Faith: the world’s leading carcinogen. A simple proof even a 10 year old can grasp.

According to the 2012 WIN-Gallop Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism 87% of the world’s population believes in a god.

Now, according to the World Health Organization 8.2 million people die each year worldwide due to cancer.

Based on these statistics we can make the assumption that 87% of these cancer deaths were brought upon believers.

That means 7.13 million people (.87 * 8.2) who believe in god die of cancer each year.

God is omnipotent and all-knowing, an intelligent designer. Using that intelligence, god created cancer. It’s anybody’s guess as to why, but don’t question it.

According to acceptable sources the definition of carcinogen is: A cancer-causing substance or agent.

Therefore, god (as agent) is the world’s leading carcinogen with 7.13 million deaths per year.

Tobacco use, coming in at a far second place, accounts for 1.13 million cancer deaths per year. (71% of the 1.59 million lung cancer deaths per year according to the WHO.)

That means a belief in god causes over 6 times the number of cancer deaths as tobacco use.

In other words, light ’em up! Cigarettes have nothing on god.

10 Responses to Faith: the world’s leading carcinogen. A simple proof even a 10 year old can grasp.

  1. Obviously this is a bit satirical, but these are the kinds of arguments I see from the religious community, the Fox News community, the “natural & organic” community, and the “woo woo Oprah / Dr Oz” community on a regular basis.

    “My view is that if your philosophy is not unsettled daily then you are blind to all the universe has to offer.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson

    Maybe this unsettles your philosophy just a little bit today. More tomorrow …

  2. So, your specious reasoning is simply a satire of their unspecified but frequently specious reasoning. Now all we need is for them to start satirizing you and then there will be no reasoning for anyone! :)

    • “your specious reasoning is simply a satire of their unspecified but frequently specious reasoning” – That’s kind of the definition of satire, is it not?

  3. Karol,

    Have you considered Eastern religions when you talk about “God isn’t real and Atheism is true?” I’m talking about things like Buddhism. I’m religious, but I don’t believe in an omnipotent god who has control over everything.

    Atheists act as if there’s only one type of religion, monotheistic ones like Islam and Christianity.

    In my religion (Jainism), smoking and cancer makes sense. That’s why I’m not an atheist.

    • Thanks for writing, Radhika.

      The essay was satire, in case that wasn’t clear. See here: http://karol.gajda.com/canceroffaith/#comment-22920

      I have considered Eastern religions from an academic standpoint. In other words, I’ve spent time reading about them, mostly Buddhism and Taoism.

      As for Jainism, although I know it exists, I don’t know much of anything about it. So! In the interest of learning …

      – What is Jainism? Better: What is the one sentence explanation for a 5 year old?
      – Is there a god or gods? If so, is there empirical evidence for it/them?
      – How would it benefit me to convert to Jainism?
      – What are the problems/issues with Jainism?

      I know I can look this up on Wikipedia, but it’s often a good idea to get personal answers from a human instead of a machine. And I’d probably have dozens more questions if this was a face-to-face conversation, but it is what it is.

      Thanks!
      -Karol

  4. Atheism is one of the surest ways to lose followers. But then again, you wouldn’t be true to yourself if gave in to fear.

    I realized I was an atheist at the tender age of 14. Fast forward 23 years (Whoa, that much?) and I’m more atheist every day.

    Religion is harmful.

    Cheers Karol!

  5. Religion is often harmful – and doubtless you’ve heard the next bit before – but Jesus had plenty to say against religious people which is one of the reasons I like and trust him so much!