were reported to be ‘especially tolerant’ of abortion.

In identifying the primary factors determining these differences in community attitudes, the author of the research report, Dr Jonathan Kelley, said: ‘The single most important influence after church attendance is the theory of evolution.’[27]

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For more information, please see: Evolutionary belief and sexual immorality

## Atheists/evolutionists cannot explain the origin of sexual reproduction[edit]

In addition to atheism/evolutionism being causal factors for sexual immorality, Pastor Carl Gallups of the PNN News and Ministry Network YouTube channel points out that the evolutionary paradigm cannot explain the origin of sexual reproduction in his video entitled Sex and evolution - An Embarrassing Conundrum.

## Irreligion/religion, athleticism, exercise and sexuality[edit]

See also: Atheism and sedentary lifestyles

Numerous studies report that athletes to be more religious than non-athletes.[28]

The journal article Spirituality and Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior among Latino Men and Women in Massachusetts which was published in the journal Ethnicity and Disease declared: "There is a significant negative relationship between spirituality and sedentary behavior."[29] See also: Atheism and sedentary lifestyles and Atheism and physical fitness

Brie Cadman in her article entitled How Exercise Improves Your Sex Life wrote:

“  |  For decades, sports physiologists pondered the following question: does sex, especially the night before a big competition, hinder athletic performance? While the answer might be of interest to coaches and Olympiads trolling the Beijing streets the night before their long jump, it has little relevance for the rest of us, who aren’t competitive athletes. A recreational runner or pick-up basketball player isn’t likely to be setting world records. They are, however, likely to be having (or wanting to have) sex. Therefore, a more relevant question for the masses is the corollary: how does exercise affect your sex life?

Not surprisingly, research indicates that exercisers have more and better sex than couch potatoes. The agility and flexibility garnered during sports can help during sex, an athletic endeavor in its own right. But exercise has implications beyond just the physical. It affects our mental, emotional, and psychological state of being; this in turn positively affects our sex lives.[30]

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### Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism[edit]

See also: Sports performance: Religious faith vs. atheism

The Sports Journal is a monthly refereed journal published by the United States Sports Academy. A journal article appeared in the Sports Journal entitled Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions. The article was submitted by Nathan T. Bell, Scott R. Johnson, and Jeffrey C. Petersen from Ball State University.[31]

Christian NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. Viewers of sporting events can frequently observe athletes pointing to the sky, engaging in team prayer on the court or field, and glorifying God following athletic competitions.[31] Tim Tebow is known for kneeling in prayer and thanking God on the football field.[32]

An excerpt from the abstract of the journal article Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions declares:

“  |  Numerous studies report athletes to be more religious than nonathletes (Fischer, 1997; Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, & Storch, 2001; Storch et al., 2004). According to Storch, Kolsky, Silvestri, and Storch (2001), four reasons may explain why religion interacts with athletic performance. First, athletes may identify with religious beliefs for direction and humility. Second, athletes may turn to religion to gain a sense of optimism and security, benefiting from such beliefs following a disappointing athletic performance. Third, religion can be used for emotional and psychological support in stressful circumstances like the uncertainty of athletic competition, which can cause athletes an overwhelming amount of anxiety. Religious beliefs can offer the internal strength to persevere through the stress. Fourth, religion “provides a cognitive framework conducive to the relief of anxiety associated with competition” (Storch et al., 2001, p. 347). This framework allows relief from fear and anxiety on the basis of the athlete’s understanding (i.e., belief) that a supreme being is in complete control of the situation. For example, athletes may rely on religious faith to place a poor athletic performance in perspective...

