Phat writes:
Finally, look at the many professionals who have degrees in Theology and Divinity and Philosophy who earned Doctorates in religious studies. Do you really think they dont believe?
Pretty much 100% of divinity and theology students are believers - or at least that's my experience sharing a flat with one. And what they learn is not what they preach - most believers would call what they teach heresy. I'm surprised they survive.
I guess im just puzzled why you alone (with a few others) concluded the way that you did.
quote:
According to sociologist Phil Zuckerman, broad estimates of those who have an absence of belief in a deity range from 500 to 750 million people worldwide.[1] Other estimates state that there are 200 million to 240 million self-identified atheists worldwide, with China and Russia being major contributors to those figures.[3] According to sociologists Ariela Keysar and Juhem Navarro-Rivera's review of numerous global studies on atheism, there are 450 to 500 million positive atheists and agnostics worldwide (7% of the world's population), with China having the most atheists in the world (200 million convinced atheists).[5]
Demographics of atheism - Wikipedia
As for how people 'conclude the way they do'... multiple reasons but in global terms I doubt the majority conclude anything, they're just brought up that way. Just like you were.
The rest ringo covered and I'm surprised you needed to ask, I mean, we've covered this stuff over and over again but you still ask the same questions. It's The Barrier isn't it?
Je suis Charlie. Je suis Ahmed. Je suis Juif. Je suis Parisien. I am Mancunian. I am Brum. I am London.I am Finland. Soy Barcelona
"Life, don't talk to me about life" - Marvin the Paranoid Android
"Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved."
- Tim Minchin, in his beat poem, Storm.