Atheists And Christians Community Blog - Latest Comments in Christians are not stupid

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:44:56 -0000

Heh! Indeed! ;-)

Re: Christians are not stupid

boomSLANG — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:38:47 -0000

"...at least I like to think that adults would be better behaved and have better grammar"

1 for 2, not bad ; )

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:58:15 -0000

I see plenty of that from atheists too. I think a lot of the people that post like that are kids, at least I like to think that adults would be better behaved and have better grammar. ;-)

Re: Christians are not stupid

boomSLANG — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:42:25 -0000

I think there are intelligent and not-so-intelligent people of every religious/non-religious persuasion. I certainly don't think all Christians, or all Mormons, etc., are stupid. However, I do think, based on my travels around the net, that most superstitious people show a lack of education, at least, grammatically. For example, I see way more of this type of writing style.... "ur gonna pay the price if u dont except [insert deity]!", from superstitious folk, than I do from non-superstitious folk. And I'm sorry, but I don't think it's coincidence, either.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:40:10 -0000

That's exactly why this blog is here. :-)

Re: Christians are not stupid

David — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:06:59 -0000

Well as you know mike, I am a Christian. For me this means that God desires reconciliation with His creation. This also links to why I have chosen missions as my life work. I believe I have been reconciled through Christ and now I want to help others do the same.

There is a void in all people. Anybody who doesn't believe this has never been to a mall. Some fill that void with religion, others with chocolate cake. Still others are interested in being reconciled to God... while not avoiding the cake :)

I know there is a mixed crowd here so I don't mind if the crowd disagrees.

Thanks for letting all of us throw our two cents in.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:51:19 -0000

I wouldn't say it is a need for religion, rather a need for something to focus on. Religion can help some to bring order to their lives because it a system of practices that lead to behavior change. At the risk of sounding offensive, religion is sort of like Dumbo's magic feather. It allows people to do what they could already do on their own, but with a placebo seeming to help them.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Cyberkitten — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:42:48 -0000

I don't think that we have a *need* for religion. I does appear that religion fills some kind of need in (most) peoples lives - but that need (if such a thing actually exists) doesn't necessarily have to be filled by religion. Religion, I think, just got lucky because it got there first. If the need could be filled by something else - something superior to religion - then religion could (at least theoretically) dwindle down to nothing. I certainly don't think that religion is in any way an inevitable response to the universe.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:10:18 -0000

Well said. Thanks!

Re: Christians are not stupid

faster — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 18:24:35 -0000

Unfortunately, our species falls all too easily into "either/or" mode. Religion is only one of many of its manifestations. In fact religions came into BEING because they could utilize that very trait in people.

Religon IS an either/or thing, but fortunately many religious groups do not dwell maliciously on how "damned" the people are that don't share their views. It is only when religion gets free enough to start considering imposing its values politically that it becomes truly odious. It's one thing to think your own religion is "the one and only true faith;" another entirely to ACT on it.

Although no religion has yet been able to claim it actually makes people "better" people, in some instances, it really HAS done so. Not many, but some. As a sociological institution, however, religion has failed miserably in its purpose of civilizing us.

But it is just as wrong for an atheist to get righteous and nasty about those who still have a religion, as it is for religious people to get righteous and nasty about them.

We can't eliminate religion, even though we now know that it can, in the right circumstances, be a monster, one of the worst possible threats to humanity. Because, first of all, people will NEVER give up their faith, and the more force used against them, the more pious they become. Religon is a reality. We must accept it. We should not harangue people with a faith, because it is unfair to do so. Humanity seems to have a NEED for religion. Maybe that is tapering off, but maybe it isn't.

What matters is that this NEED must be given its outlet. Therefore, religious liberty is an absolute MUST. Going with it, the public must recognize everyone's right to believe (or not) as they choose, and WITHOUT chewing on people different from oneself.

As an atheist, I sneer at other atheists who indulge in vitriolic condemnations of people of faith. It's one thing to chew on their religions; another to chew on THEM.

As long as the religion chosen is not terroristic or absolutist/fanatic and trying to take over the country, religion should be allowed to exist in its proper three places: the heart, the home and the house of worship. It should not be attacked and denigrated, but respected.

Intolerance of different beliefs is at the heart of every religion, but many have managed to grasp that others CAN, in good faith, have other belief systems, and that it doesn't necessarily turn them into devils.

I have MANY choice words to say about Christianity - both as it was originally and how it is today. But those Christians who have faith in it are "off limits" for haranguing. Unless they are terrorists, or trying to take over America, that is. THEIR faith is THEIR business, period.

THAT is what religious liberty is all about. It isn't about tolerance for one's own faith, but for ALL faiths, no matter how you may dislike one of them, or all of them for that matter. A person has a right to have his/her religious beliefs respected. But that does not include tolerance if THEY become abusive or political with their religion. THAT merits all kinds of criticism.

