Why do intelligent people take religion seriously?

Question

I understand that religion is about faith, but why do people who know about science and history still take religion as though it is literal, or that their religion is any more correct than anyone elses. There have been religions for thousands of years and all cultures beleive that theirs is correct. Arrogance maybe?, I don't know, explain it to me.

I am not trying to attack peoples faith here.
Beleive what you want, I think religion serves many purposes in society

Answer 1

It is not only intelligent people; it is peoples from all walks of life and educational standing who take religion seriously.

Answer 2

Do you also understand that science is about faith? No evolutionary scientist can truly explain the orgin of the universe. Or really tell you how old the earth is, or why Polonium 218 isotope fossils are found in granite (look that up and see why it's existence is very problematic for an evolutionist). The fact that these and other things don't fit in with the their theories is a minor inconvenience to their "faith" in science. Do you understand the implications of certain religions and their beliefs? For one, that Jesus was an actual historical figure, who did in fact, claim to be the Son of God? So he was either the Son of God or Insane. He was not a prophet, he was not a nice man, or a spritual leader. Those aren't the options, he either was or wasn't. Do you get that? Do you understand that rational thought and science are only one way to learn a certain type of knowledge, there are other sources of knowing things? If you were one of those people who know about science and history and religion, maybe you could tell us. For most people arrogance has nothing to do with their faith. If it does, then they are in it for the wrong reasons. Religion is simply man seeking God. Of course no one religion has absolute truth it would be ignorant to say that. But if you look at a belief system and you have faith in a higher power, and live according to conscience, your judgement will do the rest.

Do you even believe in God, or agnotsic? Just curious? I think secular humanism is much more arrogant and short-sighted than most religions any day. Do you know know the complexity of the human body? And you believe that is just happened to come gradually come along and lead up to this point?
And if you don't believe in God where do morals and ethics come from? Don't try and say society, that's bunk. If I didn't have faith in God and a conscience I would do whatever I wanted.

and in a brief response to DuckPhup statistics are the best way to lie. But if in fact these "studies" exist please cite them and let me know where I can reivew them. Because reality shows a much different picture. Most intelligent and highly intelligent people all believe in a higher power, most calling that power God. And if you wanted to actually do a study on critical thinking and IQ, I am sure the findings would correlate with my last statement.

Lets both take some IQ tests and see who has the higher average score. BTW I have to use critical thinking every day, and if I wasn't good at it people would die.

Answer 3

It seems to me that you are curious about people's beliefs, but what of yours? Do you have a religion you call your own? If so, why do you believe? People have been raised for many years to believe in different religions and we feel that they are true to us, because it seems to explain so much. Even Athiest have a religion though it is not thought in that why. It's all about being able to explain why things are happening the way they are. I'm a Christian and believe very much that there is a God and that Jesus is my savior as well as very one else's. When I say this I don't mean to seem like I'm pushing my religion on people, I'm just trying to explain where I stand. I hope that answered you question and I must say to was a pretty good one. Keep exploring, you never know what you might find.

Answer 4

Good question DV. I think that is has something to do with doing things the way they've always been done. Kind of not bucking the status quo, and not wanting to see the truth also.

But, science has become the new religion. If science says it is so, or that it isn't so, everyone believes it just like the talk from the churches. I read today that the S. Africa minister of health has recommend garlic, olive oil and beet root (or something like that) as a concoction to prevent the spread of AIDS. This is from a highly trained medical doctor who also knows about natural remedies. Everyone at the AIDS conference in Toronto ridiculed, criticized, and attcked her as irresponsible for not stressing the laboratory made, corporate scientist invented, synthetic drugs. She was called a "lunatic" because they all believe anything that the scientists say, and refuse to hear of anything else. (She didn't say the drugs weren't useful, just that for the people in her country, this was an accessible and effective prevention.)

Religion is more of a cultural and social tradition than anything else. Which I think is fine. It's just when, as your question asks, the intellects and eveyone else confuse cultural tradition with reality that it becomes a problem.

Answer 5

I think it is in the nature of their faith. What I mean is that for most of the early part of many of the current religions the religions themselves oppressed intellectualism outside of the Church, and censured it inside the Church. As people began to break through the veil of ignorance placed upon them and began to become literate. The Church realizing it can't stop people from learning it had to start being the ones to "Teach" and "Guide" the people so as to protect them from dangerous( to the church) knowledge.

So you can have intellectuals with a strong religious faith, because it is in their training. While some get a purely secular education in a field of science so to say a christian get the same degree, from a Christian college, but it is biased towards faith.

Answer 6

Bush had enough intelligence to get elected twice and Governor
of Texas, twice and President of the USA and He is a Born Again.

Now I tell people to stay away from religion, because it'll get
you killed. Instead it is suggested strongly that you develop a
loving relationship with the Almighty God through His Son
Jesus. Not religion, relationship.

I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!

Interestingly enough that a number of the Early institutions
of higher education such as Harvard and Yale were founded
to promote the "Christian Religion"

Answer 7

You may know that religion is about faith, but it doesn't sound as if you really understand what faith is, and what it means. It is almost the opposite of arrogance. Faith isn't so much a thing or quality as it is a spiritual process deep within a person, at the very core of who and what they are. For example, I belong to Jesus, and as for my religion being "more correct" than others, Jesus Himself said that He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through [Him]." I can't answer for all those other religions over all those thousands of years; I just know I'm bound for Heaven. I know it, at my core. Do you understand? Jesus gave that to me.

Answer 8

It comes from a personal experience with GOD that only that individual can speak about, only because they have experienced it. Science and history have nothing to do with personal experience. For instance---you work, each and every day, or go to school every day, in the belief you will either get your pay check or good grades right? why? you believe you will, because someone has told you they will bepaid you or give you a good grade, and you go one not knowing if this is true or not, that is the dynamic experience of FAITH and BELIEF....Now would you continue to go to work if you didn't get paid? yes, because you still believe the end result......not science, not history, not arrogance but belief...think about it.

Answer 9

Just like each country has a constitution to keep the masses in control and disciplined, in older day the wise men had a lot of do"s and dints for the people of there times to keep a control of the masses for the benefit of everyone, Over the period of time this was taken up as a religion .Basically all religions teach the same things and if you see with the modern context all the constitution of the country also say the same thing,

Answer 10

So are you saying less intelligent people do not take it as seriously?
My answer would be this - the "intelligent" people have made an effort to understand the scripture. Once you study, you are accountable -you know better, you have a sense of what God expects from you.
Thus, this causes "intelligent" people to take spirtuality more so than religion seriously.

Answer 11

Well First of all I am going to leave a comment for MYRNA B... I have been noticing a lot of obese women now a days are sitting at home and not going to work and just staying at home on Disability so that it gives them a peace in mind to stay away from work and stress. I know for a fact that I have seen at least 4 - 6 people I have met through my times of dating that these women are morbidly over weight or too fat that they have become in such a situation that made them want to be disability and not get a frakin job out there. We are tax payers and our money we are making at our jobs, are paying for the Disabled who can not get up off their fat asses and start figuring out a way to lose weight and help themselves to a better life. But as for me and my house I shall serve the Lord!!! I will stick to what God wants me to do and I will stay as healthy I can to help with my Children, my family, and my Friends who are in need of help. But i am so darn tired of paying for other peopl's disability for them to just sit at home and be depressed with life and living on medicne that wont even work for them.
And the answer to this question is, We intelligent people have to take Religion seriusly because if we didn't take it seriously, we wouldnt be here at all. We'd all be lost in eternal HELL!!!