Why Are Atheists Generally Smarter Than Religious People?

[Mika]

I'm sorry, but I don't accept the premise that religious people expect their Deity to solve their problems.  

I'm sure you've heard the phrase 'God helps those who help themselves.'  To my knowledge, no devout Christian would have the nerve to ask God to solve their problems for them.  Most of the prayers of people in need start with the phrase, 'God, give me strength to persevere...' or something similar.  

And no, I am not equating prayer with alcohol.   

Just to be clear, we aren't only talking about Christians, right?  We're talking about 'religious people.'  I highly doubt that farmers across the world, of any faith, who experience drought or floods stop tending their crops and hope for 'miracle wheat' to pop up in their fields.  They go about their farming and pray for better weather.  In Hinduism, there are specific ways and rituals meant to clear yr mind, remove doubt and fear, center yr heart... so that you can figure out the solution in an intelligent and rational way, free of fear and doubt.  Does imagining a globe of light inside you absorbing all yr worries of failure so that you have the peace of mind to solve yr problem work?  I don't know.  But seeking the peace of mind to solve yr own problems is not the same thing as expecting a deity to do so.    

I respect Atheism, it's as valid as any other faith, but this particular argument always comes down to suppositions.  Atheists are generally more intelligent than religious people.  Religious people expect their deity to solve their problems for them.  Cools.  Show me the data.  Convince me that is the case.  Anyone who knows me, knows I'll listen with an open mind...

8 )

[KaelisRa]

Here's an interesting video on how, at least, one religious person sees prayer. I assume there is at least some general consensus on how prayer is perceived, amongst the religious.

[Vultyrex]

I'm sorry, but I don't accept the premise that religious people expect their Deity to solve their problems.  

I beg to differ. I have met tons of religious people who expect a higher power to handle problems that pertain to them. Just because you don't accept it doesn't mean they don't. In my 33 years of being on this planet, this still bewilders my mind on how some intelligent people would even resort to this.

[KaelisRa]

That you've met a collection of people, who consider prayer and higher powers to deal with their issues, doesn't mean that the majority of religious people act that way. It also doesn't mean that this is actually how prayer works. You should watch the video above. He explains the general idea of what prayer does, based on the standard teaching of what it means when you pray, in the Jewish faith.

[Vultyrex]

I'll have to watch it when I'm not at work.

That you've met a collection of people, who consider prayer and higher powers to deal with their issues, doesn't mean that the majority of religious people act that way.

In my personal experience and going into churches and watching this exact thing unfold before my very eyes, I tend to believe as a whole what I see personally. You cannot get this kind of information from from a simple YouTube video until you experience it for yourself.