With awful logic, Christian professor says atheism leads to more sexual assault and self-harm

The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on January 15, 2025

https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/with-awful-logic-christian-professor 

This discussion revolves around a sociological article published in the Journal of Sociology and Christianity by Professor Philli Truscott of Southern Baptist University, making unsupported claims linking the rise of religious "nones" to increases in sexual assault and suicide rates. The article's methodology was criticized for skipping the scientific rigor necessary to distinguish correlation from causation. Several issues were flagged, including the selective publication of such a study in a Christian journal, which allowed unverified claims to pass under the guise of academic credibility.

The panel dissected the misuse of data and how such narratives are weaponized for right-wing agendas. Key arguments included the cherry-picking of statistics, misinterpreting graphs, and ignoring broader societal contexts, such as increased awareness and reporting of sexual assaults in recent years. Comparisons between unrelated data points, like rising sea levels and transgender identification rates, were humorously used to illustrate the absurdity of such faulty correlations.

The panelists criticized this manipulation as a tool for fearmongering, promoting the idea that non-religious individuals or minorities are societal threats. They noted this tactic aligns with the broader goals of some religious institutions to bolster membership and financial support. The conversation closed by pointing out the hypocrisy within Christian leadership, where higher rates of misconduct are often uncovered.

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.04.2 featuring Jimmy Jr. , Jonathan Roudabush, and AJ

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