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Are religious people really less smart, on average, than atheists?

#31
Magical Realist Online
(Feb 4, 2018 11:42 PM)Leigha Wrote:
(Feb 4, 2018 10:14 PM)Magical Realist Wrote:
Quote:But, that's still your opinion.

It's opinion backed up by evidence. I've posted endless threads of evidence for paranormal phenomena, both here and in Sci Forums. To deny that it is evidence is just delusional. The evidence it there for any to look at. As far as skeptics go, those are just people who haven't examined the evidence. They base their beliefs on what they wish were true, or what they've told each other, that there is no evidence of the paranormal and that the paranormal doesn't exist. It is wishful thinking just like religion.

I don't disagree, I believe in the possibility of the paranormal. But, your argument is the same argument many believers/theists use. Just different beliefs. Not saying you need to believe in something you wholeheartedly don't believe in, but just the argument style is the same. Many people are skeptical over the information you deem as ''evidence,'' in the same way you are skeptical of what perhaps a religious person considers as evidence to support their beliefs.


Really? So are there photos and videos and audio recordings of God? Are there special places where God is regularly seen by people? Does God knock on walls in deserted houses, or appear as orbs in rural cemetaries? Does God tromp around in boots in empty attics? Does God emit electromagnetic fields that can be picked up by K2 meters and on people's skin? Does he leave scratches on the backs of unwary investigators? Does he slam cell doors in old deserted prisons? Does he make the temperature drop when he floats across a room? Will chairs scoot to one side when he walks near them? Will he cause voices and screams to be heard in old empty houses? Does he shoot guns and cannons on old civil war battlefields at 2:00 AM? If he really exists, where is all this objective evidence for him you are talking about? And no, burnt toast in the shape of Jesus won't do. Smile
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#32
Syne Offline
(Feb 5, 2018 12:04 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: Really? So are there photos and videos and audio recordings of God? Are there special places where God is regularly seen by people? Does God knock on walls in deserted houses, or appear as orbs in rural cemetaries? Does God tromp around in boots in empty attics? Does God emit electromagnetic fields that can be picked up by K2 meters and on people's skin? Does he leave scratches on the backs of unwary investigators? Does he slam cell doors in old deserted prisons? Does he make the temperature drop when he floats across a room? Will chairs scoot to one side when he walks near them? Will he cause voices and screams to be heard in old empty houses? Does he shoot guns and cannons on old civil war battlefields at 2:00 AM? If he really exists, where is all this objective evidence for him you are talking about? And no, burnt toast in the shape of Jesus won't do. Smile

It would seem that the saving grace of being religious is that there is no "evidence" they can use to justify a dogmatic incontrovertible truth. Unlike MR.
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#33
Magical Realist Online
(Feb 5, 2018 01:04 AM)Syne Wrote:
(Feb 5, 2018 12:04 AM)Magical Realist Wrote: Really? So are there photos and videos and audio recordings of God? Are there special places where God is regularly seen by people? Does God knock on walls in deserted houses, or appear as orbs in rural cemetaries? Does God tromp around in boots in empty attics? Does God emit electromagnetic fields that can be picked up by K2 meters and on people's skin? Does he leave scratches on the backs of unwary investigators? Does he slam cell doors in old deserted prisons? Does he make the temperature drop when he floats across a room? Will chairs scoot to one side when he walks near them? Will he cause voices and screams to be heard in old empty houses? Does he shoot guns and cannons on old civil war battlefields at 2:00 AM? If he really exists, where is all this objective evidence for him you are talking about? And no, burnt toast in the shape of Jesus won't do. Smile

It would seem that the saving grace of being religious is that there is no "evidence" they can use to justify a dogmatic incontrovertible truth. Unlike MR.

Hence their reliance on blind faith:

An applicant walks up to a church.

Applicant: "I'd like eternal life."

Church: "Great! This is God." pointing to an empty chair.

Applicant: "But I can't see him or hear him or feel him."

Church: "Just have faith in him that he's there. We'll speak for him. If you can do this you'll go to heaven after you die."

Applicant: "Great! Where do I sign up?"
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#34
Syne Offline
At least they can admit some doubt in their beliefs.
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#35
Magical Realist Online
(Feb 5, 2018 04:09 AM)Syne Wrote: At least they can admit some doubt in their beliefs.

I've never heard them admitting to doubt. They are taught from knee high that to doubt is sin and will send you to hell. They're terrified to death of doubting their religion. It's the only scrap of meaning they have and they know it. Or so they have been brainwashed into believing.
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#36
Syne Offline
There is no need of faith without doubt.
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#37
Magical Realist Online
(Feb 5, 2018 05:00 AM)Syne Wrote: There is no need of faith without doubt.


Faith is belief, not doubt.
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#38
Syne Offline
(Feb 5, 2018 05:22 AM)Magical Realist Wrote:
(Feb 5, 2018 05:00 AM)Syne Wrote: There is no need of faith without doubt.


Faith is belief, not doubt.

Try reading that again, oh so obtuse one.

It doesn't say faith is doubt.
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#39
Magical Realist Online
(Feb 5, 2018 06:02 AM)Syne Wrote:
(Feb 5, 2018 05:22 AM)Magical Realist Wrote:
(Feb 5, 2018 05:00 AM)Syne Wrote: There is no need of faith without doubt.


Faith is belief, not doubt.

Try reading that again, oh so obtuse one.

It doesn't say faith is doubt.

Doesn't matter. Faith is belief, which is the absence of doubt.
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#40
Syne Offline
faith - complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

You're conflating definitions. "Complete confidence" is not the same as "strong belief".
Only the first definition is the absence of doubt.
It's the lack of proof in the latter that leads to doubt.

Googling "does faith exist without doubt" will only find atheists claiming it doesn't.
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