Academy Quote by Ricky Gervais
“If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.”
About This Quote
The claim suggests that atheists and agnostics dominate scientific institutions, while their absence would barely affect prison numbers, implying a cultural bias.
In simple terms: Science is portrayed as mostly non‑religious; prisons are not.
Key Takeaway
Perceived link between secularism and scientific authority.
Themes
secularism
science
culture
demographics
Mood
skeptical
ironic
Type
political
social commentary
When to use this quote
- debates on religion in academia
- policy discussions about representation
Key Concepts
social composition
institutional bias
Practical Applications
- use data to challenge stereotypes
- promote inclusive hiring
Questions to Reflect On
- How does religious belief actually correlate with scientific achievement?
- What other variables shape prison populations?
A Different Perspective
The statistics are selective and lack context; many scientists hold diverse beliefs, and prison demographics are influenced by many factors.
![“[...] atheists are the most reviled minority in the United States. Polls indicate that being an atheist is a perfect impediment to running for high office in our country (while being black, Muslim, or homosexual is not).” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d69/sam-harris-457_islam_atheists-are-the-most-reviled-minority-i_2391408.jpg)
