Most intelligent people are Atheist.

[AreaCode707]

Excellent thoughtful response from BlueFlamme about the validity of the study. To that I would like to add that one of the very first things you learn in doing statistical analysis is that correlation does not equal causality.

For example, here are some other possible causal explanations (all of which could equally be in error to the OP's causal conclusion)
- Scientists tend to study problems longer before reaching a conclusion, thus many scientists do not profess belief in God until later in life
- Scientists fear confessing a belief in God because it could undermine public acceptance of their work
- People that are religious find members of (currently athiestic) scientific community to be more personally hostile to their beliefs than they are comfortable with, therefore they do not become scientists
- Scientists in the study country are more likely to be atheists but scientists in other countries are as likely or more likely to believe in God
- What if it were truly related to income? Lower income people are statistically more likely to be religious. People in higher income homes are less likely to be religious, and more likely to receive an education that would lead them to become a scientist.

I'm not claiming any of my explanations are the cause, just pointing out that the OP doesn't have a very good grasp on the basics of statistical analysis and his claims are, from a "scientific" viewpoint, very weak.

<--- Religious person who apparently is more scientific than the athiest OP

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: HotChic
Excellent thoughtful response from BlueFlamme about the validity of the study. To that I would like to add that one of the very first things you learn in doing statistical analysis is that correlation does not equal causality.

For example, here are some other possible causal explanations (all of which could equally be in error to the OP's causal conclusion)
- Scientists tend to study problems longer before reaching a conclusion, thus many scientists do not profess belief in God until later in life
- Scientists fear confessing a belief in God because it could undermine public acceptance of their work
- People that are religious find members of (currently athiestic) scientific community to be more personally hostile to their beliefs than they are comfortable with, therefore they do not become scientists
- Scientists in the study country are more likely to be atheists but scientists in other countries are as likely or more likely to believe in God
- What if it were truly related to income? Lower income people are statistically more likely to be religious. People in higher income homes are less likely to be religious, and more likely to receive an education that would lead them to become a scientist.

I'm not claiming any of my explanations are the cause, just pointing out that the OP doesn't have a very good grasp on the basics of statistical analysis and his claims are, from a "scientific" viewpoint, very weak.

<--- Religious person who apparently is more scientific than the athiest OP

Hehe the irony...

 

[rayray2]

Originally posted by: stonecold3169
I'll agree with a previous poster here.

...since modern scientific theory disproves much of the theory of christianity at least...

Do tell what has been disproven.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: shimsham
Text

DANG YOU!!! I nearly got kicked out of the computer lab I laughed so hard when I saw that pic.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: rayray2

Originally posted by: stonecold3169
I'll agree with a previous poster here.

...since modern scientific theory disproves much of the theory of christianity at least...

Do tell what has been disproven.

You can't see it so it doesn't exist naner naner naaaaner. Your momma.

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: DAGTA

Originally posted by: DVK916


Einstein was agnostic at best, and likely was a full atheist.

"God does not play dice."

Yeah, sounds like something an atheist would say...

believe it, he was closer to a deist than actually being religious. u know what they say about atheism, religious folks are atheists towards all other religions and gods except their own.

"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own ? a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotisms."

"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. The religion which based on experience, which refuses dogmatic. If there's any religion that would cope the scientific needs it will be Buddhism."

on there not being a personal god
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/einstein/

futility of prayer
http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/alberteinstein/rel2.html

Quotes does not really prove anything. Ppl's religious view can change over time. I'm a Christian, but if you quote something I said earlier in my life then most definately I'm atheist.

For someone as intelligent as Einstain is, it's really possible that he's more toward an atheist view when he was young and felt like he's so powerful and invincible, but may totally changed when he got old and faced death when he felt how powerless he really was.

Nevertheless, concluding a group of ppl being more intelligent based on their religious view or skin color or race or anything like that is just plain stupid.

 

[tweakmm]

Originally posted by: rayray2

Originally posted by: stonecold3169
I'll agree with a previous poster here.

...since modern scientific theory disproves much of the theory of christianity at least...

Do tell what has been disproven.

I mean, if one wants to talk about the fundamentalists, we can prety much chalk up the whole book of geneis.

Of course, smart christians arn't fundamentalists.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: DAGTA

Originally posted by: DVK916
What is wrong with this topic. I posted a valid study.

Well, one of the first signs that it might not be such a credible website is this sentence:

"Contrary to the notion fostered by so-called 'creation-scientists', Albert Einstein did not believe in a personal god. "


It doesn't take much reading to find out that Einstein did believe in a God. His beliefs may not have matched to any of the large religions, but he was not an Atheist.

It doesn't say he was an atheist, it says he didn't believe in a personal god...the same can be said for deists who comprised a large percentage of our founders. A personal god is a VERY modern thing.

 

[mooncancook]

Originally posted by: JS80

Originally posted by: rayray2

Originally posted by: stonecold3169
I'll agree with a previous poster here.

...since modern scientific theory disproves much of the theory of christianity at least...

Do tell what has been disproven.

