When I passed him he proudly announced "The atheists are winning!"

[n2doc]

Redditor Ventachinkway caught a photo of a homeless man conducting a clever exercise in behavioral economics disguised as an inquiry into the levels of spontaneous generosity as determined by religious creed or lack thereof.

http://boingboing.net/2013/05/01/homeless-mans-ab-test-of-ge.html
http://r2.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/1ddxok/when_i_passed_him_he_proudly_announced_the/

[Rozlee]

1. Location, location, location.

And I can't see where it says the experiment took place. It isn't representative if he's in rural Mississippi, where there's a dearth of Buddhists and Hindus around, not to mention any other minority religions. Or Brooklyn, where Southern Baptists might be underrepresented. Being an atheist myself, I'm not surprised that we give more. Much of today's Christianity seems caught up in the prosperity gospel that preaches that if you're poor, it's a judgment from God or an indication of the sin of sloth. Conservatives even scoff at the idea of many of the homeless being combat veterans who are either weathering tough economic times or suffering from PTSD.

[Moonwalk]

2. Well, another thread pointed out that Atheists are likely to be from the upper class...

...so I suppose this just proves it as the atheists can afford to give more?

Only half-joking there. As an Atheists, I find it an interesting if unscientific experiment because there is a imbalance in the spiritual populations there. The Pagans or Muslims, for example, might be very generous, but there probably aren't a lot of them (comparatively) in the town, and/or they might not be (comparatively) wealthy. Putting it another way, I would consider a small group of poor people giving him their last pennies more generous than a several rich people tossing away the extra dollar from the change they got when they bought their $4 coffee. So if the Pagan/Muslims are very poor but still giving, then they're (to me at least) technically more considerate and caring even if the amount in the bowl is mere pennies.

And although the Christians are undoubtedly the largest denomination in town, they might be giving their money to a church fund for the homeless and so feel that they don't need to give again to this person on the street. He'll be consuming a free meal handed out by church or shelter that their donations provide. As Atheists don't go to weekly church and give regular donations, they might be more generous with this one-time donation.

And then we have to take into account anyone who might feel they're being "blackmailed" into proving their spirituality and are not giving because the test angers them.

Still, it is nice to have even a small demonstration that belief in the divine doesn't automatically (as some seem to think) makes one "good"/moral etc... nor that a lack of belief in same (as some seem to think) automatically makes one "no-good," immoral or uncaring.

[freshwest]

3. +1

[maddiemom]

13. You're right, but way over-thinking it.

I'm Agnostic because I can't prove that there is or isn't a higher being. It makes me crazy that the most genius of human thinkers will never know any more than I will. We humans are the only animals unlucky enough to be able to question beyond blind faith. Those with blind faith...hard to tell...or why hang around in this world?

[Moonwalk]

18. Over thinking it? Not in the least. I'm simply pointing out the flaws--

--in the conclusion.

[Phlem]

14. If you can find it

NewScientist 1-7 2007

Article: If morality is hardwired in the brain, what's the point of religion?

It's a fascinating article and the small study results were definitely an eye opener.



-p

[PatrynXX]

4. course if I pointed this out I get punted

Get the wrong Atheists and they'll say it's not a religion...

Not really surprised by the above..

[Warren Stupidity]

7. The atheist show on god-tv is "off". nt.

[Moonwalk]

19. Atheism is not a religion, no, but the experiment seems less a contest between organized--

supernatural belief systems (religions) than one between philosophies regarding a belief or lack there of in the divine.

[adieu]

5. I noticed the jewish one is rather

empty.

[oberliner]

12. Jews are a tiny minority in Austin

And many of them are agnostic/atheist.

[chknltl]

6. Spirital? (New branch of spiritualism for freepers maybe?)

Sorry, resistance was futile.

[matt819]

8. Need I really point this out?

For a homeless guy, he sure has a lot of bowls. What do people use bowls for? Food, of course. Do I have to resort to Glennbeckian blackboard analysis to point out the obvious?

[Victor_c3]

9. I think the guy just came up with a clever gimmick to get people to give him more money

By making it seem like a contest, he tapped in to people's desires for the group that they associate themselves with to be seen as the most caring.

By the way, I usually give homeless people money unless I really don't have anything on me. I won't give them a $20, but I frequently drop a $10 or a $5 to a few of my "regulars" that I see from time to time. I also take the time to talk to them and learn their names. I also consider myself atheist.

[Wait Wut]

10. Meh.

I doubt I'd give him anything. It's obnoxious. No one should feel obligated to donate based on a contest between faiths or non-faiths.

Besides, it looks like a tie between Atheists and Agnostics.

I'd tell Dude to drop the bigotry and ask for help based on humanity alone.

[hrmjustin]

11. Well it is an interesting experiment but does not prove anything really.

[Skittles]

15. because they know religion is not needed to do the right thing

[Phillip McCleod]

16. something tells me that..

..it wasn't designed to be a scientific experiment.

and yeh, probably *is* a gimmick to get more money. can you blame him? he's fucking *homeless*?!

jeesh. some of the comments..

[goldent]

17. His backpack looks to be full of signs.

It would be interesting to see some of the others -- this guys seems pretty creative.