Religion can be an important aspect in athletes’ lives and may serve a protective function against psychological distress and maladaptive behaviors such as substance use or aggression (Storch, Roberti, Bravata, & Storch, 2004). Viewers of sporting events can frequently observe athletes pointing to the sky, engaging in team prayer on the court or field, and glorifying God following athletic competitions.[31]

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### Gallup study on religion and health behaviors[edit]

Exercise is an important component of good health.[33] According to the Gallup Inc., "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."[34] See also: Atheism and health

Gallup declared concerning the study which measured the degree to which religiosity affects health practices: "Generalized linear model analysis was used to estimate marginal scores all five reported metrics after controlling for age (in years), gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education (number of years), log of income, and region of the country... Results are based on telephone interviews conducted as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index survey Jan. 2-July 28, 2010, with a random sample of 554,066 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, selected using random-digit-dial sampling."[34]

### Self-discipline, regular exercise and religion[edit]

Regular exercise requires self-discipline.[35]

In the journal article Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications, psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.[36][37] Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in Psychological Science found that religion replenishes self-control.[38][39] Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.[40][41] See also: Atheism and hedonism

### PZ Myers on atheist nerds and internet nerds[edit]

PZ Myers (photo obtained from Flickr, see license agreement)

See also: Atheist nerds

Nerds are often not engaged in athletics.

In 2013, the atheist PZ Myers declared:

“  |  If we're going to expand our base and we're going to draw in more people to recognize the virtues of living in a secular world, we need to appeal to more than just that geek and nerd subset of the population. We need to have a wider base. ...I seriously believe that we're on the cusp of a crisis. We're not there yet but it's looming in front of us. Will we adapt and thrive and change the world? Or will we remain an avocation for a prosperous and largely irrelevant subset of the population? Will we become something more than a scattered society of internet nerds? That's what we have to do.[42] |  ”

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In response, David Klinghoffer at Evolution News and Views wrote:

“  |  A crisis looms, in Myers's view, because he looks around himself and sees a not very promising basis for a mass movement. He's right. There is indeed a quality of geeky isolation from reality, common sense, and the fullness of life that I see as a motif in atheist and Darwin activism alike.[42] |  ”

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In 2007, WorldNetDaily featured a column by Chuck Norris concerning internet atheism which declared:

“  |  Atheists are making a concerted effort to win the youth of America and the world. Hundreds of websites and blogs on the Internet seek to convince and convert adolescents, endeavoring to remove any residue of theism from their minds and hearts by packaging atheism as the choice of a new generation. While you think your kids are innocently surfing the Web, secular progressives are intentionally preying on their innocence and naïveté.

What's preposterous is that atheists are now advertising and soliciting on websites particularly created for teens...

YouTube, the most popular video site on the Net for young people, is one of their primary avenues for passing off their secularist propaganda.[43]

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China has the largest atheist population in the world.[44] In 2014, the British medical journal Lancet reported that the Chinese now have the second highest obesity rate in the world.[45][46] A recent study published in the Obesity Reviews journal, found that Chinese teenagers' rate of diabetes was four times that of their American peers.[47]

In 2009, an Australian university study was done concerning the association between leisure time internet and computer use with being overweight and/or obese and also sedentary.[48] The study concluded: "These findings suggest that, apart from nutritional and physical activity interventions, it may also be necessary to decrease time spent in sedentary behaviors, such as leisure-time Internet and computer use, in order to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity."[48]

See also;:

* Atheism and obesity

* Internet atheism and obesity

* New Atheism leadership's problem with excess weight

* American Atheists and obesity

* Irreligion/religion, recent generations in the United States and obesity

* Secular Europe and obesity

* Godless Britain and obesity

* Atheistic China and obesity

## Atheism, sexuality and longevity[edit]

The prestigious Mayo Clinic found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better physical health and mental health outcomes.[49]

See also: Atheism and health

Men who are satisfied with their sexual lives have greater longevity.[50]

The Iona Institute reported:

“  |  A meta-analysis of all studies, both published and unpublished, relating to religious involvement and longevity was carried out in 2000. Forty-two studies were included, involving some 126,000 subjects. Active religious involvement increased the chance of living longer by some 29%, and participation in public religious practices, such as church attendance, increased the chance of living longer by 43%.[51] |  ”

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The prestigious Mayo Clinic reported on December 11, 2001:

“  |  In an article also published in this issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers reviewed published studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews and subject reviews that examined the association between religious involvement and spirituality and physical health, mental health, health-related quality of life and other health outcomes.