You can't see it so it doesn't exist naner naner naaaaner. Your momma.

as far as i know modern scientific theories disproves older scientific theories more than aything else. Note that it's called "theory", which is based on known facts, which is totally limited by how much we know.

 

[AMDZen]

Originally posted by: mooncancook

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: DAGTA

Originally posted by: DVK916


Einstein was agnostic at best, and likely was a full atheist.

"God does not play dice."

Yeah, sounds like something an atheist would say...

believe it, he was closer to a deist than actually being religious. u know what they say about atheism, religious folks are atheists towards all other religions and gods except their own.

"I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation, whose purposes are modeled after our own ? a God, in short, who is but a reflection of human frailty. Neither can I believe that the individual survives the death of his body, although feeble souls harbor such thoughts through fear or ridiculous egotisms."

"The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. The religion which based on experience, which refuses dogmatic. If there's any religion that would cope the scientific needs it will be Buddhism."

on there not being a personal god
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/einstein/

futility of prayer
http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/alberteinstein/rel2.html

Quotes does not really prove anything. Ppl's religious view can change over time. I'm a Christian, but if you quote something I said earlier in my life then most definately I'm atheist.

For someone as intelligent as Einstain is, it's really possible that he's more toward an atheist view when he was young and felt like he's so powerful and invincible, but may totally changed when he got old and faced death when he felt how powerless he really was.

Nevertheless, concluding a group of ppl being more intelligent based on their religious view or skin color or race or anything like that is just plain stupid.

Its kind of funny how your point here only goes further in proving the point the OP was really making. That aetheists only become religious when they're getting older and nearer to death. Making the thought of an afterlife so much more appealing.

Not that I agree with aeitheists - or with the OP, I've already made my thoughts known. Only that its ironic that your entire retort there, simply goes further in proving why it is that most humans want to believe - fear of death

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: PrinceofWands

Originally posted by: DAGTA

Originally posted by: DVK916
What is wrong with this topic. I posted a valid study.

Well, one of the first signs that it might not be such a credible website is this sentence:

"Contrary to the notion fostered by so-called 'creation-scientists', Albert Einstein did not believe in a personal god. "


It doesn't take much reading to find out that Einstein did believe in a God. His beliefs may not have matched to any of the large religions, but he was not an Atheist.

It doesn't say he was an atheist, it says he didn't believe in a personal god...the same can be said for deists who comprised a large percentage of our founders. A personal god is a VERY modern thing.

Yes, but put it into context. That line was written in a 'study' that claimed to support a correlation between Atheism and intelligence. That line about Einstein would not have been added if the author did not believe it supported his/her claim about Atheists. Hence, the author believes Einstein was an Atheist. He was not.

 

[RichardE]

Religious people tend to be ignorant of science, and would rather accept a nice simple answer for everything rather than a real answer.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: RichardE
Religious people tend to be ignorant of science, and would rather accept a nice simple answer for everything rather than a real answer.

Anandtech members tend to generalize, and would rather lump groups of people into nice simple categories rather than accept that those groups are invididuals.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: RichardE
Religious people tend to be ignorant of science, and would rather accept a nice simple answer for everything rather than a real answer.

Anandtech members tend to generalize, and would rather lump groups of people into nice simple categories rather than accept that those groups are invididuals.

Some Anandtech members read studies, which tend to give a overview of a population. I never stated all religious people, there are always exepctions, but yes, Religious people tend to be ignorant of science. The basis of religion is that someone waved a hand and created everything, this sort of shows that religious people accet the easy way out, they have too, it is there religion. So its not a nice simple category, just some factual observations of religion.

 

[Remy XO]

OO REALLLYyyy??????

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: RichardE
Religious people tend to be ignorant of science, and would rather accept a nice simple answer for everything rather than a real answer.

Anandtech members tend to generalize, and would rather lump groups of people into nice simple categories rather than accept that those groups are invididuals.

Some Anandtech members read studies, which tend to give a overview of a population. I never stated all religious people, there are always exepctions, but yes, Religious people tend to be ignorant of science. The basis of religion is that someone waved a hand and created everything, this sort of shows that religious people accet the easy way out, they have too, it is there religion. So its not a nice simple category, just some factual observations of religion.

You're right, you didn't state ALL religious people. I assumed your statement was intended to encompass the very great majority and took exception to that. If you hold a more open view, then I apologize.

You have a few basic assumptions here.
1. That "somebody waved a hand and created everything" is an easy way out. I won't bother arguing with this because you're not likely to change your premise.
2. That the easy way out is necessarily the wrong way. In which case, I'd love to see how you eat your dinner. I mean, putting it in your mouth is the easy way out!
3. That your observations of religious people are accurate and you truly understand what and how they think
4. That your factual observations of religion hold true with all religious people whom you have not observed

 

[BurnItDwn]

There are religious people who are extremely intelligent.
There are atheists who are extremely intelligent.

Weather or not believes in something that can not be proven to exist or to not exist does not dictate their intellect.

