How do atheists explain this?

Question

I have seen several posts in which atheists claim to have a much higher IQ than Christians. How do you explain the atheists who have realized their mistake and converted to Christianity? How can you claim their IQ's are now lower because they're Christians? Why didn't their superior intellect keep them from accepting Jesus in the first place? I will give you examples in details, but why don't you use your high IQ and do your own research? My experience has been that I never offer enough examples, no matter how many I offer. Atheists always say it's never enough. Please don't be afraid to learn something. I realize it's human nature to fear the unknown, but step out on faith and try.

In 2004,the legendary British philosopher and proponent for atheism,Professor Antony Flew,renounced his atheism because“the argument to intelligent design is enormously stronger than it was when I first met it“.He said,“It now seems to me that the finding of more than fifty years of DNA research have provided materials for a new and enormously powerful argument to design“.He said he“had to go where the evidence leads“[Go-dandscience.org]Textbook author,and biologist,Dr Gary Parker began his teaching career as an atheist and evolutionist.En route to his degrees in biology/chemistry,biology/physiology and an Ed.D. in biology/geology,he realized the arguments for atheism and evolution were so weak that he could no longer believe them.He is now a worldwide debater and lecturer for Answers in Genesis[AnswersInGenesis.org].
Dr Maurice S. Rawlings,who has been a cardiologist for more than
40years,began his career as an atheist,but is now a Christian and has written several books.

Some of Dr. Rawlings' books-
"Beyond Death's Door"
"Before Death Comes"
"Life Wish"
"To Hell and Back"

Answer 1

Good one!

but like you said: they always say is not enough

Answer 2

First off - I do not claim to be an atheist or an agnostic and I do not subcribe to any particular religion - I have however put a lot of thought into this subject over the years - for the most part I believe that I can explain (adequately to myself) the theory of evolution barring two things -
1) where did all of the matter/energy come from - if we evolved from amino acids created in supernovae which were created from the big-bang - but where did all of it come from
2) clearly man has some sort of mental ability (consciousness) that's significantly different, better, higher than all other living things - evolution cannot explain it - where did it come from

If i could answer those two questions without god being involved I would be an atheist - the problem is I don't think Christianity (or any other traditional religion) adequately explains everything either - the concept of some higher being, omniscient and all-powerful, doing all of this - your response of course is have faith - but faith in what - there's so many different views on god how can you be certain that yours the right - if every religious person in the world subscribed to the same concept of god then the argument would be a lot more compelling

Answer 3

I am not one who suggests that one group of people are more intelligent than another. I don't imagine there are many Atheists to have said that, or Christians who have said the opposite.
The main Athiest argument which I have seen,is that they have reasoned out using logic that God cannot exist.
For me being an agnostic, the Atheist view that God does not exist, is as far from me, as the Christian believe that a God as in the Bible exists.
the question, 'If God is all powerful, can God create a Smartie which is so heavy that God cannot lift it?
Clarifies my position If God is all powereful God cannot exist.
My own answer to that question is Yes and No.
The Bible states only a few will get to the Heaven place, my father was an Atheist, he couldn't help being an Atheist, we cannot just believe something because someone else believes it.
I do not like the God of the Bible, that God is prejudiced against the actions of many people, that god is jealous, to me jealously is a mental health fault.
If there is a god it is everywhere, it causes everything, one could say that about nature, while including man and what man does as being natural.
I have thought out a just system for everyone, and everything, it is not a believe but to me it is infinity better than the promise for the few in the Bible.
The mind I have is the mind that whatever causes everything gave me. I do not think I am more intelligent than any other group, but my mind is repelled against me becoming a Christian. I do like Christians though.
If there is something which some call God, it cannot be prejudiced against anyone, or anything, because it is everything.

Answer 4

The IQ argument is pretty lame, no doubt. But arguing the opposite is equally as bad. Basically, all the arguments are anecdotal or statistically flawed, and ignore the millions of exceptions. In the end, individuals are smart or not smart, not groups of people, regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof. You are right that examples don't help, but they wouldn't work the other way either. How many examples does an atheist have to give YOU to convince you that they are right? It is impossible, of course. It goes both ways. Your final statement about stepping out on faith and trying is the perfect example. Couldn't an atheist tell you the same thing about believing what THEY believe? Take a chance! Try to step out and NOT believe!

Of course I am not really suggesting you do that. In fact, I am a Christian. It is just that the whole argument is a waste of time for both sides. There are no statistics or examples that you can throw out that cannot be contradicted by numerous other statistics and examples. Belief and non-belief are inside the individual. There is no sense in trying to convince someone to change, unless they specifically ask.

