Are people that believe in Religious doctrine less intelligent than atheists?

[OzmO]

You could ask the same about whether they believe in God or not.

Any thoughts?

I've kind of come to that conclusion over time.   It seems people who are less intelligent "buy into" religion more than people who are smarter than average.

[Colossus_500]

You could ask the same about whether they believe in God or not.

Any thoughts?

I've kind of come to that conclusion over time.   It seems people who are less intelligent "buy into" religion more than people who are smarter than average.

I think this would be the typical elitist mindset of an atheist. 

It just makes sense to "knock down" a person or mindset when you don't quite understand or are threatened.

[Butterbean]

(assuming you consider Christianity a "religion"....)

The most intelligent person I know is a Christian.


Sir Isaac Newton and C.S. Lewis weren't slouches either

[Necrosis]

nah, there a quite a few dumb atheists, and quite a few dumb theists.

[Dos Equis]

I agree with Colossus, Stella, and usmokepole. 

[NeoSeminole]

I would say that atheists are more likely to be educated than religious people. This doesn't necessarily mean they are always more intelligent.

[Necrosis]

I would say that atheists are more likely to be educated than religious people. This doesn't necessarily mean they are always more intelligent.

i would agree with this. although from my experience i find very dumb people beleive in the noahs ark fairytale stuff, and the other idiots use fallacious arguments to deny god that are plain retarded. i think once you start going up the ladder of intelligence/education you find more rational views on god and more agnositics and atheists.

[OzmO]

i would agree with this. although from my experience i find very dumb people beleive in the noahs ark fairytale stuff, and the other idiots use fallacious arguments to deny god that are plain retarded. i think once you start going up the ladder of intelligence/education you find more rational views on god and more agnositics and atheists.

Yeah, it just seems that way to me too.   

[Dos Equis]

I'm not sure how valid it is to compare atheists with anyone, because there are so few of them. 

[Straw Man]

I'm not sure how valid it is to compare atheists with anyone, because there are so few of them. 

really?

Check #3 three on this list.  Though not "atheist" by your standards, the group includes secular humanists, agnostics, and people who don't believe in any particular religion (i.e they are atheist in regard to Christianity for example in the same way that you and I are atheist in regards to Islam)

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

[Dos Equis]

really?

Check #3 three on this list.  Though not "atheist" by your standards, the group includes secular humanists, agnostics, and people who don't believe in any particular religion (i.e they are athetst in regard to Christianity for example in the same way that you and I are Atheist in regards to Islam)

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Thanks Cuzin' Earl.  The thread topic references atheists.  My post references atheists.  No one mentioned secular humanists or people who don't believe in a particular religion. 

[OzmO]

Anyone know how may people believe in god but don't subscribe to any particular religion?

[Straw Man]

Thanks Cuzin' Earl.  The thread topic references atheists.  My post references atheists.  No one mentioned secular humanists or people who don't believe in a particular religion. 

What's with the Cuzin' Earl thing?

Is that some way to make yourself feel intelligent?

I clarified the statement by explaining (as does the site) that the 3rd largest group includes people that are strictly defined atheist but also others who just don't belong to any particular religion - hence are atheist in regards to Christianity or Islam, etc...

You insist on framing the world in VERY SIMPLE terms when the reality is much more fuzzy and complex

[Dos Equis]

What's with the Cuzin' Earl thing?

Is that some way to make yourself feel intelligent?

I clarified the statement by explaining (as does the site) that the 3rd largest group includes people that are strictly defined atheist but also others who just don't belong to any particular religion - hence are atheist in regards to Christianity or Islam, etc...

You insist on framing the world in VERY SIMPLE terms when the reality is much more fuzzy and complex

Group of people are having a good discussion.  Cuzin' Earl from West Virginia comes to the party and dumbs down the conversation.  You = Cuzin' Earl.   

I'm just an average Joe.  I don't ever try and make myself "feel intelligent."  Too many things happen to humble me to even try something like that.

[Straw Man]

Group of people are having a good discussion.  Cuzin' Earl from West Virginia comes to the party and dumbs down the conversation.  You = Cuzin' Earl.   

I'm just an average Joe.  I don't ever try and make myself "feel intelligent."  Too many things happen to humble me to even try something like that.