The authors report a majority of the nearly 350 studies of physical health and 850 studies of mental health that have used religious and spiritual variables have found that religious involvement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes.[49]

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See also:

* Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence

* Atheism and loneliness

* Atheist factions (contentiousness of atheist population)

* Atheism and emotional intelligence

## Atheist Greta Christina on atheism and sexuality[edit]

Picture of Greta Christina in 2010.

See also: Atheism and pornography and Atheism, polyamory and other immoral relationships

The atheist and lesbian Greta Christina declared before an audience of atheists:

“  |  Personal revulsion should not translate into moral revulsion…

If we don’t like porn and our sexual partner does, we don’t get to say, “Porn upsets me, therefore you’re a bad person for enjoying it.” If we want our relationship to be monogamous and our sexual partner doesn’t, we don’t get to say, “Non-monogamy freaks me out, and you’re a bad person for wanting it.”[52]

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Greta Christina told the journalist Chris Mooney on the Point of Inquiry podcast, "there isn't one emotion" that affects atheists "but anger is one of the emotions that many of us have ...[it] drives others to participate in the movement".[53] See also: Atheism and anger

For years, Greta Christina was overweight and very much agreed with the fat acceptance movement and largely dismissed the abundant medical science data indicating the negative health effects of being overweight. Her fat acceptance beliefs were altered though when she had a serious knee problem which prompted her to lose her excess weight.[54]

Picture of Greta Christina in 2007. (photo from Flickr, see: license agreement)

Within the feminist movement, there a branch of feminism called fat feminism.[55] The lesbian population in the Western World has a significantly higher rate of obesity (see: Lesbianism and obesity). For more information please see: Atheism and the fat acceptance movement and Atheism and obesity

Today, Christina has a more limited agreement with the fat acceptance movement, but still considers herself apart of it.[54]

Greta Christina wrote in 2010:

“  |  And while I have huge disagreements with the fat acceptance movement -- especially with its more extreme denialist edges -- I still think many of its ideas are important, and perceptive, and entirely fair. I have serious disagreements with FA, but I am still very much shaped by it, and I would like to think of myself as an ally of the movement, and even as a member of it.

It's just that they don't feel the same way about me.

Or about other fat people who choose to lose weight.[54]

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## Christian satire about atheism and romantic love[edit]

True Freethinker is a Christian apologetics website run by Ken Ammi which offers many refutations of atheism.

See also: Atheism and love and Atheism and marriage and Atheist marriages

The Christian apologist Ken Ammi, in order to demonstrate the moral and spiritual poverty of atheism, satirically gave this example of words that would be appropriate for an "Atheist Valentine's Day" card:

“  |  I am currently secreting manifestations of brain stuff towards you...

My cost-benefit analysis has concluded that you qualify as a mate, adequate to assist my survival and reproducing my genes - will you be my valentines.[56]

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For more information, please see: Atheism and love

### Atheism and a lack of appreciation for the beauty of the human body[edit]

See: Atheism and a lack of appreciation for the beauty of the human body

## Atheism and loneliness[edit]

Atheistic societies often have significant problems with loneliness (see: Atheism and loneliness).

## Ex-Christians, lower self-esteem and sexual satisfaction[edit]

Atheists have higher rates of suicide than the general population.[57][58][59] Please see: Atheism and suicide

See also: Atheism and self-esteem.