This is not such a difficult concept. Why is it, then, that so many people (including atheists and agnostics) fail to grasp it?

In a real democracy, the right to believe as one chooses is absolute. That means we don't have a right to tell them they shouldn't.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:49:06 -0000

Welcome FrScott! Thanks!

Re: Christians are not stupid

FrScott — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:47:45 -0000

Hi Mike,

I'm a new arrival. I think we "met" over a couple of birds at another site. I'll be back, and I'm going to put you on my blog list.

Thanks...

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:20:26 -0000

That's just fine with me! :-)

Re: Christians are not stupid

David — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:18:35 -0000

Mike,

A while back I mentioned having you as a guest poster. If you wouldn't mind I was wondering if I could use this post as the 1st guest poster? If so I might wait until tomorrow night or even Sunday to put it up. I want to wait until the other post die down a bit. Would this be okay?

Re: Christians are not stupid

Layla — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:36:10 -0000

I love this post. I just added this blog to a top link list on my blog hoping that both my atheist and christian friends will check it out.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:34:37 -0000

Are you referring to the commenters at Debunking Christianity? If they are atheists faking being Christians then they are pretty consistent. I've had some discussions with several of them outside that blog.

I'd never heard about the Holding incident until recently. If it happened the way I've heard it told, it was a stupid thing to do. I can't help but wonder how these Christians would have responded if it was one of their own.

The internet never forgets what we do does it? ;-)

Re: Christians are not stupid

Madison — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:06:16 -0000

Very insightful post. But my own suspicion is that many of the moronic posts at Debunking Christianity and the like may in fact be made by atheists.

I hate to say it, but its a real possibility. After all, we know Mr. Loftus set up a fake blog about J.P. Holding, Now, Holding probably deserved it, but that really damaged John's credibility.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:16:26 -0000

For some folks, Christianity just works for them, it did for me for years. Hindsight being 20/20 I can now see that it kept me focused on bettering myself and helped me to love others. Those are things I hold on to, and perhaps would have found them in other ways if I wasn't a Christian. I think a lot of it depends on the kind of person you are. I remember a Bill Cosby bit about cocaine. An advocate of cocaine was telling Bill how great it was and that it magnified your personality. Bill said "But what if you're an asshole?"

Re: Christians are not stupid

LuckyCurse — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:01:47 -0000

"What is stupid about religion?"
It is a zero proof endeavor which wastes time and energy and blinds the mind to reality.
"But Christianity is not wrong, it's the truth."
That would depend on your definition of wrong and truth. Some Christians would argue it is not wrong by the merits of the good it has done by its works. Others might attempt to argue that it is not wrong because they believe in the supernatural and give credit for such events to Christianity and not some other form of religion (or share credit, allowing for all, or some, religions to be right). Others believe it is not wrong because natural science can not explain (yet) certain events such as the origin of the matter of the universe, and therefore give credit to the supernatural by default. Again, it depends on your definition of 'wrong'. As for truth, it is not that rare mathematical Truth, but it is that not-so-rare version in which it is true to an individual or a group. Again, something can be true to one individual, but not so to others. Small 't' versus Big 'T'. Big difference.
As to the OP, I do not feel that a person is stupid for embracing a religion, but they definitely have moments in which they kick their mind into neutral when considering religion. I often wonder if it is fear that causes the brain to let go of reason and grab hold of something with zero proof.
- LC

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:47:37 -0000

All religion is not stupid, but even you, Metacrock, would admit that some of the beliefs held by people could be perceived as stupid. I don't like calling anyone's sincere beliefs stupid, but there are some that I would say are extremely far fetched.

I've read incredibly brilliant things that were pure fiction, even theological concepts in a fictional setting.

I would probably rephrase what Linda said like so "...it is difficult for a lot of atheists to differentiate between someone being a stupid person and holding what they perceive as a stupid idea.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Metacrock — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:20:19 -0000

what is stupid about religion? that's a crazy attitude. I appreciate the thought that Christians are not stupid but I am just as angry about the idea that religion has to be stupid just because you don't accept it. Steady state theory wasn't stupid, just becasue it might be wrong doesn't make it stupid. But Christianity is not wrong, it's the truth.

you are wrong.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:14:14 -0000

Indeed! ;-)

Re: Christians are not stupid

Cyberkitten — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:12:18 -0000

The brain works in mysterious ways [grin]

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:43:27 -0000

Thanks Karla,

Speaking disrespectfully to anyone serves no purpose. It saddens me as well.

Re: Christians are not stupid

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:41:03 -0000

My brain totally read it as Karla anyway. I didn't even notice the typo till you pointed it out. ;-)