Do you feel that many of the "nonbelievers" are idiots?

Question

or that they are idiots because they are non-believers?

I decided to ask this after seeing this as a frequent answer to the Athiests questions

Answer 1

I think there are idiots both among the believers and non-believers.

Answer 2

Many "nonbelievers" are intelligent, well spoken people who simply don't understand why some people still believe in their religion. Some are honestly searching for answers.
Many "believers", also, are intelligent, and well spoken, and can't understand why some people want to separate them from their religion. Some are honestly trying to help those who are searching to find honest answers.

Then, there are the "idiots" on both sides, just out to try to prove how intelligent they are...they wind up making fools not only of themselves, but many times, out of every one else who thinks the same way they do. Especially Atheists and Christians...
The best thing to do, if you are on either side of this issue, is to avoid the fanatics who are trying to shove their own beliefs...in the words of the Atheist community...down people's throats.
Sometimes it is difficult, as a Christian, to ignore the barbs and the insults. The natural reaction is to rare up and fight back...as if God really needs us to defend Him, anyhow. In the long run, who is the greater idiot...the idiot that throws out the bait, or the idiot that takes it????

Answer 3

Believers haven't studied their beliefs.

If they had, they wouldn't be believers.

Atheists/agnostics, for the most part, have done their research. That's how they became atheists/agnostics.

So on the subject of religion, we atheists view believers not necessarily as idiots... but ignorant. There is no way for someone who has truly studied religion to remain a believer. And when I say studied religion... I mean studied it objectively, viewing all the different religions around the world, and lending them all the same respect, AND critical analysis.

Your standard American "theologian" probably couldn't tell you a single verse from the Koran. They study Christianity here, and only enough of the other religions to simply misquote them. They also tend to shy away from science classes, far as I can tell, judging by some of the idiotic things I've heard them say on television.

Answer 4

Atheists don't believe everything that is crammed in our faces. We simply respect the need for P-R-O-O-F. Facts. Evidence. Just because something is written in a book does not make it true. So many of the stories in the bible are fascinating if taken as a fantasy, but as for reality, who can believe in a talking donkey? The parting of the sea for Moses? Why didn't God push back the waters when Hurricane Katrina struck? Or, were those miraculous stories only relevant thousands of years ago? Has God given up on doing miracles today?

So, for atheists being idiots, you better re-think that statement. And if you want to push it, you better be able to PROVE it with FACTS -- not just suspicion and rumour.

Answer 5

No, I don't think all nonbelievers are idiots. Naturally, some are. I think most atheists here are trying to get believers to see the point that God doesn't exist, which isn't going to happen any more than the believers are going to convince them that he does exist. Many atheists treat believers as idiots with the tone of their question.

Answer 6

actually, there's a positive correlation between NOT believing in religion and IQ. I guess that doesn't really fit in with your hypothesis, huh? well, that's okay, just ignore it.

of course in all fairness I have to admite some nonbelievers are undoubtedly idiots, but this will be true of any group. It's also possible that the nonbelievers who come on these forums tend to be younger and more juvenile (I sometimes get that impression) since older atheists have already realized the futility of attempting a meaningful philosophical discussion with a religious person.

Answer 7

"nonbelievers" of what?

um...there are many beliefs out there. Don't assume "non-believer" means a "non-believer" of a certain belief system.

That's wrong, and very ignorant.

You are a non-believer of Paganism...does that make you an idiot?

Thanks for the 2 points.

Answer 8

Not believing in something makes you an idiot? Now theres common sense O.o Choosing to believe in a deity has nothing to do with intelligence its something that you will feel, or you'll never feel. Forcing someone to follow your beliefs is disgusting and abyssmal.

Answer 9

There is no such thing as an "idiot." People have different measures of intelligence, and sometimes a particularly insidious lying spirit is working overtime on some people. I am actually amazed at how intelligent all people are.

Answer 10

Not necessary. Their are more great Idiots , thugs and criminals among Believers. I believe that non-believers are better people because they only bother about pursuing their day to day life and enjoying life to the fullest without bothering about religion.
At least these people are tolerant and non-bothering people because of no strong beliefs.