There are preliminary studies indicating that individuals who reject Christianity in Western cultures have lower self-esteem than the Christian population.[60][61] There are also studies indicating that lower self-esteem is associated with suicidality.[62][63] Atheists have higher rates of suicide than the general population.[63][64][65] Individuals with lower self-esteem have lower levels of sexual satisfaction.[66]

Self-confidence frequently increases self-esteem.[67]

The agnostic professor Eric Kaufmann wrote about the secular population and confidence:

“  |  Worldwide, the march of religion can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's demographic deficit means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm."[68] |  ”

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See also: Atheism and cowardice and Rebuttals to atheist arguments

At the same time, there is a significant portion of the atheist population who suffer from excess self-esteem/pride issues (see: Atheism and arrogance). Bluster and mockery is often a substitute for competence and is a result of arrogance and complacency - it can quickly pop like a balloon.[69] On the other hand, individuals whose competence is the result of hard work and study are more likely to prevail under lengthy periods of adversity.[70] Atheists are known for their mockery and a common complaint of atheists is that they are arrogant (see: Atheism and arrogance and Atheism and mockery). Arrogant and self-centered people have less empathy.[71][72] American atheists give less to charity than American religious people do even when church giving is not counted (see: Atheism and uncharitableness). Individuals with lower levels of empathy have lower levels of sexual satisfaction.[66]

## Sex and Secularism study[edit]

A study, which involved self-selection, entitled Sex and Secularism reported that a majority of people leaving religion had greater sexual satisfaction, but due to the fact that the study involved self-selection, the report indicated "We do not claim that this is a representative sample of the secular community."[73] Self-selection bias is a major problem in research in the fields of sociology, psychology and a large number of other social sciences.[74] In such fields, a poll suffering from such self-selection bias is termed a self-selected listener opinion poll or "SLOP".[75]

### PZ Myers, Pharyngula blog audience and the Sex and Secularism survey[edit]

Michael Nugent

See also: PZ Myers and social justice

According to the Sex and Secularism study, "PZ Myers, who was single handedly responsible for over half of our respondents".[73]

The atheist biologist Massimo Pigliucci said of Myers, "one cannot conclude this parade without mentioning P.Z. Myers, who has risen to fame because of a blog where the level of nastiness (both by the host and by his readers) is rarely matched anywhere else on the Internet...".[76]

The Irish atheist Michael Nugent wrote to PZ Myers in September 2014:

“  |  Some of the content of your blog is hurtful and unjust in itself, it also undermines the effectiveness of attempts to promote compassion and empathy and social justice, and it is additionally harmful because of your prominence as a perceived spokesperson for organised atheism...

PZ, is this really how you want to be remembered? Having defended you against unjust attacks from others, I am now asking you to take a long hard look at what you are doing, consider apologising to people who you have unjustly hurt and defamed, and start focusing on actually promoting compassion and empathy and social justice if those ideas are important to you.[77]

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The atheist PZ Myers declared, "...I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions..."[78][79] See: Atheism and bestiality

On April 2015, Atheist Ireland announced, "Atheist Ireland is publicly dissociating itself from the hurtful and dehumanising, hateful and violent, unjust and defamatory rhetoric of the atheist blogger PZ Myers."[80]

In 2010, the Christian apologetics website True Free Thinker wrote:

“  |  Scienceblogger Chad Orzel described the commentators on PZ Myers ' Scienceblogs.com site Pharyngula, and other Scienceblogs.com commentators, as "screechy monkeys."[81] |  ”

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Theodore Beale wrote concerning PZ Myers' blog Pharyngula:

“  |  It's by no means a scientific test, but it is interesting to note the coincidence that 59 of the virulent atheists over at Dr. PZ Myers place report an average score on the Asperger's Quotient test of 27.8. And this does not include the two individuals who actually have Asperger's but did not report any test results."

