Is religion making us all stupid ?

[omega2xx]

You do realize they are born into it right? Rigid thinking and proper environments do reduce IQ.

Man was intelligent from the beginning. Much intelligence was lost during the dark ages.

 

[omega2xx]

You really do not know what you're talking about as spending even 15 minutes googling the absurdity of what you post above would tell you. But you won't. Links to various scientific sites have been posted for you, but you just make excuses as to why you don't even want to look at them.

So, why I should waste time trying to even link you to such sources when you just reject anything out-of-hand that doesn't fit into your predetermined mind-set? I and some others here do continue on because there are others who may be "on the fence" who may not be familiar with what the research is clearly indicating, so it's for those people that I, and probably some others here, continue on.

Unless your can tell what the weather will be in the next 20, and you can't,you are just blowing non-scientific smoke, and that makes you the one who doesn't know what they are talking about. You and the other alarmist are just crying wolf.

I do not have a predetermined mind set, you do. So I will luit wasting my time with you on this subject.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

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.

Religion itself does not make people less intelligent. However, religious indoctrination may stifle critical thinking. At the same time, declaring oneself to be an atheist does not make someone more intelligent than a religious person, obviously.

 

[metis]

...and you can't,you are just blowing non-scientific smoke, and that makes you the one who doesn't know what they are talking about.

Ya, I guess that's why I've been in science for some 50 years now and taught it for over 30 years.

Hey, it's your choice if you'd rather believe in Dark Age-type fairy tales, but I would fight for your right to do so.

 

[psychoslice]

Some people post because they have something to say. Others post because they have to say something. Questions like this fall in the second category. Mostly meaningless and a bit biased against those seen as the 'opposition'.

Well that is your biased opinion, and you as I do have the right to say it.

 

[psychoslice]

Religion itself does not make people less intelligent. However, religious indoctrination may stifle critical thinking. At the same time, declaring oneself to be an atheist does not make someone more intelligent than a religious person, obviously.

Its reported that atheist on a whole are far more intelligent, simple minded people seem to cling to belief systems such as religion.

 

[Spideymon77]

Its reported that atheist on a whole are far more intelligent, simple minded people seem to cling to belief systems such as religion.

It's possible for an atheist to be so far up their ***, that they end up creating a belief system where they think they are smarter and better than everyone else.

 

[psychoslice]

It's possible for an atheist to be so far up their ***, that they end up creating a belief system where they think they are smarter and better than everyone else.

That can happen, an atheist is simply someone who don't hold a belief of god, what they do in their spare time is their business.

 

[Rational Agnostic]

Its reported that atheist on a whole are far more intelligent, simple minded people seem to cling to belief systems such as religion.

On average, yes, atheists have slightly higher IQ scores than religious people. However, I think you are overgeneralizing a bit. I know plenty of religious folks who are highly intelligent.

 

[psychoslice]

On average, yes, atheists have slightly higher IQ scores than religious people. However, I think you are overgeneralizing a bit. I know plenty of religious folks who are highly intelligent.

Yes but you don't know all of them do you ?.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Its reported that atheist on a whole are far more intelligent,

This is just wishful thinking on the part of an atheist. You're not superior for believing there is no God just as I am not superior for believing in one. If you want to be superior, then show kindness and mercy to everyone you meet. You'll have my applause no matter what you believe.

 

[psychoslice]

This is just wishful thinking on the part of an atheist. You're not superior for believing there is no God just as I am not superior for believing in one. If you want to be superior, then show kindness and mercy to everyone you meet. You'll have my applause no matter what you believe.

No one is talking about being superior, just because a student of first grade doesn't know as much as the student of eighth grade, doesn't mean the eighth grader is superior.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Religion itself does not make people less intelligent. However, religious indoctrination may stifle critical thinking. At the same time, declaring oneself to be an atheist does not make someone more intelligent than a religious person, obviously.

Quite right. But in the end, critical thinking is absolutely essential to the ability to actually learn from all of the stuff that is presented to us. And on the other hand, while being an atheist won't make you smarter, willingness to investigate and learn from everything -- without fear of divine displeasure -- can go a long way!

And at the end of the day, religion frequently seems to provide what can only be described as dogma, which must be believed because it is assumed to be authoritative. And while that may not make anybody less intelligent, it will prevent them from actually learning something (probably true) that the dogma denies.