Answer 5

Faith is based on the irrational, which is ok it suits some people and helps them get on with their lives. Science is based on rationality, always testing theories by what evidence you have available, that's where things like intelligent design come undone, it takes evidence and comes up with an irrational (faith based) conclusion, faith and science should never be mixed.
The scientific premise of intelligent design is that there must be a living being so perfectly designed that its constituent parts are all essential to its working and if one part was removed the whole organism stops working (so could not have been evolved must have been designed). They thought they found a flagella with 50 working parts that couldn't be broken down any further, unfortunately it worked on 40.
So far intelligent design is design flawed, but who knows it may surprise us all one day and prove to be rational rather than irrational. Its a theory looking for evidence rather than the more traditional other way round.
As for the stupid Christian idea, I've met stupid people in at least 4 religions but intelligent people too. I don't think religion colours intellect.

Answer 6

With an IQ of 142, I'm higher than a lot of people and I just happen to be atheist, more because of my upbringing than a choice. I'd still have the same IQ if I were religious because IQ is fixed. There's not even a significant difference for age - take an age appropriate test at 4 and you'll have the same IQ as you will in an age appropriate test aged 50.

I don't think there's a correlation between the two - I can't find a study about it; those atheists are talking out of their derriere.

Please don't be condescending and assume we're all unwilling to learn and quaking in our boots because we don't believe - some of us are more comfortable with our way.

Answer 7

There are damn few that go that way. Ask. Most atheists used to be Christians. You will only find a handful of people who would have ever positively identified themselves as an atheist who went the other way. MOST of what you hear about they NEVER would have actively said they were an atheist, so they weren't.

Like I said, just post the question or search for it the last time it was posted. I know two former ministers that are atheists. There are some regulars here that were in school to become ministers.

If your argument is the deciding factor, you should come our way.

Answer 8

To each his own!! There are stupid people in every religion some are just dumber than others! I'm an atheist but I don't think I'm smarter than Christians I just don't believe that's all!! You are putting all atheists in the same boat isn't that just as bad as atheists saying that all Christians have a lower IQ? I think your calling anybody who doesn't believe in what you believe in are stupid !! I don't fear the unknown and I will believe in things in my own way! I think that's enough! I have learnt about it and I still don't believe! You can't make people believe in it just because you do! Sorry!

Answer 9

I'm not reading all that.
I don't claim to have a higher IQ I only claim not to be delusional. I don't talk to or believe in imaginary friends or god(s). I am able to see the bible and it's teachings for what they are and not what I want them to be.
I am also smart enough to understand numbers.
There are at least 150 major religions world wide each having more than one million followers. No matter which religion you are a part of you only have a .6% chance of being with the correct one.
There is no evidence to support the existence of a god.
The bible is full of contradictions, myths, ancient laws that are brutal, sexist, genocidal, anti-gay, pro slavery, and repulsive.
I have read the bible front to back. I don't believe in unicorns either.

I do understand your point though. I don't know who said atheist are smarter but I suspect that to be false. I'm not going to make excuses for someone else's ridiculous claims. I do applaud you on your question though. I think it's a good question and needs to be answered by those who have made that claim.

Answer 10

There are many former Atheists who turned to Christianity, some have turned to Islam and others to Buddhism.

All have individual reasons for doing so, most have to do with emotional reasons verses logical ones, but a small few use reason to do so, like the ones you listed.

I guess at some point the mathematics led them to start believing in the impossible odds for the existence of intelligent life. This is a compelling argument, but one based on a lack of information. The truth is that there are BILLIONS of Galaxies that we know about, each planetary system in each of those galaxies increases the odds of intelligent life existing without the need for intelligent design.

The fact that these people would choose specific religions like Christianity or Islam or Buddhism to believe in shows that they are willing to rely on faith over logic for belief, as there is no definitive proof for choosing one over another. That choice is based on emotion and gut feelings and in the end of the day explains thier true motive for choosing to believe in a deity.

Answer 11

I understand what your saying. I think any Christian or atheist who claims these straightforward statistics does not understand how many MILLIONS of factors apply to their numbers ( and I'm not exaggerating) Therefore, about any, and really any situation would apply to affect these statistics. Take someone who has low intelligence and is considered "a Christian" because of their parents. Or take a very intelligent "atheist" who is really just debating whether it is worth having faith or not ( because like you said that is what religion comes down to)

As for those who do t think the way you do, have respect for them. They just don't find what your saying to be in any way logical. And why is that? Not because they are stubborn, but because their thought process in "religious" reasoning is ENTIRELY different from yours. Not worse or better, just different. How many good examples would it take for you to consider folliwing no religion or another religion?