Are atheists intellectually superior?

Question

Atheists, in their criticism of all religions - Christianity, Scientology, Buddhism, Judaism, etc. repeatedly ask for concrete evidence to prove the existence of a diety. Does this make atheists intellectually superior?

Answer 1

I have met atheists who are brilliant, just as I have met people who hold religious beliefs who are highly intelligent. I have a very close atheist friend whose IQ is probably off the charts. On the other hand, I just had a conversation with an atheist, whose reasoning and comments revealed him to be...well...an ignoramus (to put it mildly).

I wouldn't generalize either way. There are intelligent individuals who are atheists and theists, and there are those that are less so.

Answer 2

People's intelligence don't come from any type of religion . You learn through out life ...you don't ever stop learning so, whether someone is athiest, Christian , catholic, Baptist ,or anything else , it don't matter. It does not make or break anyone.

Answer 3

My dear Dru, I am a libertarian who gives statists of all stripes a **** time :-D

I believe in liberty, equality, and fairness - so I tend to disagree with my conservative friends on many social issues (I just don't think it's any of the government's business) and on issues reqarding things like race or antisemitism (I am a egalitarian - I hate double standards).

But because I also believe in individual liberty, I disagree with my liberal friends on many fiscal and foriegn policy issues. I don't believe the welfare state has helped anyone (indeed, I think it was designed to trap people).

I try to be fair - like anyone else, I fail at times, but I do try.

Anyway, you seem fairminded also :-D

Peace

Answer 4

Thank you,

:)

Answer 5

Some seem to think they are superior, but few are.

Answer 6

There have been brilliant and downright ignorant people on all sides. It is too difficult to generalize about intelligence based on faith.

Answer 7

I'm an atheist and I readily admit I'm probably a moron. : )

Like most of you, I've met some highly intelligent people from both sides. And more than a few idiots. The main difference I see is that it's not about intellectual capacity as much as self imposed limitations when faith is involved.

"Because: ***" isn't a good enough reason for me. It's just a crutch used to explain things that people are either afraid of finding reasonable and rational explanations for... or they're just unwilling to because blind faith is reason enough.

Islam, for example (before the nutters took over) created the foundation for most mathematics. From decimals and fractions to algebra, geometry and trigonometry. They were the leaders in science at the time as well. A Muslim scientist named Ibn al-Haytham was one of the forefathers of the Scientific Method we still use today. Look up the phrase "golden age of islam" and you'll see that being religious certainly doesn't mean you're not intelligent.

Answer 8

Of course not although my brother seems to think so!

Answer 9

Not at all.

Many are high school drop outs.

Answer 10

If anything it makes them lazy. They can't prove that no *** exists, so they try to shift the burden of proof off onto the other side.

Answer 11

Truly, in a way I envy you. I wish I could believe in a loving *** and an blissful hereafter - but experience and logic won't let me.

Answer 12

The person making the claim has the burden of proof. My lack of belief in your hypothesis does not put the burden of proof onto me.

Answer 13

It proves only that they do not believe.

Answer 14

They don't have anything to believe in, so they attack many things.
That does not make them intellectually superior,only more confused.

Answer 15

Anchorless and drifting.

Answer 16

exactly...and proud of it~

Answer 17

We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll....

Answer 18

well said

Answer 19

I don't think that is a measure of intelligence, perhaps curiosity. I don't really care one way or the other. I believe this topic has pretty much been ran into ground as have most on this site. It all becomes rather repetitious after awhile. (No debate)

Answer 20

Oh, I don't know if it necessary includes ***, but I do believe we go on.

You know MP, I misjudged you. I thought you were a **** **** conservative that gave liberals a bad time. But you are one of the fairest people on **. We need more like you.

Answer 21

Well said. I despise people who try to shove their religion down someone's throat. Actually, I am not a fan of man made religion, but there is a part of me that believes there is something beyond this life.

Answer 22

but they certainly believe that they are!

Answer 23

Too bad for you.

Answer 24

maybe nor superior...but not brainwashed either

Answer 25

That's like saying are all Muslims terrorists or are all Christians based by faith. They are just like everyone else. They just can't accept the existence of any diety without concrete evidence

Answer 26

Individuals who are able to think for themselves are intellectually superior to people who hide behind **** and ‘holy’ books.

Answer 27

https://www.biblegateway.com/...
Isaiah 29: 14
Therefore once more I will astound these people
with wonder upon wonder;
the wisdom of the wise will perish,
the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.

https://www.biblegateway.com/...
1 Corinthians 1: 18, 19
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of ***. For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Answer 28

Answer 29

Be sure to take that with you when you stand before ***.

Answer 30

You’re not scaring me.

Answer 31

however, intelligent people question everything, including their own conclusions. Many believer's make a point of NOT questioning anything, but running off to find proof where there is none. The arguments arrayed against non-believer's has reached the 'hurl insults and denigration' because the proof usually **** in a quote from that which does not prove.

Answer 32

I am open to the possibility - but I am afraid you are right, there will be no proof forthcoming.

It's okay - I have no problem with anyone's faith in whatever *** or religion they like, as long as they keep their hands to themselves....

Actually, I am okay with any opinion (even hateful ones) as long as the holder of said opinion keeps their hands to themselves :-D

Answer 33

As I have said before, and I will say it again,....Nobody Knows! And that includes Atheists.

Answer 34

Nobody knows that father christmas exists either, but we still all ****** that he doesn’t.

Answer 35

I don't equate *** with Santa.

Answer 36

IQ tests have no questions about religion. The Pope is very intelligent and he is one of the most religious man in the world.

Answer 37

The question is can someone distinguish between what they KNOW and what they merely believe....

Answer 38

And since most Science theories have not been proven, nobody can know there for sure either.

Answer 39

Actually, most accepted science has a lot of proof behind it - but the nature of science is that it can always be questioned and current theory superceded by new information.

The problem with many (not all by any means, but many) believers is that they have NO evidence and mistake their beliefs for knowledge.

It's okay to believe in something with no evidence as a matter of personal faith - ****, that's an absolute right but those beliefs are not an excuse to interfere with the peaceful doings of any other person nor are they reason to gain special legal priviledges nor are they the basis for anything other then the religious solace of the believer

Answer 40

I agree with you, but do remember, that if you are looking for proof of ***'s existence, you will be looking for a very long time.

Answer 41

... but it makes them skeptically superior. It would be an interesting study to compare the I.Q.s of fundamentalists to atheists, but until a study is done, i'd ****** that many aspects of thinking contribute to belief in a personal ***, something not found in Buddhism, btw. ("If all the evidence in the universe turns against creationism, I would be the first to admit it, but I would still be a creationist because that is what the Word of *** seems to indicate." Evangelical Kurt Wise, Ph.D. in Geology from Harvard)