Comparing religiousosity vs. IQ is an invalid comparison. You have to look no further than IQ scores of faith based educational programs (including home-schooling). Also the fact that IQ tests have been proven to be biased against lower-income families must be taken into consideration. The poverty-stricken do have a tendency to rely on God more, and themselves less. (This tends to happen when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from).
You thought I was a fundamentalist, why, was it because you had a stereotypical understanding of Christians as per the media? And don’t say that I’ve judged or was bigoted for that matter towards atheists as I’ve only demonstrated that as an atheist (like other atheists) you do see the world in a manner different than a theist. The material world is all that there is for atheists whereas we theists believe there is more, can you now understand why we would differ dramatically in regards to our views? And yet you wish to deny this? It makes no sense to claim that all atheism is is a rejection of our claims about God, atheism is a lot more than just a rejection, it permeates all areas of life (science, philosophy, morality . . . just like theism does). God bless.
But belief turns into knowledge of God, that is why a relationship with the Lord can affect such positive changes in a person. If God did not exist, then why have/were so many of the best people in the world saints. Have you read what these holy people have done for our society, for the good of the world, for the love of God and neighbor? Only a real and infinite God could have made their lives what they were. Saints indicate the presence of God amongst us.
I understand why you feel as you do, but belief and knowledge are not mutually exclusive, for if what I felt and known through my (tangible) experiences with God were false than everything else is false as well (because nothing would make sense to me anymore).
Knowledge cannot contradict itself, there is either a God or there isn’t? As to who has the right understanding of what and who God is is another matter altogether, one that can only be discovered through a complete emersion of oneself in the quest for truth. Faith and reason are both essential to one’s knowledge and understanding of the world.
But neither is your belief that I’m incorrect.
I though you were a fundamentalist because of some of your views. Like towards homosexuals, that was what i was referring to when i said discrimination.
I guess I haven’t found out about it yet … but if I get banned for saying what I think then so be it (I didn’t expect this place to be the bastion of enlightenment ideals
)Dear friend,
This remains the most profound evidence of a loving God’s existence-changed lives! May He continue to bless you and your family abundantly.Check your facts again, friend. There* is* a difference between facts and wishful thinking!
Show me a scientist turned atheist, and I’ll show you 100 scientists turned to God.
The most brilliant human beings that have ever lived have left a legacy of religiosity. Yet the most “simple” and pure of heart, are considered to be those “who will inherit the Earth…” (Sermon on the Mount) Among the many factors which influence IQ and religion, you are so wise in pointing out the most important one-raising our children with faith, hope and love. Peace to you.
According to you, and how* you must measure happiness* and* productivity*.
Peace be with you.This reminds me of something C.S. Lewis wrote in his spiritual autobiography Surprised by Joy. He said something to the effect that a person who wishes to remain a solid atheist can’t be too careful in what he reads.According to you, and how* you must measure happiness* and* productivity*.
Btw, if you’re hanging around so many “happy and productive” atheists, don’t be surprised if your*** “in between faiths”*** status, is compromised just a bit.
of course according to me, just like according to the OP atheists are unhappy…
The fundamentalism your friend got involved with is a distorted version of Christianity. Catholics (at least, those who really know the faith) do not see life as “something to be suffered through.” The Catholic writer Hilaire Belloc expressed it best:
Maybe to you, i only the other hand have no time for faith. For i care that my beliefs are true.
Remember there are two options available to us, either God exists or he doesn’t, my experiences tell me He does. I can’t prove it to you like I could something mathematical but I know in the most elemental part of me that He exists. I understand that it’s not a knowledge that I can share with others but it is a personal knowledge of which I can’t ignore.
Most saints who are holy are able to perform miracles and these miracles can be verified by eye witness accounts. There is Lourdes for example wherein 66 miracles (under extreme and rigorous study put forth before a panel of international medical doctors of all ilks) or has they put unexplainable phenomena that attests to the presence of God.
But I can substantiate it and so can others; there have been many supernatural experiences that cannot be explained by science. And these events are necessary to our understanding of life the divine or life after death. I think in my opinion you have a narrow scope of what constitutes knowledge. Some of the best thinkers were not necessarily scientists, that should give you some food for thought.
The only way that you can say faith is contradictory to knowledge is if you somehow absolutely knew that God didn’t exist, but you don’t, you can’t know, therefore how can you say with assurety that I’m wrong in believing in God, in having faith and knowledge of him?
You said that you believed I was wrong, well, that belief is not knowledge as you have no real way of knowing God doesn’t exist.