As PZ himself said: "I took the test and scored a 24, an “average math contest winner.” You need a 32 to suggest Asperger’s, and a 15 is the average. So there. I don’t have Asperger’s, I’m just cruel and insensitive."[82]

|  ”

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For more information, please see:

* PZ Myers on bestiality

* PZ Myers' inappropriate commentary on the suicide of comedian Robin Williams

* PZ Myers' rejoicing at the accidental death of a Brazilian priest and then fantasizing about killing priests

* PZ Myers on abortion

### American Atheists, Blair Scott and the Sex and Secularism survey[edit]

Nate Phelps spoke at the 2009 American Atheists convention.[83] Nate is currently the Executive Director of the Center for Inquiry Canada.[84]

See also: Atheist factions

The Sex and Secularism survey also declared: "American Atheists and Blair Scott who were on board very early helping us get off to a good start."[73]

Blair Scott served on the American Atheists board of directors. Mr. Scott formerly served as a State Director for the American Atheists organization in the state of Alabama. On December 1, 2012 he quit his post as a director of outreach for the American Atheist due to infighting within the American atheist movement.[85]

Mr. Blair wrote:

“  |  I have spent the last week mulling over what I want to do at this point in the movement. I’m tired of the in-fighting: at every level. I am especially tired of allowing myself to get sucked into it and engaging in the very behavior that is irritating..me.[85] |  ”

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See also: Atheism and social intelligence and Atheist factions

### Secularism and Sex Survey, atheism, sex outside of marriage and aberrant sexual practices[edit]

See also: Atheism and social outcasts

As noted above, PZ Myers was responsible for generating over half of the Sex and Secularism survey results. PZ Myers declared, "...I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions..."[78][79] See also: Atheism and bestiality and PZ Myers on bestiality

Furthermore, the guilt associated with sex outside of marriage (including various aberrant forms of sexuality), may have skewed the survey results (see: Atheism and sexuality immorality). See also: Atheist population and immorality

As noted above, PZ Myers was responsible for over half of the Sex and Secularism survey respondents. PZ Myers declared, "...I don’t object to bestiality in a very limited set of specific conditions..."[78][79] See also: Atheism and bestiality and PZ Myers on bestiality

Sex outside of marriage is commonly associated with higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases (See Atheism and sexually transmitted diseases).[86]

## Atheism and sexual immorality[edit]

See: Atheism and sexual immorality

## Atheist controlled mainland China and the consumption of powdered baby flesh in order to try to boost stamina and sexual health[edit]

* Communist China and baby eating

* Atheists eat babies meme

* Atheism, Chinese doctors and baby eating

* Abortion and atheism

* Atheism and medicine

## See also[edit]

* Atheism and lust

* Atheism and celibacy

* Atheism and romance

* Atheists and physical attractiveness

* Atheism and divorce

* Atheism, divorce, addiction, sexual satisfaction, social skills, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes, and irrationality

Essays:

* Essay: Atheism and gamma males

## External links[edit]

* What Is Sexual Atheism, and Why Is It Wrong? by Stand To Reason

## Notes[edit]

1. ↑
* Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
* Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
* Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
* Atheism is doomed: the contraceptive Pill is secularism's cyanide tablet, The Telegraph, By Ed West. Last updated: March 15th, 2010
2. ↑ The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 115
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Why Are Christians Having Better Sex Than the Rest of Us? by Tucker Carlson, The Daily Beast, November 11, 25, 2008
4. ↑ Christian Women Have More Sexual Fun, Relationship Center in Springfield Missouri
5. ↑ No Sex Please, We're Atheists by Ben Freeland, Heavy.com
6. ↑ The Social Organization of Sexuality: Sexual Practices in the United States By Edward O. Laumann, John H. Gagnon, Robert T. Michael, Stuart Michaels, page 114
7. ↑ The Atheism Gap By Stephen L. Carter, BloombergView, Mar 27, 2015 4:26 PM EDT
8. ↑ How Many Highly Religious Conservative Republicans Are There?, Gallup Organization statistics
9. ↑ More Republicans Satisfied With Sex Lives Than Democrats, ABC News
10. ↑
* Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
* Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
11. ↑
* Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
* Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
* Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
* Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
12. ↑ 97% of the world's population growth is taking place in the developing world, where 95% of people are religious, Tuesday, April 30, 2013
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
14. ↑ Atheism is doomed: the contraceptive Pill is secularism's cyanide tablet, The Telegraph, By Ed West. Last updated: March 15th, 2010
15. ↑ Low Fertility and Population Ageing, Rand Corporation
16. ↑ The Triumph of the Gospel of Love by Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo)
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Who Has the Busier Bedroom: Single People or Married Couples?
18. ↑ https://creation.com/atheism
19. ↑ https://creation.com/atheism
20. ↑ Atheism = Mario Grinbank - Creation Ministries International
21. ↑ doi: 10.1177/1077801207308259 Violence Against Women, Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence, November 2007 vol. 13 no. 11 1094-1112
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 doi: 10.1177/1077801207308259 Violence Against Women, Race/Ethnicity, Religious Involvement, and Domestic Violence, November 2007 vol. 13 no. 11 1094-1112
23. ↑ http://www.neilschaeffer.com/sade/bibliography/quills.htm
24. ↑ http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/58-practical-outcomes-replace-biblical-principles-as-the-moral-standard
25. ↑
* The Basis of a Christian Worldview - Creation Ministries International
* CMI answers philosophy/religion professor on biblical exegesis and the problem of evil
* The Dangerous Mind by Joe Carter, First Things
26. ↑ Multiple references:
* Batten, Dr. Don (December 1997). "A Who’s Who of evolutionists". Creation Ministries International. Originally published in Creation 20(1):32. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
* Sarfati, Jonathan, Ph.D., F.M. (1999). "Chapter 1: Facts and bias", Refuting Evolution. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
27. ↑ Morals decline linked to evolution
28. ↑ Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions
29. ↑ Spirituality and Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior among Latino Men and Women in Massachusetts by Valerie J. Silfee, Christina F. Haughton, Stephenie C. Lemon, Vilma Lora, and Milagros C. Rosal, Ethnicity and Disease. 2017 Winter; 27(1): 3–10. Published online 2017 Jan 19. doi: 10.18865/ed.27.1.3
30. ↑ How Exercise Improves Your Sex Life
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Strength of Religious Faith of Athletes and Nonathletes at Two NCAA Division III Institutions
32. ↑ Tim Tebow May Not Be on the Field Anymore, But He Got Caught in the Act Again By Caroline Schaeffer (8 months ago)|Sports, TV, IJR Review
33. ↑ Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity, Mayo Clinic
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 https://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx
35. ↑ Getting into the exercise habit
36. ↑ Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications
37. ↑ Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications
38. ↑ Religion Replenishes Self-Control, Psychological Science, June 2012 vol. 23 no. 6 635-642, Kevin Rounding, Albert Lee, Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji at Queen’s University
39. ↑ Study finds religion helps us gain self-control
40. ↑ Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen C., Health Psychol. 2000 May;19(3):211-22.
