I'm not saying that everyone who is religious is dumb. But I have noticed that a lot of people who are really smart try to figure out the scientific reasoning behind life, and don't see religion or a God as the right answer.
At the same time, I have noticed lots of average intelligent people who are simple minded and blindly follow religion just because they were told to do so. And they never stop to actually question their beliefs.
For the most part, this applies to people in general. But I have met people who were smart, but kind of simple minded and they blindly followed a religion anyway. And I have seen dumber people who weren't religious, but then again, that was because that is all they were shown, so there wasn't really any thought process behind that either.
2007-10-25 08:47:03 · 37 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Well put Luci!
2007-10-25 10:50:48 · update #1
By the way, miniejllo, Einstein didn't actually believe in God. Read about him. His religiousness was based on finding the truth to all of the mysteries in the world. He didn't follow some silly religion.
2007-10-25 10:53:59 · update #2
GREAT question!!. You may get hammered by folk...but this is truly a deep and good question.
I'm a highly intelligent woman and I am an Atheist because for me, proof is in the pudding and I am kind of a visual gal. (I must be able to see, hear, touch or taste to believe) SOME would say this is where FAITH is suppose to come in. To that I say...how does one acquire faith. I cant go to Walmart for that...so now what?
I dont think the believers are foolish or dumb...they just see things differently than I.
2007-10-25 08:51:22 · answer #1 · answered by Mean Carleen 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
come on now that is not fair or accurate. i am a christian i also have two advanced degrees as do many theologians.
The bible says that the blind cannot lead the blind because they wil both fall into a ditch. God wants people to be intelligent and wise. God doesnt want blind followers because you are right, who does that help? When a non-believer approaches a believer we should be able to address your questions with scripture and practical application. People seem to forget the practical side of God. If God wants the message to be spread, we cant sound like morons when we do it.
you say that intelligent people seek an answer other than God. i say surgeons pray even though they have their science & skill behind them. Contrary to popular thought the two can co-exist.
and i must add, "intelligence" has many forms, while i will TOTALLY concede that the stupid seem to multiply exponentially. let me tell ya my great grannie is 101 years old with an 8th grade education. i will still listen to her before i listen to another.
There are things about a true walk with God that a non-believer simply will not swallow. Thats okay. If you arent a believer then i can not expect you to believe because i say so. As a Christian, I am comfortable with that.
additionally, let me add people do AAAAAAALLLLLLL sorts of whacked out crazy dumb A** crap and then call it Godly. that is not God's fault. Those people are misguided. and the misguided fall under many headings.
Plus, so many people get converted and then stop their progression in faith. Yes, i do believe that God has saved me from a life of sin and failure BUT now the real work begins. if my goal is to be like Christ i have to be the first to emulate that behavior; not the first to point out that you AREN'T. Christians are to live by example first. We should question and not be afraid to seek truth.
2007-10-25 09:27:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I don't understand is why a "smart" person would try to figure out an answer to a question that can never be known OR proven. How's that for stupid? Pointless "meaning of life" questions....yawn....
We can never have adequate knowledge as to why we are here, or if there even is a reason (Atheists assume life is contingent and spontaneous). Believers assume God got the ball rolling on evolution (except for Fundies, who believe in Creation).
I think many Christians try to make sense of the Bible. I do, and people can see that by searching my questions. I think that is more logical than simply walking away from a concept that I don't immediately understand and declaring it BS.
I have met many smart atheists, and many smart religious people. Most religious people DO NOT "blindly" follow their faith, that is an Atheist Urban Legend that keeps popping up. Maybe the Christians need a drinking game now??? :D Most religious people feel God in their life, and feel and act like a better person following their faith. That doesn't automatically deduct from their IQ.
In my opinon, science and God can and do run parallel.
As for your question...doh! Of course you can't rely on God when you are trying to figure out the "scientific reasoning" behind life. It's like comparing apples and oranages. I highly doubt any science minded person is going to wake up and say, "well, there is no evidence, but I conclude God made us!" and go back to bed. Of course not. But just because we have science, it does not mean we do not have God. THAT to me is illogical to assume.
In my opinion, IQ and religion might show a correlation, but one that can be explained by other factors. Like the "smart" people going into science programs that are brainwashed to think that because they believe in science, they cannot believe in God....
