Does being an atheist mean you are more perfect than a religious person?

Question

I have seen many atheist websites that are intentionally trodding specifically upon those that are "religious", as though there is a major flaw and reduced intelligence of those that have chosen a religious perspective.
I find this interesting, as many claims of abuses and negligence are thrown onto the back of religion, as if there are no abuses or negligence upon the back of the perspective of atheism.

I propose that neither is superior to the other in regards to intelligence, as it is obvious that neither escapes the one common factor that is relavent to both theism and atheism - human beings and their inevitable search for higher status, whether as individuals or groups.
However, it can be said that many "religious" individuals, have been a greater benefit to the world because of spiritual convictions, than those opposed to such beliefs.
One thing is clear though, and that is that ignorance is an equal opportunity employer of both theists and atheists, with few exceptions

Answer 1

Believing that you are more perfect because you don't have a religion, is just as pathetic as believing you're perfect because you do. To say that you are perfect for a lack of religion is hypocritical and ignore. And that's outside of the fact that no one is perfect.

Even Johnny Depp, but he so close.

Answer 2

Being an atheist isn't a proof of intelligence.
However, taking the bible literally is a proof of an incapability for critical thought. Though most religious people do not take the bible literally, but as a parable or teaching stories and value the idea, not the actual word behind it and there is definitely nothing wrong with their intelligence.
Generally the bashing of religious people by atheists refers only to that small minority of religious people who are very vocal and intolerant to any other views and believe that every single word in the bible is true.
There is more than abundant proof in history (e.g. inquisition) that religious people are not better people who are of benefit to the world. If ignorance is an equal opportunity employer so is goodness.

Answer 3

Actually, numerous research studies have found two important correlations -- higher IQ correlates to less faith and less fundamentalism in those with faith, and, higher education correlates to less faith and less fundamentalism in those with faith.

These are, of course, statistical correlations over populations. There are IQ 200+ persons who are deeply religious, and there are IQ 90 persons who are atheists. However, these minority are statistical outliers and insignificant ones at that (mathematically, I make no judgement of their significance as humans).

If you took 100 people with an IQ of 100 and put them in a room, and took 100 people with an IQ of 150 and put them in another room, and took 100 people with an IQ of 200 and put them in another room, more of the IQ100 group would be religious in general than in the 150 or 200 group. That's just statistics, again, not an individual judgement nor a guarantee that a certain IQ ensures atheism.

Answer 4

~~~John ,,,Your first question,,,No. We are just less ignorant and more Open Minded "than a religious person." ,,,Also, you are correct in your contention that "it can be said" about "greater benefit to the world because of sprititual convictions", etc, in that it is accurate only in the context of ANYbody can say ANYthing about any Subject,,, from that point on you reveal your own Ignorance of History, from a Religious Perspective. Just using 25% of my own historical knowledge you would lose your Intellectual Debate with me in less than 5 minutes. You need to study much more before you go making outrageous statements like that again,,, even if it is Opinion, you are respectfully,,,Factually Wrong.

Answer 5

Every person is entitled to his views. Being non religious does not make you either better or worse than Christians. It just makes you different. But, if you make yourself an adversary, from either viewpoint, it make you less of a good person. There are real jerks on both sides of the coin. In my view anyway. Both ought to just show a little respect to each other as human beings. We all need each other to survive. This is a hostile world, already.

Answer 6

"However, it can be said that many "religious" individuals, have been a greater benefit to the world because of spiritual convictions, than those opposed to such beliefs."

You mean by subjugating science for millinea and maintaining that the world was flat for centuries?

Probably would have cured cancer, colonized the stars, and ended wars centuries ago without the "help" of believers.

Thanks for nothing.

Answer 7

Being an Atheist means I am more human, the proud desendent of an ape like creature that found it was better to climb down out of the trees, walk up right and steal meat from the lions than it was to hang out safe in the trees all day and be hungry.

Answer 8

I believe in God and I have absolutely nothing against nonbelievers, I am call to love my neighbor as myself. The problem is that some of us think we can change them or make them believe, and that is not what Christians do. On the other hand, they love when they try to prove their lack of faith to us. My mom used to say, "you cant see gravity, but go jump from a 12 floor building a see if you survive. The fact that you cant see God it does means that does not exist, even the air cant be seen and we would die without it.

Answer 9

There is a major flaw in not using logic and reason to make your decisions.

On the intelligence issue you are correct in that it is pretty even, but the more EDUCATED you are the more likely that you will be an atheist. Among the top scientists about 90% are atheists.

Answer 10

No.

It means one let's their intellectual pride get in the way of rational thinking.Not all atheists are that way though.Being intellectually prideful is a two edged sword that can cut you down at any moment.Religious people do not have boundaries within the mind,or in the thinking process to hinder them.Setting oneself above all others intellectually will eventually come back to haunt you.