Although most religious traditions call on the faithful to serve the poor, a large cross-sectional survey of U.S. physicians found that physicians who are more religious are slightly less likely to practice medicine among the underserved than physicians with no religious affiliation.

Researchers from the University of Chicago and Yale New Haven Hospital report that 31 percent of physicians who were more religious—as measured by “intrinsic religiosity” as well as frequency of attendance at religious services—practiced among the underserved, compared to 35 percent of physicians who described their religion as atheist, agnostic or none.

Physicians have many compelling reasons to avoid spending the bulk of their time caring for the poor. It can mean forgoing professional prestige, free time and academic opportunities. It often comes with reduced salaries, decreased support staff and constant bureaucratic interference.

I doubt if any of the excuses after “reduced salaries” really count for much at the country club.



  1. bobbo says:

    56—That sub-prime loan gag was great!

    49–The “I” I referred to was me. I don’t know what it is you don’t understand. Must be an idiom of your own.

    Atheism can be thought of as a belief system. (Def: The doctrine or belief that there is no God)
    Atheism is NOT a religion.
    That is what I think.

  2. Jerk-Face says:

    61. What we have here is a failure to communicate. You said,

    “atheism I think can fairly be called a belief system if not a religion.”

    And you also said,

    “Atheism is NOT a religion. That is what I think.”

    Now to me those “I thinks” are contradictory. But, maybe all the candy from MM is making me dizzy.

  3. Mister Mustard says:

    you done good, J-F. Peace, and goodnight.

  4. Jerk-Face says:

    51. “Oooh, love the Latin, J-F. You’re not a Roman Catholic by any chance are you? Or a lawyer? Those are the only two religions I know of that speak Latin”

    Actually, “ad hominem attack” is one of the many phrases used in logic. A topic you apparently have never studied. So your ignorance shall be forgiven.

  5. bobbo says:

    62—I said if you read the last line alone, it is ambiguous. You can read it as thinking I think atheism is a religion, but I say expressly that I do not. How can any ambiguity remain??

    Yes, there is an idiomatic expression at play. Idiom, Def: An expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up.

    Saying “if not religion” does NOT mean that I think it does–especially in context with what went before. Course, I have no latin to express this idea in. ((although idiom sounds latin or french to me?))

    Amusing, you wouldn’t think time was precious at all from reading this, would you?

  6. Jerk-Face says:

    63. “you done good, J-F. Peace, and goodnight.”

    How in the frick can something like sleep get in the way of a good old fashioned pointless flamebait match?! Sleep tomororw as tonight we’ll dine in BS!

  7. Jerk-Face says:

    65. “You can read it as thinking I think atheism is a religion, but I say expressly that I do not. How can any ambiguity remain??”

    I think you’re playing games with me, because that makes no sense. In case you are not playing games with me, when I say “I think” it means that “I think” something. I don’t know of any idiom where “I think” means “I don’t really think.”

    But it doesn’t matter what you think, so I’ll take MM’s advice and head to bed. Goodnight!

  8. hhopper says:

    Goodnight ladies and gentlemen, hope you enjoyed the Jerk-Face/Mister Mustard Show.

  9. tallwookie says:

    man I missed a great argument AGAIN!! dammit!!

    #25 – god doesnt exist – a buddy of mine called him the other day, and said that all he got was a recorded message saying “We were unable to direct your call, please press zero for assistance”.

    btw Eideard, thats a great picture!! where do you find em?

  10. natefrog says:

    Methinks MM needs to be less sensitive in regards to his religion.

    I also think that “atheism” has only been classified as a religion because the government can’t think of anything else to classify it as and don’t want to risk offending people by calling their “religion” a mere “belief”.

    To ward off any criticisms, I would argue the difference between a “belief” and “religion” is that a religion requires “faith”…

  11. Mister Mustard says:

    >>Methinks MM needs to be less sensitive in
    >>regards to his religion.

    Methinks the atheists need to be less sensitive in regards to THEIR religion.

    And to ‘fess up that it takes a deep and abiding faith (in the absence of any objectively verifiable proof) that there’s no God in order to worship at the altar of atheism.

  12. tallwookie says:

    our species is so screwed up, the majority of the human race believes in an imaginary & invisible man in the sky (in one incarnation or another), and is more than willing to fight to the death to defend that preconception.

    We need an advanced race of aliens to come here and take over SO BAD!!!! Something along the lines of the Ghoul’s from StarGate would suit me just fine.

  13. Mister Mustard says:

    >>our species is so screwed up, the majority of the human
    >>race believes in an imaginary & invisible man in the sky

    And those who don’t, well, they worship mindlessly at the altar of “No Power In The Universe Greater Than Myself”. And (except for the atheo-pussies, who pee their pants when confronted), they’re willing to go to any lengths to impose their religion on others.

    If people would just keep their fucking religious beliefs and worship ceremonies within their homes and places of worship, we’d all be a lot better off.

  14. OhForTheLoveOf says:

    #73 – But they don’t, so they need to be contained by the better of us…

    And going way back… My van story has been rehashed many times… Unlike most Christians, Jesus would not vandalize a Mercury Villager

  15. Mister Mustard says:

    Sorry, OFTLO. I missed out on your van story.

    And you’re right, “they don’t” (keep their fucking religious beliefs and worship ceremonies within their homes and places of worship).

    So…atheists, back the fuck off. I don’t ram Jesus down your throat, so don’t be ramming your Universal Vacuum Theory down mine. Keep that shit for your NoGod worship services. You have just as little proof for your deeply held religious beliefs as I do for mine, and just as much a right to believe them.

    At least until Alberto Gonzalez and Dumbya get their way, this is a free country. And I can believe whatever the fuck I want. For now.

  16. Mister Mustard says:

    >>Unlike most Christians, Jesus would not vandalize
    >>a Mercury Villager

    Whoa…I almost missed that one! Not only are you accepting the existence of Jesus, you are attributing benificent qualities to him! Woo hoo!

    Man, are you ever in deep shit with the deacons of the Church of Atheism! That’s going to be 10 “Hail Dirt and Rocks” for penance, dude. See what a bitch it can be to belong to any religion??

    And your Villager is safe with me. I might look askance at a guy who would DRIVE one, but I wouldn’t do anything to require an Earl Scheib re-paint job. I guess that’s just part of the Lord making me in His image, huh?

  17. natefrog says:

    #71: MM,

    Hey, you’re the one who flew off the handle at the perceived slight against your faith.

    Seriously, if you can’t rationally debate and defend your beliefs rationally without resorting to your despicable slander/libel, maybe you should really reconsider what it is you think you believe.

    And, by your own argument now, you’re a member of the non-tooth fairy/santa/easter bunny religion.

    Remember that it’s a logical fallacy to demand others prove something doesn’t exist. Rather, it’s your job to prove it does.


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