I'm an atheist, I don't claim to be a genius, but I know I'm not entirely stupid either.
My sister, who is working on her Thesis for her Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering is religious. She is certainly not at all anything remote to being stupid.

It's my understanding that
A. People who base their beliefs around logical thinking will tend to shy away from religion. (Don't believe in it until after it can be proven, etc)
B. People who base their beliefs around emotional thinking will tend to stay closer to religion. (Don't disbelieve in it until it can be proven not to exist etc)

People's intelligence doesn't necessarely dictate how they base their beliefs, nor does it specificly lead them to certain carreer's, however, generally, those who favor logics, will generally find the sciences more favorible, and those who favor emotions, will generally find the arts to be more favorible.

PS, my apologies for the horrible spelling and bad grammar.

 

[Nebor]

The people who believe a talking man in the sky created the universe aren't the best thinkers the world has ever known? Big suprise.

Religion is marketed to the stupid and weak in spirit, so that's what they get.

 

[Babbles]

As a scientist who has worked with scientists I can tell you that in my personal experience in no way would I say atheism is more prevalent amongst scientists than the general population. In fact some of the most religious people I have met are scientists and engineers. Hell some of the most brilliant scientists of all time were men and women of faith.

It is interesting that as a scientist who knows scientists most of "us" have easily resolved any perceived differences (yes, perceived) between science and religion. It is those people who *think* they are scientific, e.g. most members of ATOT, who seem to place some sort of characterization amongst 'real' scientists, and that characterization being that we (scientists) are more intelligent and/or also typically atheists.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: HotChic

Originally posted by: RichardE
Religious people tend to be ignorant of science, and would rather accept a nice simple answer for everything rather than a real answer.

Anandtech members tend to generalize, and would rather lump groups of people into nice simple categories rather than accept that those groups are invididuals.

Some Anandtech members read studies, which tend to give a overview of a population. I never stated all religious people, there are always exepctions, but yes, Religious people tend to be ignorant of science. The basis of religion is that someone waved a hand and created everything, this sort of shows that religious people accet the easy way out, they have too, it is there religion. So its not a nice simple category, just some factual observations of religion.

You're right, you didn't state ALL religious people. I assumed your statement was intended to encompass the very great majority and took exception to that. If you hold a more open view, then I apologize.

You have a few basic assumptions here.
1. That "somebody waved a hand and created everything" is an easy way out. I won't bother arguing with this because you're not likely to change your premise.
2. That the easy way out is necessarily the wrong way. In which case, I'd love to see how you eat your dinner. I mean, putting it in your mouth is the easy way out!
3. That your observations of religious people are accurate and you truly understand what and how they think
4. That your factual observations of religion hold true with all religious people whom you have not observed

1. Your right..I won't change my mind

2. I had to work for the money to buy the food to put in my mouth

3. I was very protestant at one point, until about a year ago, bible camp, ect ect, Calvary Pentecostal in Lindsay Ontario, Trinity Pentecostal in Oshawa, (than I moved here to London). I have been deeply religious, and seen how religious people think, I still stand by my claim that my made.

4. Ya got me, I don't know everyone, but I know religions, and the major ones all have a base that someone created this. Which goes back to my, this is an easy way out line of thinking.

 

[RichardE]

Originally posted by: Nebor
The people who believe a talking man in the sky created the universe aren't the best thinkers the world has ever known? Big suprise.

Religion is marketed to the stupid and weak in spirit, so that's what they get.

As much as I dislike religion, some of the best/influential phlospheres were religious.

 

[Babbles]

Originally posted by: RichardE

Originally posted by: Nebor
The people who believe a talking man in the sky created the universe aren't the best thinkers the world has ever known? Big suprise.

Religion is marketed to the stupid and weak in spirit, so that's what they get.

As much as I dislike religion, some of the best/influential phlospheres were religious.

You are absolutely correct. Also I usually find it somewhat interesting, and ironically so, that those who proclaim the "stupidity" of religion loudly are usually more close-minded than the religious people they attempt to attack.

Nebor's clueless statement is a clear example of this sort of illogical thinking.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: DVK916

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: DVK916
Guess it hard to talk about this on ATOT since most people here are sky fairy worshipers.

No, it's just that we don't like you. You are a troll...not quite JLGatsby quality yet but I think that's because you are still in HS.

1. I am not a troll
2. I am not in HS


I am an open minded person thus an atheist, who can't stand why close minded people thus theist can't look at things logically and see that god doesn't exist.

With a post like that, you HAVE to be a troll. If you don't consider yourself one, then you are too dumb to realize it.

Sorry.

 

[Agnostos Insania]

Ah ATOT, where the first 20 comments of any potentially controversial thread are "OMG FLAME WAR" or "*gets marshmellows". We just need the "First Post" people and we'd be set.

Anyway, scientists being atheists should be as much common sense as priests being religious.

Originally posted by: Linflas
Actually the last time I bothered to look up the stats on this it was between 50-60% which hardly qualifies as "most".

 

[feelingshorter]

Originally posted by: shimsham
Text

ok i really laughed at that one and not just loled