My 2 cents....
2007-10-25 09:10:58 · answer #3 · answered by reginachick22 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do realize that all those idiotic people that do nothing but get drunk and laid all through high school do nothing after words. Religious people aren't going to do that. Not saying all non-religious people are dumb either. Still, I know some amazingly intelligent people that belong to each group. My biology professor is brilliant, he's a strong Christian, my uncle can speak over ten languages fluently, he's an aethiest. I can understand people's reasons for what they do easier than most, (like Al Gore and his Carbon Credits... the idiot. Trying to make America an aristocracy, but that's for another time...) and I've got an IQ of 137, so I figure I'm pretty intelligent. I'm a Christian. I don't understand you saying that the only people trying to figure out life are aethiests. Christians do the same things, go through the same problems. And, to be perfectly honest, I know more smart Christians than I do aethiests- we live for later, while most people live for now. Just saying, you don't see Christians wasting their life on drugs and alcohal.
2007-10-25 08:56:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe that religion will ever die but as society tends to get more itellectual they will believe in scientific reasoning. And the amount of religious people will decrease.I myself belive the theory about us coming from animals and not from God but i think that society just wants to believe in something.
Which is why many people pray when they have doubts in themselves they're always told that god will be there to help. But is God really real or is it a way to help society deal with their problems. Is there really a hell or is it a way to keep order and control of one's concious. Many people don't commit vicious crimes because they're afraid of damnation. Could it be possible that we are living an enormous lie. Historians believed the earth was flat and that the sun was revolved around the earth an just a note this was after the bible was written. I do believe in God but the bible is just a way to teach people how to live their daily lives not to believe in everything the bible states. I believe in commonsense.
2007-10-25 09:13:47 · answer #5 · answered by Serenesoul 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to disagree with you on this one idiocracy but not necessarily. Some of the greatest minds in the world were or are very much religious. Take Albert Einstein for example, he was Jewish and practised it. He also once stated that science without religion and vice versa is lame and unthinkable. For those who do believe in their faith, putting the two together is the smartest thing they'll do, for me however, science is the only thing that dominates in my world.
2007-10-25 08:56:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm... I am a Christian and I believe the whole of the Bible. I believe in 6 day creation. Does that make me simple?
I can give you logical, scientific and reasoned arguments for creation. I can examine the evidence and offer explanations totally in accord with Scripture.
I have a scientific and computing background. I actually enjoy logical thought and problem solving. I'm not the cleverest person on the planet but I'm not stupid either and my faith makes perfect sense to me and millions of others. Those people who patronise Christians by believing they are in someway less intelligent that most have never looked sensibly at Christianity.
2007-10-25 08:58:24 · answer #7 · answered by Don 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There would still be religious people, but not nearly as many. Believing in religion is often a function of ignorance, but not all the time. There are emotional reasons that make people believe these things that counteract their ability to think clearly.
2007-10-25 08:53:52 · answer #8 · answered by Earl Grey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think there would be no religious people. And I respect your question and comments in the details...but what makes you think Christians have never stopped to question their beliefs?
Are you generalizing all Christians?
Why do people feel that because Christians use faith....that they have no idea what they're doing?
Um...If they Love him because He first loved them...pretty much...God himself has been PROVEN to them.
No it's not the case with all...but not everyone was raised Christian.
And lots of people tested many religions before trying Christianity.
If it's something they've settled on...obviously it's because it works for them.
So don't knock their lifestyle please, and respect the way they think. What's gold in one person's eyes, is trash in another's....
Intelligence isn't everything..to everyone.
2007-10-25 09:22:27 · answer #9 · answered by BLI 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You do not connect with God with your intellect,,,God is spirit and you must meet him on a spiritual realm....he doesn't care how many colleges you have been to,,,he looks on the heart. Always learning, and never coming to the knowledge of the truth...how smart are you if you miss the truth because of intellectual arrogance?..
13. AT that time Jesus lifted his voice and said, I thank thee, O most righteous Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth, that though these things are hidden from the wise and the prudent, they are nevertheless revealed unto babes.
2007-10-25 09:02:48 · answer #10 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