 

[Scuba Pete]

No one is talking about being superior,

Shenanigans. Suggesting that you are more intelligent than the average theist is nothing but hubris trying to claim an advantage. Comparing theists to being first graders and atheists to being 8th graders is as puerile as any middle schooler.

But again, lest you missed it. If you must be superior in anything, be superior in the art of kindness. Rather than trying to demean those who believe differently than you, why not seek to understand them instead? Drop the pettiness that comes from the hubris. Live, love and let others live and love without the need to show an advantage.

 

[psychoslice]

Shenanigans. Suggesting that you are more intelligent than the average theist is nothing but hubris trying to claim an advantage. Comparing theists to being first graders and atheists to being 8th graders is as puerile as any middle schooler.

But again, lest you missed it. If you must be superior in anything, be superior in the art of kindness. Rather than trying to demean those who believe differently than you, why not seek to understand them instead? Drop the pettiness that comes from the hubris. Live, love and let others live and love without the need to show an advantage.

It sounds like your the one who is missing the love boat ?.

 

[Scuba Pete]

It sounds like your the one who is missing the love boat ?.

Rly? I wonder what you would do if someone were more than mildly critical of you? Love is not a blind acceptance of arrogance in another person. Why would you want it to be? Rather than deal with the logic I have laid out, you've opted for a cheap shot... and missed.

People everywhere want to claim superiority without ever going through the pain needed to achieve it. They desperately grasp at anything in order to justify their decision(s) as being intellectually or morally superior. Stop trying to make yourself out to be something you aren't. You're going to have to earn our respect with more than a proclamation of your belief or disbelief. If you want to stun us with your dizzying intellect, then you'll have to do something that shows us that. Arguably, this thread and your responses haven't impressed us much. You'll have to up your game if you want us to accept that you're a 'thinker'.

 

[psychoslice]

Rly? I wonder what you would do if someone were more than mildly critical of you? Love is not a blind acceptance of arrogance in another person. Why would you want it to be? Rather than deal with the logic I have laid out, you've opted for a cheap shot... and missed.

People everywhere want to claim superiority without ever going through the pain needed to achieve it. They desperately grasp at anything in order to justify their decision(s) as being intellectually or morally superior. Stop trying to make yourself out to be something you aren't. You're going to have to earn our respect with more than a proclamation of your belief or disbelief. If you want to stun us with your dizzying intellect, then you'll have to do something that shows us that. Arguably, this thread and your responses haven't impressed us much. You'll have to up your game if you want us to accept that you're a 'thinker'.

You have a big chip, on your shoulder, your not understanding what I am saying , it might be better if you don't discuss with me any further.

 

[Monk Of Reason]

The statistics are clear that atheists on average have a higher IQ and tend to be better educated. But personally I believe the causality is reversed. I think people who tend to be more intelligent and questioning and those that have had more education have a higher chance of being an atheist.

Religion is cultural however. So this needs to be talked about with some context. We are primarily Christian nation with the majority being protestant. Specifically in the south the southern baptist style protestant christian is very common. However in England or France where people are no more intelligent by nature, has far less of a cultural pressure to be religious. Then you have countries like Denmark, Sweden and Japan who are have being religious in the minority. Its easy and normal there to be an atheist and it most likely reflects less of the intelligence and more to do with home life and family culture. Though it should be noted that typically the more irreligious the population of the country the better off their quality of life is. Even beyond that we have more socialistic and tends to be rather low in crime.

 

[MonkeyFire]

Religion of violence makes you agnostic yes.

 

[psychoslice]

The statistics are clear that atheists on average have a higher IQ and tend to be better educated. But personally I believe the causality is reversed. I think people who tend to be more intelligent and questioning and those that have had more education have a higher chance of being an atheist.

Religion is cultural however. So this needs to be talked about with some context. We are primarily Christian nation with the majority being protestant. Specifically in the south the southern baptist style protestant christian is very common. However in England or France where people are no more intelligent by nature, has far less of a cultural pressure to be religious. Then you have countries like Denmark, Sweden and Japan who are have being religious in the minority. Its easy and normal there to be an atheist and it most likely reflects less of the intelligence and more to do with home life and family culture. Though it should be noted that typically the more irreligious the population of the country the better off their quality of life is. Even beyond that we have more socialistic and tends to be rather low in crime.

Yes there is some truth in that, the fear of a god seems to keep many on track, which is sad really, like an atheist don't need someone always watching them, they just simple do what is right, that is the ones who do right.