Bum, I'm very secure with my own level of intelligence and I'm not from West Virginia although I suspect that the real Cuz'n Earl types in West Virginia are much more likely to sound like you than me.

Seriously though, you really shouldn't be accusing anyone of dumbing down a conversation. 

You are the grand champion of that on this site

[Necrosis]

Bum, I'm very secure with my own level of intelligence and I'm not from West Virginia although I suspect that the real Cuz'n Earl types in West Virginia are much more likely to sound like you than me.

Seriously though, you really shouldn't be accusing anyone of dumbing down a conversation. 

You are the grand champion of that on this site

please increase your iq by 20 points.

i dont beleive in any religion, but i beleive in god.

[Straw Man]

please increase your iq by 20 points.

i dont beleive in any religion, but i beleive in god.

can you flesh out this statement for me please

Are you suggesting that if I believe in a god (which one?) that I will become smarter (by an arbitrary IQ test)

Seriously, I'm just not clear on what point you are trying to make

Maybe we should first agree on a definition for atheist

[Tre]

For the most part, yes.

[Dos Equis]

Bum, I'm very secure with my own level of intelligence and I'm not from West Virginia although I suspect that the real Cuz'n Earl types in West Virginia are much more likely to sound like you than me.

Seriously though, you really shouldn't be accusing anyone of dumbing down a conversation. 

You are the grand champion of that on this site

Whatever you say Cuz.  You're same person who believes anyone who holds a "fundamentalist belief" in a religion is "mentally ill." 

Maybe Jethro Bodine is better?  [I'm humming the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies]

[Colossus_500]

Whatever you say Cuz.  You're same person who believes anyone who holds a "fundamentalist belief" in a religion is "mentally ill." 

Maybe Jethro Bodine is better?  [I'm humming the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies]

haaaaaaaaaaaaa

that's just wrong!   

now i can't get that stupid song out of my head.   

 

[Straw Man]

Whatever you say Cuz.  You're same person who believes anyone who holds a "fundamentalist belief" in a religion is "mentally ill." 

Maybe Jethro Bodine is better?  [I'm humming the theme to the Beverly Hillbillies]

Yes, and I stand by that statement.  Do you think that the people who crashed the planes into the WTC were sane?

[Necrosis]

can you flesh out this statement for me please

Are you suggesting that if I believe in a god (which one?) that I will become smarter (by an arbitrary IQ test)

Seriously, I'm just not clear on what point you are trying to make

Maybe we should first agree on a definition for atheist

no get smarter.

[Necrosis]

Yes, and I stand by that statement.  Do you think that the people who crashed the planes into the WTC were sane?

obviously not, but how can you generalize that to the group?

so if someone is for abortion and strangles babies that makes the pro-abortion beleiving group crazy by association.

you argument is weak as a kitten on valium.

[Straw Man]

obviously not, but how can you generalize that to the group?

so if someone is for abortion and strangles babies that makes the pro-abortion beleiving group crazy by association.

you argument is weak as a kitten on valium.

What I gave you was one example of how people who hold fundamentalist (or extreme beliefs) can be viewed be categorized as being mentally ill.

Here is my entire response to Bum on this same topic (aka fundamentalist belief) in a different thread:

IMO - fundamentalist belief = extreme view contrary to evidence acceptable to the majority of intelligent adults

For example - one can certainly identify with a form of Christian thought (or belief in God, higher power, organizing principle etc..)  without having to believe that the earth is 10,000 years old or that man arrived on earth in his present form 6000 year ago.  Both of those views have nothing to do with a belief in God or the idea that there is an organizing intelligence in the universe/multiverse.  In fact those beliefs (creationist views on age of earth/man) are easily refuted by modern science.  To believe something like that is akin to a mental illness (IMO). 

[Dos Equis]

Yes, and I stand by that statement.  Do you think that the people who crashed the planes into the WTC were sane?

They were sane enough to live in this country as "normal" residents for some time, take flight lessons, and pass themselves off as "normal" passengers.  Were they mentally ill?  I don't know.  

Do you think Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr. Robert Schuler, and Dr. Barry Black (Senate Chaplain) were/are mentally ill?  
http://www.senate.gov/reference/office/chaplain.htm