Even Christians admit that lots of Christians are stupid. Christians also admit that they've met some intelligent Atheists
So, if Christians are stupid and Atheists are smart, God is not real
2006-10-02 05:56:09 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not stereotypes... statistics. There are about 40 studies, conducted over the past 80 years, that reveal a statistically significant NEGATIVE correlation between intelligence and religiosity. In plainer language, they found that the more intelligent a person is, the LESS likely he is to be religious.
We're not entitled to conclude causality from these data, but there are three possibilities:
1.Considering religion important lowers measured IQ (unlikely, since IQ is substantially genetic whereas belief is not).
2.The causality is via other factors not considered, such as socio-economic conditions, cultural history, or physical environment (definitely possible).
3.Having a higher measured IQ lowers your likelihood of considering religion important (most likely).
If you think about it, this makes a lot of sense. Intelligence tests mainly provide an indication of reasoning ability and problem solving ability... critical thought. These are the very qualities that see through religion, and recognize it for what it is; i.e., religion cannot survive the glaring light of reason and critical thought. This was well understood by important figures in religious history. This is why the early church destroyed all the writings that were in conflict with dogma, such as Greek philosophical, medical and mathematical knowledge... all the good stuff... which led directly to the Dark Ages.
Just to illustrate the point, here's what Martin Luther, the 'father' of protestantism, had to say about it:
"Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed. Faith must trample underfoot all reason, sense, and understanding, and whatever it sees must be put out of sight and ... know nothing but the word of God." ~ Martin Luther
"Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but -- more frequently than not -- struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God." ~ Martin Luther
"There is on earth among all dangers no more dangerous thing than a richly endowed and adroit reason... Reason must be deluded, blinded, and destroyed." ~ Martin Luther
"Reason should be destroyed in all Christians." ~ Martin Luther
Christianity is essentially a criminal business enterprise... in fact, it is the world's longest running and most successful Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scam. The product they are selling is 'salvation'... and the 'pay plan' doesn't kick in until after you're dead. What a racket! FORTUNATELY, it only works on those who are gullible enough, and sufficiently lacking in critical thinking skills, to fall for it. UNfortunately, THAT accounts for about 75% of the population of the USA. (There are a lot more people who DON'T know how to think properly than there are people who DO know how to think properly.) That is why there are a lot more religious people in the USA than there are 'Free-thinkers'... including Atheists. Also, Christians are generally too dense to realize that proselytizing (spreading the 'good news') is a key element of the Christian MLM MARKETING PLAN, which was instituted after Christianity lost the political power that had previously allowed them to simply torture and kill anybody who did not comply. Now, they attempt to just pester people to death, through persistent obliviousness and obnoxiousness. If you stop to think about it, you will realize that Christians are very much like the Borg, on Star Trek Next Generation: "You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile." I would not be surprised to learn that thoughts of Christianity provided the 'creative spark' for the Borg concept.
Interestingly, statistics on supernatural beliefs count the USA on a par with backward, developing Third World nations, rather than among modern, advanced industrial powers.
********************
"Selling eternal life is an unbeatable business, with no customers ever asking for their money back after the goods are not delivered." ~ Victor J. Stenger
"Businesses may come and go, but religion will last forever, for in no other endeavor does the consumer blame himself for product failure." ~ Harvard Lampoon, "Doon" (paraphrase)
http://www.answers.com/topic/religiosity-and-intelligence
http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-thinkingchristians.htm
2006-10-02 05:59:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Obviously there are some "Challenged Atheists"
I know many Atheists that are not smart enough to even hold down a meager job.
I also know many Religious people that are highly educated, run successful businesses, etc.
What does that tell ya?
The stereotype comes from people wanting more justification to not follow God than just the old I want to live in sin reason.
As a person with an education and a Christian, I think that many times people get more self-absorbed as they make more money, and have a higher standard of living. Greed also comes into play. How can you be a Christian and justify a $100,000 boat, or a Million Dollar house? It is easier go give up their faith than their toys. Does that prove that God does not exist?
They are hiding from the truth.
Peace!
2006-10-02 06:00:36 · answer #2 · answered by C 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That isn't a logical conclusion. However, the smarter a person is, the more likely they are to look at the claims of religion with skepticism; and the more likely they are to realize that the evidence is pretty flimsy and wouldn't stand up in any court of law; and the more likely they are to recognize that religion is a construct of man, not of any god as described by those religions.
As to what CAUSES those stereotypes -- well, the polling data has already been gathered, and it's been shown that there's an inverse relationship between IQ and religious devotion...:
2006-10-02 05:58:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately, people often confuse monetary success and education with wisdom. Wisdom doesn't come from books. A great scenario is the person with much who acknowledges his nothingness. This is the type of person who gives his all and gets much more back in return...just as Christ taught. I know many of these types...people who are wealthy and intelligent but who do not seek power...is it surprising that these are the types of leaders the world prefers? But then you have the others who yearn for power and try to persuade the world thru the media that they have what the world needs...they seduce the world and we are left with the garbage of today throughout the world. It's all about power for some.
2006-10-02 06:03:27 · answer #4 · answered by MickYahoo 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No that doen't mean that. It doesnt have anything to do with being intellignet or smart in general. It has a lot to do with being intelligent or smart when it comes to God. God is real and the atheist who do not believe that are unintelligent. They might be smart otherwise but to believe that there is not a one True maker...the one who created us all and is ruler of everything doesn't make them smart at all. And christians may be dumb or stupid but certainly not in the Lord.
2006-10-02 05:59:49 · answer #5 · answered by Miss Thang 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Beliefs such as this:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AogSxqZtrhZdsEWoM9B2r6Dzy6IX?qid=20061002095018AAQzzk0
These beliefs are ONLY held by believers while people who have degrees IN that field of study are saying that the evidence supports another theory.
When religion butts heads with science who do think the people ARE who have been educated and who do you think ARE the superstitious ones?
I believe in God but there is a reason for the stereotype.
2006-10-02 06:05:06 · answer #6 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're over-simplifying. Christians believe in things without proof, this is called 'faith'. It's not a lack of intelligence that drives them, but rather a need to believe in an all-powerful father figure. Atheists are concerned with rational fact. This doesn't neccessarily mean they are more intelligent, just that their concerns are with the provable and the logical, not with things that cannot be proven.
God isn't real because he is mythology, not because those who believe are less intelligent than those who don't.
2006-10-02 06:00:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
But since you are an athiest and based on your logic, you seem to be a bit of a dope, then not all athiests are smart and I know some smart Christians, so . . . well now I am just confused.
Bless you anyway
2006-10-02 06:03:10 · answer #8 · answered by Love Shepherd 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both are stupid.
One belives that God let his son killed to save losers from hell. The other, believes that all this suffisticated and cpmlicated system aroud him (Including his body) was created suddenly by an explosion or a big bang.
All of them are loosers.
2006-10-02 06:18:06 · answer #9 · answered by MUSLIM 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm an Atheist but I don't consider Christians to be stupid. So your logic is incorrect somehow...
2006-10-02 05:58:34 · answer #10 · answered by Henry 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