Also this may be unscientific, but if you are willing to date a woman with children at home, they seem (based on my matches) to be more likely to be non-religious. Perhaps a result of religious prejudice against single mothers?

The “no matches can be found” is common on eHarmony. There are lots of unfounded conspiracy theories about this.

I find it a bit annoying that an atheist is using a sample size of one to come to the conclusion that eHarmony is not friendly to atheists. That’s pretty hypocritical of somebody on the skeptic side of the fence. Very disappointing.

The fact is that atheists are a pretty small minority and eHarmony is extremely discriminating in matching (they like keeping their match:marraige ratio high), not too mention that they are expensive too. It’s very likely no other atheist he was compatible with was in the system. You don’t owe eHarmony a dime for each month you receive less than (I think) two matches, so you aren’t losing anything. It just takes time.

It was worth it to me!

The GLBT matching issue was a real problem and real discrimination and my wife and I were pretty upset about that when we found out. I’m glad its resolved now, even though it took a court order.

Men and women are different, no? There’s a different dynamic between men and women than between two men or two women. If those two statements weren’t true, wouldn’t everyone be bisexual? So, Warren did not develop the same expertise regarding the dynamic between men and the dynamic between women.

men + women have different physical characteristics, certainly, but i have yet to meet anyone who can categorically define a man or woman emotionally, and i suspect i’d have problems finding anyone who fit inside those parameters if someone were arrogant enough to set them. i know both straight and gay couples, and would have a hard time distinguishing their relationships by sexual preference only outside of the bedroom. if you know better, Ken, please correct me.

I wouldn’t go to a kosher chef to get a good recipe for lobster.

perhaps so, but if i wanted to eat a well prepared meal (and wasn’t prejudice about the ingredients), i’d see a kosher chef as being just as able to do that job as a non-kosher one.

“I didn’t realize same-sex matching was any different than hetero matching… clearly, I have a lot to learn from Warren.”

Warren’s professional counseling experience was mostly in marital counseling between couples that had both sexes represented. That is how he developed his matching system. Men and women are different, no? There’s a different dynamic between men and women than between two men or two women. If those two statements weren’t true, wouldn’t everyone be bisexual? So, Warren did not develop the same expertise regarding the dynamic between men and the dynamic between women. I wouldn’t go to a kosher chef to get a good recipe for lobster.

Not all dating leads to marriage, but from what I’ve read from Warren, the goal of the website has been to reduce the divorce rate by matching people compatible for a happy long-term marriage. And to make money doing it. It isn’t a “hook-up” site.

I have friends who aren’t religious who have been accepted by the site and given matches. Atheism, agnosticism, or another designation clearly doesn’t disqualify anyone from the site, but the site WILL bar people who are married, who have been divorced “too many” times, who (according to its questionnaire) don’t seem to be ready for a long term committment, or who give too many conflicting answers on the questionnaire, indicating they are either being dishonest with themselves, are unstable, or whatever.

As far as atheists being matched up with “Christians”, each person sets their own parameters on that site as far as that goes. If you are an atheist who has indicated you are open to being matched with a “Christian”, and if the “Christian” has indicated that they were willing to be matched with an “atheist”, then you will be matched if otherwise compatible.

I haven’t found that special someone yet, but it beats Myspace in terms of the quality of people I’ve met.

I do remember though, seeing that Neil Clark Warren was interviewed by Pat Robertson on the 700 Club some months back. — I didn’t see the interview but the Fundamentalist Christian thing doesn’t surprise me at all.

I have one friend from work who’s online date did lead to marriage, he happens to be Christian, and also I’m not sure what site he used.