As a group, why do atheists firmly believe they're more intelligent than people of faith?

Question

Are these just foundless beliefs, accepted on "faith", if you will, or have studies been conducted that prove their assertion?

Answer 1

There is a negative correlation between intelligence and religious belief.

http://w-uh.com/posts/031226a-religion_vs_IQ.html
http://kspark.kaist.ac.kr/Jesus/Intelligence%20&%20religion.htm

Answer 2

It's really just common, basic human behavior. I've noticed the same tendency and have decided it is usually a self-protective device employed to make sure no radical new faith-based ideas pierce their armor because then they might start questioning their own logic and have to try and explain where it all began. That is to say, if atheism is based on logic, try and create a logic-based, purely scientific fact-based explanation of the absolute beginning, BEFORE the big bang ..... perhaps that IS how life in general began, but who or what created all the stuff that accumulated BEFORE and culminated in the bang? I have yet to hear or read an answer to this question that does not include at least some small particle of faith. And that is where their logic falls apart and the atheist hits the wall called "I don't know" or "what do I say next?". Once there the atheist can only retreat into a superiority complex in a futile attempt to fend off the concept of God. Sadly, at this point, many simply shut down their minds rather than allow new concepts of knowledge, based on sound reasoning and faith, to enter. This is the point at which you will notice an atheist will apply the smug, self-assured smile that just doesn't seem quite real. You can stop talking then, because at this point you have won the argument ... an atheist will just never admit it.

Answer 3

I don't think I'm more intelligent just because I'm an atheist. I have a good friend whom I've known for thirty years. She was an atheist until recently and now she's a Christian. She is a very intelligent woman. I admire her, but yet I am baffled by her beliefs, and how she could have gone from one extreme to the other. Frankly, I'm baffled by anyone who has religious faith. I try to understand it, but I just can't. However, even though I don't understand how people can believe, I don't chalk faith up to a lack of intelligence.

What I chalk up to a lack of rational thought are literal interpretations of religious dogma and myth, to the exclusion of more recent, scientific discoveries and ideas. Is that a lack of intelligence? I can't say.

Answer 4

There have been studies. Don't go there unless you want someone to quote them at you.

I know for myself, and suspect that it applies to many here, that my opinion of Christians in general has plummeted during the time I've participated on this forum. The willful ignorance of many of the most vocal Christians here is stupefying. Occasionally the frustration of dealing with that comes out overly insulting. I'm careful to keep it to the question at hand, but a sensitive newbie could read it wrong.

In short, I don't believe that Christians are less intelligent. But I am amazed by how often some of you refuse to use it.

Answer 5

there are polls that show (in general) more scientists tend to be atheists rather than theists. this is simply because they study, day in and day out, the types of things that the public often takes for granted as 'unexplainable', thus labeling it as the work of god. the more one realizes that science can come up with these answers, the less need one has for the 'god did it' explanation.
also, when it comes to arguing and debating, the atheist tends to have done a more thorough job of researching his or her claim, as well as possible responses to that claim. theists tend to cite scripture and then ignore valid points made by the atheist, where the atheist tends to leave no point un-countered.
and there are also studies that do in fact show that atheists, in general, have higher IQ scores that theists. this may be a factor that strongly contributes to the reason atheists think they're smarter than theists.

Answer 6

Athiest think if you believe in fairy tales how smart can you possibly be? I am an athiest but I realize some of the most intelligent people in the world are people of faith. The smartest of us all are those who question their own beliefs and are not blinded by what has been drilled into us.

Answer 7

I think they believe they are more intelligent because either a majority or a significant minority of them believe that faith is a sign of intellectual weakness, and that using pure logic to come to their conclusions is the best method in any situation. While they are not necessarily incorrect, a lot of them seem to have a big chip on their shoulders about it.

Answer 8

Honestly...most atheists actually think about what they believe, think about what others believe, and believe what they feel to be true.

Whereas...I've heard plenty of believers state that their beliefs are just about faith...blind faith...based on what an object or other person told them to believe...and that they try to keep from thinking or asking too many questions about it.

Which I guess is because they are afraid that thinking about it too much might take away the magic when the logic begins to set in.

Thinking things out and deciding on your own answers generally IS smarter... People who think less generally are not smarter, so yes some either are a bit dumber or they stunt their own mind voluntarily.

Answer 9

They believe that since believers view spiritual matters as a source of revelation and foundation for our lives, that we reject reason. However this is false in that believers both utilize reason AND matters of the spirit.

Atheists get upset with us because we dont view reason itself as the sole revelation of truth in life. This translates into "Christians are just idiots that reject reason" and nothing could be further from the truth. I view life as us waterskiing, and believers use the 2 skis of reason and faith. Atheists try to get by just using one.

Answer 10

Define "intelligence". I see this in here once in a while, and if some of the really stupid questions that atheists ask is indicative of some alledged correlation between intelligence and asking worthy questions, then the correlation is not only flawed-it's downright laughable.

Answer 11

Have you ever tried to reason with a person of 'faith' about their beliefs?

They have no idea why they accept fantastic, impossible situations, people and things as fact.

Wouldn't that lead you to doubt their ability to think, if not their actual intelligence?