Ten ways religion makes us dumber

Discussion in 'The Cesspool' started by Magical Realist, Feb 2, 2018.

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  1. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    1. Makes you more accepting of beliefs based on authority than on evidence and logic. "We believe because the Bible says so."

    2. Makes you adverse to science and other fields because their theories conflict with your beliefs.

    3. Keeps you studying one book all your life and so keeps you ignorant about the rest of human knowledge.

    4, Habituates you to believing whatever makes you feel good.

    5. Elevates blind faith to a virtue to be cultivated.

    6. Keeps you from questioning by condemning doubt as a sin.

    7. Surrounds you with like-minded believers where your beliefs will never be challenged.

    8. Lessens one's respect for education and learning new things.

    9. Makes you accepting of illogical and irrational propositions. "God is three persons in one."

    10. Elevates infallibity to a virtue.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2018
    Xelasnave.1947 likes this.
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  3. Vociferous Valued Senior Member

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    Ten ways believing in ufos makes us dumber:

    1. Makes you more accepting of beliefs based on authority than on evidence and logic. "We believe because the Bible [witness] says so."

    2. Makes you adverse to science and other fields because their theories conflict with your beliefs.

    3. Keeps you studying one book [witness accounts and poor quality videos] all your life and so keeps you ignorant about the rest of human knowledge.

    4, Habituates you to believing whatever makes you feel good.

    5. Elevates blind faith to a virtue to be cultivated.

    6. Keeps you from questioning by condemning doubt as a sin [narrow-minded].

    7. Surrounds you with like-minded believers where your beliefs will never be challenged.

    8. Lessens one's respect for education and learning new things.

    9. Makes you accepting of illogical and irrational propositions. "God is three persons in one." ["Airplanes don't do that."]

    10. Elevates infallibity [incredulity] to a virtue.
     
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  5. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    Uncalled for and off topic.
    Perhaps it would be better to discuss the propositions MR presented rather than to attempt an irrelevant side track of what seems a reasonable and cutting observation of the matter.

    On MRs points do you have anything to contribute?

    Alex
     
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  7. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    I've been watching this new poster lately. He/she seems to thrive on conflict and derailing threads and making things personal. Typical troll tactic.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2018
  8. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    Folk who thrive on conflict often suffer from low self esteem and being new perhaps some feel a need to somehow present as tuff and so I suggest we remain compassionate and allow folk to settle in.
    I really liked your post.
    It sums up so many things I feel are appropriate to the problems theists indulge to their detriment.
    Alex
     
  9. Vociferous Valued Senior Member

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    Human ego displays. I don't get it.

    The striking similarity isn't relevant?
    Similarity of religious and non-religious beliefs?
     
  10. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    Perhaps you could show why you consider your contribution relevant.
    The OP is about religion not UFOs.
    Do you reject any of the propositions MR listed.
    Alex
     
  11. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Religion isn't remotely similar to the belief in ufos. There aren't thousands of accounts of God seen in the sky, nor burnt vegetation in fields, nor photos of God, nor radiation burns on skin from being close to God. The ufo phenomenon is entirely based on a large body of evidence, just as all science is. Religion otoh is the antithesis of the evidentiary, brainwashing people from childhood with fuzzy emotions and guilt and fear to take on blind faith things too outlandish to believe otherwise.
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2018
  12. Vociferous Valued Senior Member

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    It's a litmus test. If you reject one, you should reject both. For the same reasons. Lack of compelling evidence.

    There is 80% of the world that believes in god, and millions who say they speak with and see god. There are supposed stigmata, crying statues, burnt toast, clouds, stained linen, miraculous healings, etc.. Many of these are even corroborated by many witnesses, and some supposedly certified by the Vatican.

    Belief is belief.
     
  13. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Name me a few of these "millions" who say they speak with God while seeing him. I've never heard of anyone outside of a psych ward claiming something like that. Perception is perception..
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2018
  14. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    While you are at it why not make a list.
    There are many things one can reject why limit it to UFOs?
    Well be specific.
    Select something so I can analyse the proposition and make a non generalised comment.
    You still side step my request to specifically comment upon any point raised by MR.
    Do you find MRs list so compelling that you avoid selecting just one of his observations to reject.
    Alex
     
  15. Vociferous Valued Senior Member

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    Seemed relevant to the OP poster.
    Not playing your games. You like to change the rules.
     
  16. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    Pity.
    I dont see where I change the rules.
    But take your bat and ball and leave.
    No problems it leaves MRs proposition very much intact.
    Or you could engage MR on a point by point rejection whilst I think of new rule changes.
    Alex
     
  17. Vociferous Valued Senior Member

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    MR's position about religion or ufos?
    All beliefs tend to have their problems, especially when taken to extremes.
     
  18. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    Tell me how the following beliefs "have their problems"..

    O.J. Simpson murdered his wife.

    The universe started with the Big Bang.

    I am a man.

    The sun is hot.

    There are over 7 billion people on this planet.

    Cows give milk.

    The sum of 2 and 3 is 5.

    I could go on and on, but the point is made that when beliefs are true there is no problem with them. And having them certainly doesn't make us dumber like religion does in the 10 ways I listed.
     
  19. Vociferous Valued Senior Member

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    Can verifiable facts be take to extremes?
    Maybe you see the difference?
     
  20. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    They're beliefs nonetheless. So your claim that all beliefs have their problems is demonstrably false, especially when they're verified by evidence like ufos. Try again?
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2018
  21. paddoboy Valued Senior Member

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    Great stuff mate...It's time the hypocrisy that MR reflects is made known.
    Let me present my own list.....

    Ten ways that accepting UFOs as Alien in origin is far dumber then even religious fanatics.
    1.
    Makes you more accepting of beliefs based on hear-say then on hard evidence and logic. "We believe because we like the mystique, and to show them smart arse scientists that they are wrong"

    2. They reject the scientific methodology and applied logic because it conflicts with their beliefs and mystique they like to present.

    3 Keeps you absurdly claiming u tube and blurry photos as evidence and as supporting Alien origin UFOs, while pretending anyone that choses to invoke science is ignorant.

    4, Habituates you to believing whatever makes you feel good and putting religious like faith into u tube hear say, and TV shows such as X-Files..

    5. Elevates their blind faith in dodgy evidence and photographs and TV shows to the religious convictions often shown by religious zealots.

    6. Automatically reject any and all other possibilities if it infringes on your religious like Alien origin UFO beliefs.

    7. Surrounds you with like-minded believers where your beliefs will never be challenged.

    8. Lessens one's respect for education and learning new things.

    9. Makes you accepting of illogical and irrational propositions such as why "The Aliens just keep on keeping on, without any official introduction/s and continued probing, when obviously they in their advance state, would not want of anything.

    10. They, [the believers in Alien origin UFOs] are inevitably drawn to any and all ridiculous pseudoscience such as the Sun does not shine via fusion reactions, Aliens conducting Atomic wars on Mars, beliefs in Bigfoot, ghosts, goblins etc etc etc

    The allowing of such nonsense is why this forum, [as a science forum] is a laughing stock in other quarters.

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  22. Magical Realist Valued Senior Member

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    And thus we have Troll #2 trying to derail this thread by posting off topic. Reported..
     
  23. Vociferous Valued Senior Member

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    Do you not recognize a difference?

    fact
    a thing that is indisputably the case.

    be·lief
    an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.

    You can accept a fact is true, but not all beliefs are indisputable.
     
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