2007-02-01 01:20:18 · 15 answers · asked by Sean 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
No.
Religion, almost all religions in fact, teach that spirituality is important and materialism is a waste of time.
Generally intellectual pursuits are to develop a better material understanding as opposed to a better spiritual understanding.
Here is an example, some people study scripture and then explain how you have to live your material life to be in line with the scripture. Intellectual study, material result even though most people do not separate out the two that way.
No one can judge your spirituality so people judge the material, how you display yourself through your material attributes/actions. Weight, sex, race, where you attend services, language verbalized, etc.
So if a person devotes themselves entirely to spiritual (religious) growth then they would not be devoted to material (intellectual) growth.
Does the material fact that the Earth is round have any spiritual consequences? Only if a person were to think that the material is more important then the spiritual.
If a person places more importance on the material than the spiritual than they end up in "hell", or whatever passes for "bad" karma in the specific spirituality.
2007-02-01 01:32:13 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you look at religion over the centuries you will discover that much of human intellectual activity centered around religion.
Libraries and scriptoria were housed in monasteries, many of the oldest universities were originally religious institutions. Much of science had its origins in the observations made by religious people.
I would be inclined to say that in many cases, religion has been the well-spring of intellectual growth for mankind
2007-02-01 01:30:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Organized religion has pushed the development of human intellect and discovery throughout history. It was the Christian monks who recovered and translated the ancient Greek texts that led to the world's escape from the Dark Ages (which were not a Christian property, as one poster said). Churches founded universities, and very often in history, the holy men were the only literate people in a settlement. Recall that the first people to use the printing press were the monks, starting with the famous Gutenberg Bible. It is only human arrogance that leads someone to think that just because a person doesn't agree with them that they are dumber.
2016-05-24 01:36:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was a smart person before I gave my life to Jesus. Since then I have become wiser and have continued to grow intellectually as well as intellegentally. For me it is more of a personal relationship with my Father, not a religion. So to answer your question, only if you allow it to be one.
2007-02-01 02:15:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing is a barrier to the free thinker.
2007-02-01 01:23:37 · answer #5 · answered by Antares 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nope.
God's Word is the beginning.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
By the way the word "fear" also means "revere".
God's enemies better fear Him but we reverence Father.
2007-02-01 01:23:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is for those people who choose to let it become a barrier.
2007-02-01 01:27:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It seems that way. How many religious nuts have tried to suppress great scientific achievements throughout our history? A lot!
2007-02-01 01:24:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think that has been proven over and over again throughout the history of humankind.
2007-02-01 01:24:38 · answer #9 · answered by tjnstlouismo 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No....I think it's an anchor for it. The closer we get to the Lord....the smarter we may get.
2007-02-01 01:23:41 · answer #10 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