Do you generally view religious people as less intelligent?

[jdgregory84]

For the most part a little bit but people like the king. I think he's a really intelligent guy and it baffles me how he can be so goddamned stupid at the same time. Hallelujah.

[racrguy]

For the most part a little bit but people like the king. I think he's a really intelligent guy and it baffles me how he can be so goddamned stupid at the same time. Hallelujah.

He could just be trolling.

[white trash wagon]

Typically - no. But if your talking about a fundamentalist who says the earth is 6000 year old, dinosaurs never existed, and there is NO evolution.....then yes.

Unfortunately "religion" has a long history of going against science....and science always wins.

[The King]

For the most part a little bit but people like the king. I think he's a really intelligent guy and it baffles me how he can be so goddamned stupid at the same time. Hallelujah.

OMG, poopnut named names!

[94form2000z]

RANT:

I've LITERALLY had people discontinue my services when their campaign has been successful... because they prayed and god wanted them to invest in other methods of growing their business. Believing that you don't control your own destiny is dangerous.. it's not a coincidence that successful people are less religious.

I find from personal exposure that most people who rely on religion and the church are very week minded folks who have to have someone, something, or a group involved with their life decisions.

Take responsibility for your own actions. You are (should be) in control of your life, not your minister, pastor, or flock.

[SS Junk]

It has always been my belief that it is not a Christian's job to convince anyone to become a Christian. That's where a lot of us get into trouble is we get caught up in trying to make someone believe as we do and end up getting lost in our own argument. I have always been open to tell my friends that I am a Christian and that I believe God exists. I tell them of my experiences in why I believe the way I do. It is then their choice as to whether they want to believe it or not. If they don't it's not up to me to try and make them. It has cost me a few friendships. Others respect what I believe and we go on as friends. If they are curious as to how to become a Christian I will tell them how to accept Christ into their life. That's why I don't get involved in the religious forum. Seems everyone is trying to convince the other is wrong. Reminds me of when I was in school and would see students and teachers alike bicker for hours about Bible texts and what it translates to. Ultimately a Christian is supposed to witness to others by example. That is something I always fall short on.

Pretty much this, but a lot of people put god in this little impervious box where logic and reason don't apply, only when I offer situations that are exactly the same but with the removal of god as the source and they stick to the same stance are they permanently labeled as less intelligent.

Huh... go figure. There have been a few times (at least of what I've read) where you've shown your ignorance as to what the Bible states, you've been proven wrong and you tantrum and claim how many ways you can prove yourself right, yet never do even when called on it.

[ceyko]

I'm not dumb, but neither are my atheist friends.

I guess my view is skewed, maybe I should go find dumb friends on both sides.

[white88]

The hardcore religious people I work with are ignorant, hypocrites, and think their shit don't stink. Almost like they were touched by the hand of god himself.

[Frank]

i am abstaining from this poll as well.

You have failed to define "intelligent" and "religious", which can create all sorts of flaws in any results collected.

Intelligent could be interpreted to mean anything between "not stupid" and "genius". Religious could be interpreted to mean anything between "i believe there is a god of some sort" and "i believe and follow all of the doctrine of a specific belief system".

this!

[inline 6]

In my perspective today's organized religion has become one big business. What once had a much more pure and meaningful purpose regardless if there really is a "God" or not has drifted so far from its original intentions that it is hardly recognizable to me. The area is so inundated with churches it is mind boggling. Churches need one thing to make them a successful business and that is your $$$. People these days I believe are much more savvy to just giving their money away and not getting anything "tangible" in return. So I think that it is the people that are a little on the slower side that are being preyed upon by these "business churches" as they are the only ones that can be hooked into and easily brain washed to readily give their money away. I think this is much more of a possibility than the less intelligent just flocking to religion. Some of the dumbest people I have ever met are die hard religious people. On the other hand some of the smarter people I have met are religious. The smart ones are usually in more of a position of power or the pastor themselves and getting their own cut of the loot.

[Sean88gt]

Typically - no. But if your talking about a fundamentalist who says the earth is 6000 year old, dinosaurs never existed, and there is NO evolution.....then yes.

Unfortunately "religion" has a long history of going against science....and science always wins.

There is also a difference between fundamentalist and believers of New Earth Creationism (Those people are batshit crazy).

In my perspective today's organized religion has become one big business. What once had a much more pure and meaningful purpose regardless if there really is a "God" or not has drifted so far from its original intentions that it is hardly recognizable to me. The area is so inundated with churches it is mind boggling. Churches need one thing to make them a successful business and that is your $$$. People these days I believe are much more savvy to just giving their money away and not getting anything "tangible" in return. So I think that it is the people that are a little on the slower side that are being preyed upon by these "business churches" as they are the only ones that can be hooked into and easily brain washed to readily give their money away. I think this is much more of a possibility than the less intelligent just flocking to religion. Some of the dumbest people I have ever met are die hard religious people. On the other hand some of the smarter people I have met are religious. The smart ones are usually in more of a position of power or the pastor themselves and getting their own cut of the loot.

Spend some time in a "business church". There are some highly intelligent people involved that "buy into" the mission. Not saying it is right or wrong, but people do need to be careful, because these churches absolutely corrupt the message for their professions. Want to see how much a mega church believes in what they are selling? See the giving population decrease/cease and watch the CEO from the pulpit start to panic. They don't believe in God anymore than Sean or Eric does, they just parlay the entity for cash and a lifestyle of "IF you do what I say, you can live like I live".

There is also a difference in a person that has faith and someone that is religious.

[racrguy]

Fuck you, Joel Osteen! Evil Sean, those for-profit pastors are the worst kind of scumbag. The TBN also fits here.

[SSMAN]

Religion in moderation is ok, beyond that you are just a nut.

[talisman]

People who belong to Mega-Churches seriously blow my mind. It is like a lifestyle accessory for the materialistic North Dallas crowd that pisses in the face of the teachings of Jesus. How anyone can go to one of those things and feel like they're doing the right thing is completely beyond me. The hypocrisy is frankly disgusting, and those assholes are directly responsible for a lot of prejudices people feel about the Christian religion.

[SS Junk]

While working for Daystar TV I had to turn my back, or turn the volume down while we were in telethon. The used car salespeople they would drag into the studio were beyond ridiculous. One instance that sticks out is people calling in with prayer requests, which were written on pieces of paper. Those papers were then going to be symbolically "burned away from your life to start anew..."
While live the speaker and minions all gathered in the TV station parking lot around a 55 gallon drum which had a couple of burn logs in it. When it was lit there was too much lighter fluid or accelerant of some sort and the flames shot a few feet higher than the barrel. So the speaker and minions started praying and trying to drop these pieces of paper into the barrel. Because of the heat generated the most of the papers just flew away in the breeze into the dark. Of course, TV speaker in his expensive suit, nor the minions went after them and just continued on. Hundreds of calls came in then of people wondering whether or not the paper which did not make it into the barrel was theirs. Call volunteers running around trying to get answers... it was mayhem. I found it rather funny.