Is religion making us all stupid ?

[loverofhumanity]

Yes there is a lot of evidence that religion is certainly making us stupid, just look at the world today, what the......is happening, we all seem to be going backwards, so yes, what do you think, are we getting more stupid, I believe we are.

It depends on your definition of religion. What we see today as religion is not really religion but the death of it. True religion, which is the acquiring of a noble and virtuous character is all but dead leaving only the useless outer form of ceremony, lip service and ritual. True religion focuses on good deeds.

If the world were truly religious it would be at peace.

To reject anything but good deeds and a virtuous character is a truly noble act for we get what we accept.

If we are willing to accept mediocrity that is what will be dished out by religionists.

From religionists we should expect nothing but the highest standard of behavior otherwise the accusation of being fraudsters and lairs rightfully applies for it is the religionists that are making all the claims so it is up to them to live up to their beliefs.

People are now demanding of religionists only purest virtue. It's all about deeds now, no longer words.

Baha'u'llah prophesied you and others like you in this Hidden Word addressed to His followers.

O My Friends!

Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within your hearts the everlasting torch of divine guidance.

For ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored, accept naught but purest virtue and deeds of stainless holiness.”

Baha'u'llah

 

[psychoslice]

From a purely scientific perspective it's almost impossible to prove or disprove


Communism as a social movement is strongly linked to atheism. Is that what you mean?

No of course not, many atheist are scientific thinking people, they are always investigating what new discoveries are found, where as much of religion never changes, they just keep to what they believe and that is that, their brains never really has a chance to fire new pathways in their brains, or neurons of the brain.

 

[psychoslice]

Religion, no. Politics, yes.

I rarely met people who are religious. I just meet people who turn their religion into politics.

People get the two mixed up all the time. The Church kind of helped with that among other people throughout history that the term religious like other words are becoming so derogatory it can't be seen in a positive light for its actual definition not the political bias and connotations added to it.

I believe both are as draining as each other.

 

[psychoslice]

imo stupidity has nothing to do with a religion in common. For me its about these types of zeitgeist which will eventually claim that it will be better if others would follow a new, or reinvented old, movement. It can't be prevented the "new" always will ignore the "old" throughtout every generation and that a few times. Not because they are ignorants but the "new" wants to walk another path to make it better. "backward" and "forward" are just attributes of the path people occasionally reinvent as the old seems to stagnates them or sometimes just got to "normal". Its a call for the other extreme to live.

Are you familiar with the spiral dynamics?



eidt: Sorry, i am non-native speaker and this went throught the google translator

Yes this is how I think, and why I left my church, I wanted to look out from my own religion and discover what was out there, bible study over and over was all the same, the church never liked me asking question outside their beliefs, I was born with a brain and wanted to use it.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I believe both are as draining as each other.

Eh. When I practiced Catholicism, I wasn't drained. I was pretty happy and it gave me a feeling to help others, a solace, and a moment of reflection. It gave me choices of how I want to devote my time and energy to help others and myself. It gave me peace.

On the other hand,

I volunteered at the U.S. Capitol. On one side there's the House and the other Senate. They don't talk with each other unless at meetings etc. There is a hierarchy working there. Volunteers make up half of what goes on in public view but we get a lot of discrimination compared to paying people even with our own paid boss!

I was a volunteer ESL teacher for adults at Catholic Charities. Everything is Catholic morals; so, well, I couldn't fly in off my Rainbow. They welcomed me with open arms, students were nice and so where the adults. No hierarchy. I just had to respect their faith and they respect me even though I didn't tell them what I believe.

Meanwhile, I am protesting with Deaf associates for education rights and job placement for Deaf folks and because we are on capitol hill, no one gives a hoot. Yet, once I sign and they think we are disabled rather than my being an ally and their being Deaf, they open their hands with gratitude.

I've never seen anything like it, that black and white stance. I guess a person really has to be involved in religion to see the difference in relationship with the Church (or so have you) and people and their politics abusing religions and making people see religion as a negative when there are so many things in religion that make people such positive people that they may be the 5% of the population but the population doesn't define what religion is.

So, it depends on your experiences in religion, really. I see them as separate as night and day. Just people abuse religion as they do politics *cough cough* but I won't say who.

 

[psychoslice]

We are getting more stupid but the reason is we are getting farther away from God.

Ha, I don't believe that, well not if you mean the god in the sky.

 

[psychoslice]

OK, well, for me, I'll keep it simple and just say I believe in non-dualism beyond reasonable doubt and leave it at that. And I don't think it has made me stupid.

So who is the one who is believing in non-dualism ?.

 

[psychoslice]

Religion is a good scapegoat for many of the world's problems.
How ironic!

Yes and a good crutch.

