Atheists around here apparently think people who believe in god(s) are stupid (particularly Christians it seems). Christians around here seem to think that everyone that's not a Christian is stupid to choose going to hell over believing in their bible. I've seen Sikhs called stupid by someone who didn't even know what Sikhism was. Muslims are called all sorts of things by virtually every belief set, the largest of which is stupid. Everyone has their extremists (Fred Phelps anyone?), but that doesn't mean we define a religion by it. Witches are supposedly stupid because they believe in the use of spells. There are more examples, but I'm running out of characters here.
Why is someone stupid because he or she doesn't have the same paradigm that you do? That's the generic you, not you specifically.
I don't think people are stupid because of what they choose to believe, though I don't understand why they think others are because others don't believe the way they do.
2006-10-15 14:58:34 · 12 answers · asked by Muffie 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Muffie: Our individual belief systems are formed by our enviorment about us. We all have "gods" we worship i.e.: atheists worship self; agnostics worship knowledge. People worship money, beauty, intelligence, music, other people significant to them, careers, etc., etc. These all are religions in them selves. All humans have their god - bar none. It is the RELATIONSHIP with that particular "thing" or item which predetermines its true worth. You are right when you when you say, "people assume, a belief set is a barometer for intelligence".
It is a generalized ASSUMPTION not a true measure of one's intelligence. In short, "intelligence" is of intellect; whereas, belief is of one's "value" system. Religion is a reflection of one's value system opposed to SPIRITUALITY which is a reflection of WHO one really IS and not intellectualism - a religion in its self.
2006-10-15 15:29:39 · answer #1 · answered by guraqt2me 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure if its about thinking others are stupid or just plain wrong. Truth is not relative, there may be many theories on how the world was formed but only one is correct. There may be many theories about why we are all here, but only one is right. People throw out things like, there are not many different paths to heaven. I find this impossible to believe because I know what several religions teach. Most contain a little truth mixed with evil, in fact all do except one. A very small portion of humanity does not believe in God, less than 5%. How about you, were did your views come from. do you mock the Bible without ever having studied it. Did your views come from some Liberal godless professor with a very narrow view. The Bible which is the authoritative word of the one true living God tells us that he put the knowledge of him self in everyman. Just based on the overwhelming evidence in the world that confirms events in the Bible, and the fact that almost every people group in the history of humanity have had some sort of God with a heaven, hell and judgment day, maybe you should be asking maybe there is something about Jesus Christ. After all what are you going to do if the BIBLE IS TRUE?
2006-10-15 15:27:04 · answer #2 · answered by Chris B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't understand why people have to call each other stupid either. Personally, I'm a Chrisian, but just because someone believes something differently than me that I may disagree with does not mean I'm going to turn around and call them stupid. And there are plenty of religious people who are very intelligent. C.S. Lewis was a very intelligent man, for example, and the more he scientifically tried to disprove God, the more he believed. Low intelligence and religous beliefs do not necessarily go hand in hand.
2006-10-15 15:04:12 · answer #3 · answered by Mud 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I, personally, would think the true measure of intelligence is an open mind and the ability to discard outmoded truths as new facts come into evidence. We were given eyes to see, ears to hear, a tongue to speak and communicate, the brain's got to be there for something.
2006-10-15 15:04:41 · answer #4 · answered by rich k 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
in many situations no, yet non secular ideals are specific. you're speaking approximately standard precepts which kind the muse of human beings's identities and lives. In an extremely actual sense, mocking their non secular ideals is in simple terms like mocking their ethnicity or sexual orientation. it must be a greater harmonious worldwide if we ought to all loosen up, notwithstanding that is nevertheless the case that even whilst poking at human beings's non secular ideals in relaxing, one remains reducing on the factor of the bone.
2016-10-19 11:26:17 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of us atheists think that believers are stupid not simply because of their false belief, but because of the stupid ways they try to defend that belief.
I believe that those believers who recognize that the basis of their belief is faith are probably just as bright as atheists.
2006-10-15 15:05:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Muffie, there are enough studies correlating religious belief with a reduced/atropsied intellect.
2006-10-15 15:02:51 · answer #7 · answered by noitall 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everyone whats to be on the winning side. I enjoy meeting people with different believes, it makes you think.
2006-10-15 15:04:41 · answer #8 · answered by whataboutme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a statistically significant correlation between religiosity and intelligence, education (that is, the correlation exists fro both intelligence and education).
The smarter you are, the less likely you are to be religious. It's just a statistical fact.
2006-10-15 15:01:07 · answer #9 · answered by extton 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You right. Stupidity and Ignorance are the bane of us intellectual folks :P
2006-10-15 15:02:34 · answer #10 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