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Lv 5

Where do Atheists get their Claims that most Criminals are Christians?

Where is this evidence that I'm always hearing about that proves that most criminals were Practicing Christians before they committed their crimes? I can't find any certifiable evidence of this.

Update:

So far the only statistics that people are giving are all from the same, single document. A document that was supposedly sent to a civilian in an email and was posted in html on his own website. Why do I find this kind of information so hard to trust?

Update 2:

The other problem with this document that appears to have started this whole thing is that, if the statistics are true, it only shows what inmates are while they have been in prison. It does NOT show which of them have adopted the faith after entering prison, which of them are just claiming to have become religious to look good for the parole board, or which ones of them were practicing Christians BEFORE they committed their crimes.

Update 3:

The statistics also don't account for how many of these inmates are mentally ill (i.e. Sociopaths and the like).

12 Answers

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  • Clare
    Lv 5
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    In the United States this is actually true, but may be due to the fact that an overwhelming amount of the population identify as Christian rather than Christians having a greater tendency to commit a crime

    Source(s): Atheist
  • Ren
    Lv 5
    9 years ago

    Judeo-Christians (Catholic, Protestant, Rasta, Jewish, Church of Christ, Pentecostal, Jehovah Witness, Adventist, Orthodox, Mormon)....not Christians....at least to me that's what I'm referring to. There is really no way to know for sure unless you did a national survey of who is affiliated with a religious group and then comparing that statistic with those that are in prison. So far all I can give you is info on those that are in prison.

    However, if you take a look at news reports like those preachers who molest children or those who have committed mass suicide (cults), those would be an example to start. If you are talking about normal people that didn't make the news, well, that would have to be a lot of research.

    The source I have only has statics of prisoners.

    http://www.atheismresource.com/2010/atheist-dont-c...

    Anyway, I hope that helps.

    Source(s): Atheist.
  • Jamie
    Lv 6
    9 years ago

    The simple fact that there are more religious people in the world means that so too are there more religious criminals. However I doubt that's the point being made. If you care to examine global crime rate statistics, you will observe that nations with lower levels of religiosity also tend to have lower levels of crime. Whether this is a causal link is debatable. There are likely many contributing factors, lower levels of poverty for example.

  • 9 years ago

    Since Christians are the majority, it makes since that a majority of the people in jail would be Christian or come from Christian families.

    Keep in mind, I'm using the word Christian to describe all the religions that follow the new testament.

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  • ?
    Lv 4
    9 years ago

    In the USA, certainly they are, but then most people over there are Christian. It's noteworthy, though, that even taking the relative numbers into account, atheists are underrepresented in prisons.

  • 9 years ago

    Regardless, this information means nothing. In predominately Christian nations, you would expect most criminals (or vegetarians or truck drivers or Wal-Mart employees etc) to be mostly Christian.

  • Doya K
    Lv 5
    9 years ago

    http://vassleer.newsvine.com/_news/2007/01/03/5047... Here is one story... i'll leave you to find the rest... i'll also challenge you to find an atheist or a group of atheist that are comparable to this... (make sure to read the whole thing)

  • in america most human beings are christians. so of course most people in american prisons would be christians.

    a christian pastor is no more or less moral than a non-religious christian and there are plenty of both in prison.

  • 9 years ago

    Probably from prison and probation surveys. Of course, there's no guaranteeing that people tell the truth in such surveys.

  • 9 years ago

    Where the fvck was your evidence that atheist cause crime

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