41. ↑ The role of spirituality in health care, roc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2001 October; 14(4): 352–357.
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 in Seattle, PZ Myers Reflects Candidly on His Constituency
43. ↑ https://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55789
44. ↑
* Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics (Zuckerman, 2005)
* A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live, Washington Post By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey May 23, 2013
45. ↑ As Obesity Rises, Chinese Kids Are Almost as Fat as Americans, Wall Street Journal Chinarealtime, May 29, 2014
46. ↑ Chubby China: Nation of 300 Million Overweight People
47. ↑ Obesity is a growing concern in China By Pang Li, China.org.cn, September 14, 2012
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Associations of Leisure-Time Internet and Computer Use With Overweight and Obesity, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors: Cross-Sectional Study, JMIR Publications
49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Mueller, Dr. Paul S. et al. (December 2001). "Religious involvement, spirituality, and medicine: implications for clinical practice". Mayo Clinic Proceedings vol. 76:12, pp. 1225-1235. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic Proceedings website on July 20, 2014.
50. ↑ The Best Reason to Have Sex by Philip Weiss, Men's Journal
51. ↑ Multiple references:
* Casey, Professor Patricia (April 3, 2009). "The psycho-social benefits of religious practise" [executive summary]. Iona Institute for Religion and Society [Ireland] website. Retrieved on July 24, 2014.
* McCullough, Michael E. et al. (2000). "Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review". Health Psychology. vol. 19:3. pp. 211-222. Retrieved from University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology website on July 24, 2014.
52. ↑ Greta Christina on Atheism and Sexuality by atheist Luke Muehlhauser at Common Sense Atheism
53. ↑ Greta Christina - Why Are You Atheists So Angry?
54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 Caught Between Fat and Thin: When a Fat Acceptance Advocate Takes Off the Pounds by Greta Christina
55. ↑ Willett, Julie (2010). TheAmerican Beauty Industry Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 0313359490. , page 14
56. ↑ Atheist Saint Valentine's Day Cards by Ken Ammi, Examiner, October 29, 2010
57. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20602903
58. ↑ http://www.adherents.com/misc/religion_suicide.html
59. ↑ http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/12/2303
60. ↑ Rejection of atheism and self-esteem
61. ↑ Atheism and self-esteem - part 2
62. ↑ The suicidal process and self-esteem, PUbMed
63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Risk factors found in suicide attempters, PubMed
64. ↑ Atheism and suicide, Adhreents.com
65. ↑ Religious Affiliation and Suicide Attempt, American Journal of Psychiatry
66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 Key to Better Sex Revealed in New Study by Jennifer Welsh, LiveScience.com, June 08, 2011 12:18pm ET
67. ↑ The Differences Between Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence by Justin Ho, The Up Lab, September 9, 2013
68. ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann
69. ↑ Confidence and competence
70. ↑ True Grit By Angela Lee Duckworth and Lauren Eskreis-Winkler
71. ↑ Narcissists' Lack of Empathy Detected in Brain Scans by Denise Chow, Sci-Tech Editor, LiveScience.com, June 24, 2013 01:17pm ET
72. ↑ The Difference Between Confidence and Arrogance is Empathy by Cody Brown on Dec 12, 2013
73. ↑ 73.0 73.1 73.2 Sex and Secularism By Darrel Ray, Ed.D. and Amanda Brown, IPCpress.com
74. ↑ Ziliak, S.T., McCloskey, D.N. (2008) The Cult of Statistical Significance: How the Standard Error Costs Us Jobs, Justice, and Lives, University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-05007-9
75. ↑ Lensky, Helen Jefferson. Olympic Industry Resistance: Challenging Olympic Power and Propaganda, pg 56. State University of New York Press, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7914-7479-2
76. ↑ Reflections on the skeptic and atheist movements By Massimo Pigliucci Scientia Salon, Posted: May 13, 2015
77. ↑ The LBJ legend and my email to PZ Myers by Michael Nugent on September 19, 2014
78. ↑ 78.0 78.1 78.2 Atheist Achilles Heels: Objective Morality and Sacred Life
79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 79.2 The “objective morality” gotcha
80. ↑ Atheist Ireland publicly dissociates itself from the harmful and hateful rhetoric of PZ Myers by Michael Nugent, April 7, 2015
81. ↑ http://www.truefreethinker.com/articles/pz-myers-and-pavlovs-monkeys
82. ↑ PZ admits he's wrong by Theodore Beale, Friday, August 29, 2014
83. ↑ http://lifewithoutfaith.com/?p=183
84. ↑ Huffington Post, May 2012
85. ↑ 85.0 85.1 Former 2012 web page at Atheist.org website entitled "An Open Letter from Blair Scott"
86. ↑ The Epidemic of Sexually Transmitted Diseases by Dr. Ray Bohlin