I'm aware of the studies that show atheists tend to have more education. I'm aware that more than 90% of the elite scientists in the world are atheists. But does that necessarily mean that everyone else is stupid?
Sam Harris doesn't think so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJOpDLjpSYI
2007-08-15 04:46:33 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Woops...
Sorry, that link is to Neil deGrasse Tyson. Here's the one for Sam Harris:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyPdQ-VRjA0
2007-08-15 04:48:19 · update #1
Not stupid. Delusional.
2007-08-15 05:02:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Stupid" isn't just an insult. That is the first mistake that people will tend to make.
It is a genuine adjective with a proper meaning...... and only becomes insulting if is used that way.
And it is safe to say that since stupidity, being the opposite of intelligence, is based on logical reasoning capacity (i.e. the lack thereof).... and christian fundamentalists, as can be tested extensively (albeit not necessarily under strictly reliable conditions) demonstrate lowered rational thinking than most other humans..... that christian fundamentalists are indeed stupid.
Incidentally, education has nothing to do with it.
Stupidity is entirely different to ignorance.
An ignorant person lacks knowledge.
A stupid person lacks the capability to understand.
2007-08-15 11:55:32 · answer #2 · answered by Dire Badger 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the first statement. Generalizations are inherently inaccurate. Still, no reasoned person, who has honestly examined the evidence would come to the conclusion that fundamentalist anythings do. In that regard, they are ignorant, at the least.
2007-08-15 11:57:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist and there are a lot of people who have religious superstitions that I respect and some of them are believe are brilliant.
I think that they are just superstitious and they fall into the Pascal's wager type of thinking.
2007-08-15 11:52:32 · answer #4 · answered by hyperhealer3 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Yes. You cannot prove what you believe and neither can they. Therefore arguing over things which neither can prove is futile. Saying what you believe as gospel is wrong and saying what they believe is stupid is wrong. So... yes. I'm not a "fundie" though, pretty far from it but hey I'll take up for them.
2007-08-15 11:54:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, the rest aren't necessarily dumb......don't be rude now...
and as an atheist...and someone who considers them self intellectual you should know it comes down to individualism.
Most people who aren't religious, aren't atheist either...
maybe its not an issue everyone cares about as much as us.
2007-08-15 19:58:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We might have to consider at this time that there could be a mental degeneration going on, that makes people unable to think critically and thus being easier targets for the religions.
We might have an actual mental defect on our hands.
2007-08-15 11:51:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
From what I've read in the forums on Richard Dawkins.net, Atheists are equally thick-headed.
2007-08-15 11:53:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree - not so much stupid as ignorant, and certainly not in all cases.
Unwilling to let go of superstition despite whatever evidence life might present in opposition of them - yes, they are certainly that.
2007-08-15 11:52:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do think that such generalizations are usually in error, and arise, not so much from knowledge, but rather from the all-too-human assumption that those who do not believe as we believe must be less intelligent.
2007-08-15 11:50:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