believe it or not, the inspiration for this blog post comes from an article on cracked.com, entitled 4 things both atheists and believers need to stop saying. the author asserts that Atheists in general have a superiority complex, and think of the Religious as simple minded or stupid.
while it may be true that many or even most Atheists tend to lean towards this stance, i wonder about the validity of the premise - not whether or not Atheists think they are smarter, but whether or not Atheists are smarter. i know that some research has been done on this, but the results are murky and unremarkeable. there have been studies linking high IQ to a disbelief in God http://freethinker.co.uk/features/atheists-are-more-intelligent-tha...), but i take these with a grain of salt. it doesn't prove anything. i think at best all we can do is add up what we know and discuss the information. so what do we know?
1. indoctrination is hard to break out of
or you could use the word brainwashing, no difference. i don't think that it's a coincidence that many people break away from religion as their brain grows. the human brain continues to grow into our 30's. we get smarter, not through accumulation of information, but literally with additional capacity. as we smarten up, the same traditions, ceremonies, and beliefs start to take on a different meaning. most religious people have experienced doubts when they start to question things that they've come to accept as fact. many of these questioners become non-believers as their questions simply grow too large to ignore. however, the great majority seem to brush off their questions and return to blind faith. so, the question is why some, and not others? is this where intelligence comes in?
2. not everyone is smart
visit an amusement park on a hot summer day and you surely know this to be true. about 16% of the general public have IQ's over 115. i don't know where the line between smart and stupid is, but i would think that 115 seems to differentiate the smart with the less intelligent. it's obviously coincidence, but most figures show that about 15% of people are Atheist. but if 84% (or even 60%) of humans are not exactly 'bright', is it that difficult to conclude that they may not have the mental faculties to break free of religious indoctrination?
3. scientists are smart
by their very nature, they kind of have to be. they use complex mathmatical formulas, dig deep into research, understand diverse and difficult concepts, and read ALOT. as the religious love to point out, scientists are overwhelmingly Atheist. the connection is almost too obvious to point out.
4. conversion is a one way street
while it occassionally occurs, an Atheist becoming a Christian is nearly impossible. without knowing every single case where this has happened, it is reasonable to assume that most of this kind of conversion is questionable - did this person REALLY not believe in God? it's also reasonable to assume that many of those who converted to religion did so out of pressure from family and friends. on the other hand, religious devotees are turning to Atheism in droves. thousand of former religious folk leave their religions daily. the reason is obvious - once you break the spell, you can never fall under it's power again. if your mind can be freed from religion, there is simply too much evidence against belief. all it takes are two things: information and critical thought. at some point, all believers are exposed to information that should make them question their belief, but only those who possess critical thinking skills can make the leap.
5. critical thinking is a sign of intelligence
on the surface, i'm sure that most people would agree with that statement, although it is not an outright fact. you can be highly intelligent and not possess critical thinking skills. but i would argue that is the exception, not the rule. it is essential to becoming an Atheist to put aside blide faith and use your faculities to dismiss what you've been taught. this is critical thinking, or problem solving if you like. the problem in question is what to do with the inconsistencies that you encounter when dealing with religion. i maintain that the less intelligent are not as adept at using their problem solving skills, so when they are presented with incongruities in their religion, they shuck it aside to avoid an unpleasant thought process. those who are more comfortable in using critical thinking (the more intelligent) will embrace this dichotomy of thought, research, question more, think more, and ultimately make a rational and logical conclusion. hence, Atheists converting from religion.
6. freethinkers, rationalists, reason
these are the words that describe the Atheist movement. isn't it funny that even the religious describe Atheists using these words? look at those words again - the very definition of intelligence is right there!
i'm sure i'm just scratching the surface here. i'd welcome some additional viewpoints, research, and opinions on this topic. please feel free to share your thoughts.
Where do individual values and preferences come from? Why do people want what they want? What explains the origin of idiosyncratic individual preferences and values?
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