Why do Atheists believe they are 'smarter'?

Question

All you do is refute the existence of an all poweful being as a creator....everything you use to reject a God can be easily found on search engines......''why god does not exist?'

Seriously why do you think your smarter than religious people?
In what aspect? When I hear Atheists talk about their intelligence, I always think that is like me saying to some randomer ''I know more about football than you...I am smarter'

Oh and another thing...religious people are 'weak-minded'....so what about Religious people in communist Russia? Were they 'weak-minded'?

This is exactly what I expected..why should I have to read a philosophy book to be intelligent...I prefer History.

Answer 1

You're wrong right off the bat.
I don't refute the existence of an "all powerful being" since no such being exists. I don't have to disprove what doesn't exist.
Do I have to disprove the existence of Leprechauns and Pixies for you too?
No, the burden of proof is on anyone who claims that god exists.
And as yet, not ONE of you have been able to provide one single, solitary shred of credible evidence that god or gods do exist...

Answer 2

The simple answer is that while you ask for proof that god doesn't exist the best answer is too simply turn around and ask where is the proof that god does exist you can't say the bible it has been butchered altered and edited by a group of people so corrupt they wouldn't allow for any gospels written by women I will not say that I am smarter than the person next to me until I have tested the full extent of this persons mind however when it comes to the area of religion I might out of arrogance assume that I am more knowledgeable for being smart and being knowledgable are two very different things.

Answer 3

Smarter...hmmm. Let's consider the following:

Most likely, you were told as a child that each year, a man flew around the world in one night, delivering presents to children. He performed this trip using 8 reindeer, lashed to a sleigh. Throughout the year, he can perceive your interactions, knowing if you are worthy of these gifts.

Now, most of us figured out the enormous power that would be required, the almost remarkable ability to distort the fabric of both time and space. We comforted ourselves knowing that there was not an omniscient man monitoring our every action. We saw that we had been told a fiction.

Atheists see religious people with the same view that you see a child who still believes in Santa Claus. They question how religious people--especially fundamentalist Christians--can believe the world was created 6000 years ago, and yet they continue to use medicines based on the science of evolution. They look to a religious person and inquire, how can you just _believe_?

I always found this perspective to be helpful. Consider you heard this commentator on the news:

Today, President Bush indicated that after deep reflection and consideration, he had come to a decision regarding the stem cell debate. He noted that after many hours of research, talking with others in the field, and deep prayer, that he came to form his beliefs on this vital issue. He personally thanked both Thor and Odin directly for this inspiration, and he commented that he would make a public statement later today on the issue.

If, like me, you stopped and said, hold on...Thor? To an atheist, saying that you thank Jesus for how well you run a football is just as wack as saying you thank Thor for the new Mercedes you just got. Don't let the cultural vogue of its worship take you from the atheist's essential point--live in this world. _This_ is it.

Answer 4

Oh geez, you got me now. I don't think I'm smarter overall than religious people. However, it does take some critical thinking to become an atheist, does it not? To use your example, if you really do know more about football than your random person, then you are "smarter" where that subject is concerned. As for your last question, being "strong-minded" where will and non-conformity is concerned does not make one's position correct, nor does it necessarily indicate intelligence.

Answer 5

I don't know if I am smarter than all Christians. I know my IQ is in the top 2.5%. That doesn't mean much but for you asking a comparison question.

Frank Sulloway of MIT and Michael Shermer of California State University conducted a study which found in their polling sample of "credentialed" U.S. adults (12% had Ph.Ds and 62% were college graduates) 64% believed in God, and there was a correlation indicating that religious conviction diminished with education level.


For further information, see the research of Petty & Cacioppo into Elaboration Likelihood Model.


Shermer, Michael (1999). How We Believe: Science, Skepticism, and the Search for God. New York: William H Freeman, pp76–79. ISBN 071673561X

Answer 6

I don't think I am smarter. Better informed? Perhaps. But I take each person one at a time and don't judge intelligence based on beliefs. In general on Y/A I can say with confidence I am smarter than most believers.

In the 3-D world I meet all kinds. If I met you in person, I wonder how the conversation would go.

Answer 7

Well, I generally believe it because I am. I can say this with a great deal of confidence. Unless you're Stephen Hawkings or Gary Kasparov, you're unlikely to be outwitting me any time soon.

Knowing more about football is never going to make the ivory towers of academia tremble, I'm afraid.

And I never claimed religious people were weak-minded. Merely ignorant (and usually proud of their ignorance), gullible, and irrational.

Answer 8

because we understand science and how reality works. we don't go on search engines to find answers (at least i don't) and we usually come to the same conclusion with the same kinds of arguments.

yes because they were brainwashed at birth and nothing can undo that unless you use the same process but do it even more. (at least that's a hypothesis i have made)

go read a science book or even a philosophy book. i suggest Selected Political Writings by John Locke. I also suggest Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud.

Answer 9

You're (and that's how you write it when you mean "you are") using backwards reasoning. It turns out that more highly-educated and intelligent people happen to be atheists. Atheists tend to be more well-read than believers, and they are more willing to think for themselves. Usually, those qualities are what led them to atheism to begin with.
Why do we think we're smarter than religious people? Because, in general, we are, and there's data to support that.
You've made your choice; you've chosen to buy into the fairy tale. Deal with it.

Answer 10

Are you off your meds again ? Do you really think that if you keep asking this retarded question over and over and over again you will get a different answer ?Or is it the only question you can think to ask because you are scared your god will find out you don't believe in him after all !