 

[psychoslice]

I believe false religions do blind people to truths that should be obvious. Not mental deficiency but moral and spiritual darkness result from false religions, IMO. On the other hand, the true religion, the truth enlightens, imparting wisdom, knowledge, and real hope.

Who is the true religion ?.

 

[psychoslice]

Religion is sort of like Google.
You can ask any question whatsoever and get a lot of answers. The answers may not be true, or even rational, but many will be asserted with complete confidence.
Tom

Yes many are delusional.

 

[psychoslice]

I Guess it depends on what you mean when you say Stupid.
If you mean less educated scientifically, then yes, It appears that most theists are less knowledgeable when it comes to science.
I Think that religion makes you unaware.
And it is more dangerous in a sense than being stupid.
When you are unaware how our world really works, You disregard things that might eventually determine whether or not we will survive as a species.

I Know many religious people who are brilliant, and many that are dumb as hell.
I Also know Atheists that are brilliant and atheists who are dumb as hell.

Yes that is correct, but studies have shown that religion is making us dumb, in the less educated sense.

 

[psychoslice]

Almost 80% of Nobel Laureates have been Christians, and many of the rest have been Jewish. So no religion does not make anyone stupid, and the question it's self makes no sense.

Thank you for your opinion.

 

[psychoslice]

It depends on your definition of religion. What we see today as religion is not really religion but the death of it. True religion, which is the acquiring of a noble and virtuous character is all but dead leaving only the useless outer form of ceremony, lip service and ritual. True religion focuses on good deeds.

If the world were truly religious it would be at peace.

To reject anything but good deeds and a virtuous character is a truly noble act for we get what we accept.

If we are willing to accept mediocrity that is what will be dished out by religionists.

From religionists we should expect nothing but the highest standard of behavior otherwise the accusation of being fraudsters and lairs rightfully applies for it is the religionists that are making all the claims so it is up to them to live up to their beliefs.

People are now demanding of religionists only purest virtue. It's all about deeds now, no longer words.

Baha'u'llah prophesied you and others like you in this Hidden Word addressed to His followers.

O My Friends!

Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within your hearts the everlasting torch of divine guidance.

For ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored, accept naught but purest virtue and deeds of stainless holiness.”

Baha'u'llah

Yes when I say religion I certainty don't mean your's, I have a lot of respect for the Bahai faith, as I also do with Buddhism also.

 

[Dawnofhope]

No of course not, many atheist are scientific thinking people, they are always investigating what new discoveries are found, where as much of religion never changes, they just keep to what they believe and that is that, their brains never really has a chance to fire new pathways in their brains, or neurons of the brain.

But many scientists have a religious faith. Do you think the atheists are more likely to be the scientists and doctors? Perhaps the religious people are labourers and cleaners where their limited intellectual capacity is less needed! It would be any easy question to investigate.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Yes when I say religion I certainty don't mean your's, I have a lot of respect for the Bahai faith, as I also do with Buddhism also.

Well, then. Ya got to be more specific.

 

[George-ananda]

So who is the one who is believing in non-dualism ?.

A spark of Brahman under the temporary illusion of believing it is George.

 

[psychoslice]

But many scientists have a religious faith. Do you think the atheists are more likely to be the scientists and doctors? Perhaps the religious people are labourers and cleaners where their limited intellectual capacity is less needed! It would be any easy question to investigate.

Of course there are intelligent people who are religious, many today don't buy the creation story, you can be religious and still believe in evolution. I myself see the Cosmos as what you would call God, I just don't make my God personal, as if his a man in the sky.

 

[psychoslice]

Well, then. Ya got to be more specific.

Well that's why the question was asked, there is much research that tells us that it is so.

 

[psychoslice]

A spark of Brahman under the temporary illusion of believing it is George.

Yep, that's my language, I'm with you there.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Of course there are intelligent people who are religious, many today don't buy the creation story, you can be religious and still believe in evolution. I myself see the Cosmos as what you would call God, I just don't make my God personal, as if his a man in the sky.

Now I see more clearly what you are trying to say. I too feel frustrated by people of Faith who are locked into dogmas and doctrines of the past that have long outlived their usefulness. A literal interpretation of the story of Creation in genesis and a belief in a literal resurrection in the Gospels are 2 examples.

I'm pleased you have respect for Baha'is and Buddhists. I'm a Baha'i and my wife is from a Buddhist background. it wasn't until I became a Baha'i that I was better able to see the difference between what Jesus taught and what the Church had misinterpreted. Before that I had to distance myself from Christianity, the faith I grew up with.

"How can a man believe to be a fact that which science has proved to be impossible? If he believes in spite of his reason, it is rather ignorant superstition than faith."
‘Abdu’l-Bahá