why does everyone stereotype religious people as stupid or illogical?

Question

i come from a religious family with 7 college degrees total and above average iq's....

so what??? not that that's a big deal.....but it is such nonsense when i hear "religious people can't accept logic" or garbage like that...

what you mean is "disagree with me...and you're illiogical and stupid".

anyone else?? what am i missing???

i know some non-religious people who can barely tie their shoes....

Answer 1

You are right. I'm like you...educated background and a Christian. Some people find it hard to believe that intelligent, rational people can believe in God. My congregation is made up of people from all walks of life...businesspeople, physicians, nurses, dentists, judges, attorneys, teachers, bus drivers, janitors, single moms, unemployed, recovering addicts, etc.

We all made conscious decisions to follow God, be it Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc. Being religious doesn't make you stupid or a mindless follower. It means that you've heard the facts and decided your life needed divine direction.

It's OK to be educated and have faith! In fact, as a Christian, I think it's the wisest choice you can make!

Answer 2

I don't think so. I'm just a regular person, really. I think I am a stereotypical Canadian at times, eh? Time for some beer and poutine. I do know a Christian neighbor of mine who is a perfect Ned Flanders stereotype. Nice guy though. And lets be clear - I don't hate religion at all. I hate it when religion is put into the government, and I hate it when ignorant people use it to justify their own hatefulness. As long as it makes people happy - and obviously, it does, as there are billions of religious followers - then its fine by me. Religion isn't right for me, but it's right for some people. Like Denise Matthews, the ex-girlfriend of Motley Crue member Nikki Sixx. Finding God helped her kick an awful heroin and cocaine habit. All people are equal. Religion doesn't define somebody. I've met disgusting, mean Christians and disgusting, mean atheists; I also have met wonderful, kind Christians and wonderful, kind atheists. We all deserve equal rights under the law.

Answer 3

I think one reason why so many people hold the view that religious people, or Christians are not intelligent is the fact that so many who claim Christ do make some truly ignorant statements, we do not hold ourselves up to the standard of representing Christ with the best and finest as He deserves. So some of that judgment is absolutely on the mark.
Another reason is displayed in your question, we must be very careful of making the sort of blanket statement you just made, such as "why does everyone", clearly that is an untruth.
A vast majority of that prejudice is simply based on the ample hate which the father of lies likes to distribute in the minds of those who dislike what Jesus Christ has to say.
I think, sadly, that many who claim Jesus Christ simply do not step up to the plate and present well reasoned arguments for the veracity of what we proclaim, that Jesus is the only Savior, and Hope for the world. He deserves better and we ought to hold ourselves to a much higher standard than we have been.

Answer 4

I think Randy G pretty much said it right.

If it helps anyone-I was already stupid before I believed in God, and for a long time. I actually think I am a little more intelligent now. I went to school in my middle age and got a B.S. from an very well known accredited University and then a B.Min from a Baptist Seminary. I have met many intelligent people who are 'born again' Christians. Some are M.D.s, PhD.s, ThD.s, PsyD.s, LLD.s, DPhil.s, and so on., and stupid they are not.

Answer 5

Some people, when they find what they think is a logical and undeniable truth have a hard time understanding why other people do not come to the same conclusion. So, because others did not arrive at the same conclusion, well then, they must really be stupid or illogical.

It happens in any situation where there are opposing viewpoints on any subject. It really happens a lot in politics.

Answer 6

you ask why, the answer is simple ...

if you don't like how people are responding to you, then the question begs, what is your approach? what has been the approach of others in your faith? because like it or not, you may be judged by how others in your faith have behaved.

it may be hard for you to accept or understand (even with all your intelligence and education) that all religion is based from a mix of culture and superstition. it may case or wrap spirituality, but it is not spirituality. when you ask people to accept your beliefs in culture and superstition and tell them if they don't your god will give them consequences ... you've crossed the line. an unacceptable line. (a much worse line than for example, "disagree with me...and you're illogical and stupid".) aggression breeds aggression.

it seems odd to me that some religions claim their god gives freedom of choice and then by their very religion take any real freedom to make that choice away ... often stating that god gives Them that right. i know you mean well. but everyone has the right to find their own path ... whether they believe in your god, a god or any god at all. and you have no right to judge them. in doing so, you actually hurt your cause. but you may have been too indoctrinated by your religion to see that.

one of my favorite quotes is a line from mahatma gandhi. he said, "the only thing wrong with christianity is christians." he was a tactful man. when he was asked whether he was a hindu, he replied: "yes I am. I am also a christian, a muslim, a buddhist and a jew." he was 5 times nominated for a noble peace prize.

Answer 7

Not everyone stereotypes religious people this way, I think the ones that do are uneducated so they use the words stupid,illogical and delusional and brainwashed, Atheists believe in the laws of nature and science and those laws are man made laws and God defies those laws they can't comprehend or understand so they tend to resort to belittling and bullying. Pure religion is this: Taking care of widows and orphans.

Answer 8

From my experiences the stereotype stems from the closed minded and illogical religious people are generally the more outspoken and "loudest" of the religious people.

It is similar to when a news anchor goes and does a story after a natural disaster they usually end up interviewing the biggest hick around as a sample of the local population.

Answer 9

When I think of what science believes I find it no more preposterious.

The universe as we know it today (15 billion light years wide) was once compressed to the size of what we think a common atom is.

That's the mass and energy of ALL the stars, planets and galaxies so small we can't even see it with the electorn microscope.

I find it much easier to believe in Unicorns than that!

And that atom, by the way, was the ENTIRE universe. There is NOTHING else around except that primordial atom. And then BANG out of it comes all the stars and galaxies.

Of course no one will explain where that primordial atom came from.

It was always there, eternal.

Sounds like another name for God to me!

Answer 10

First of all I wouldn't say everyone does anything. I do think a lot of the mainstream media tries to portray religious people as stupid and/or controlling. They think we are stupid because they believe that anyone that is against theirs views must be stupid. They think we are controlling because we stand up for what we believe, and aren't willing to just cast off our religion for more modern opinions. If we are against embryo stem cell research, for us it is because we respect life, to them its because we want people with diseases to suffer. If we are against abortion, for us it is because we respect life, to them its because we hate women and don't think they should have rights. If we are against homosexuality, to us its because it is a sin, to them its because we are hateful and judgmental.

You really shouldn't worry about what these people think. People that are living in sin will always despise the Church. Its when those kind of people start liking you that you should stop and examine your life.