What would cause a highly educated and intelligent person to be religious? Many

1. 83

   gmwilliamsposted 9 years ago

   What would cause a highly educated and intelligent person to be religious?  Many studies have
   
   stated that the more educated and highly intelligent a person is, the less likely he/she will be religious. 
   
   

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   retief2000posted 9 years ago

   There must be a terrible flaw in those studies. Have you ever met a Jesuit priest? I have known many, all with PhDs. The Big Bang Theory was proposed by a Catholic priest. I wonder how all of those Jewish PhDs feel about the validity of these studies.
   
   Considering the first universities were all religious, I wonder if it isn't the contemporary atmosphere of the university that isn't the culprit rather than education, itself.

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      Kiss andTalesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Very interesting about the big bang theory ,as, you have noted ,that still uses the title theory meaning not proven,  also another huber stated that all scientist agree with this and evolution , thank you for proving.
      this starts with human theory.

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      retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      There has been an official Vatican Observatory since the 1780s.

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   connorjposted 9 years ago

   I believe you have been misled; or have over-simplified or perhaps are subject to subtle critical-thinking avoidance. Some of the most intelligent people on earth are indeed religious, although one can also argue that some of the most intelligent people in the world are agnostic or atheistic.
   I would postulate that since our world is mostly secular in nature it is significantly difficult to be openly religious or even defined in anyway to be religious without negative consequences or at minimum not popular. Yet indeed this world is ruled by the secular and I would summize that the truly religious are a relatively minuscule group not unlike the underground during World War II in an occupied territory. Now having texted that, consider If death is not the end, perhaps death is the beginning of a new phase and a mere mystery to have a leap of faith to get beyond...

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      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      John do you believe most (highly educated people) believe the Garden of Eden story or some form of Evolution? Samson killing 1000 men with a donkey jawbone? Adam lived to be 930 years old, Foreign languages exist because of the Tower of  Babel?

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      connorjposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Dashingscorpio,
      With all due respect; your argument may perhaps be flawed in the equating of religion entirely with the bible. Many religious do not propose that their religion is entirely based on the bible (that is a narrow view).

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      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent point John! Generally speaking most discussions on HP concerning religion tend to be based around Christianity. That is also the one I'm most familiar with!

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      connorjposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Are you assuming all Christian faiths' authority is just based on the bible? If you are you may indeed be suffering from a critical thinking flaw referred to over-simplification...

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      retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The largest single Christian church is the Catholic Church. It would be handy if some would acquaint themselves with its comments regarding science before lumping all religious into one pile.

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   Sri Tposted 9 years ago

   
   
   I would bank on there are more educated and successful people who are religious than not. Just in overcoming the battles of internal limitations with faith and to perservere against the people in the world, religion is very often depended upon. You may not see all the yoga classes, churches filled with college grads, bibles and scriptures in purses, wallets and cars, You may not see the prayers, or meditation sessions behind office doors. Religion is like rocket fuel. The higher a person's achievements in life, usually the more universal their outlook. Which has it's bases and strength from religious or moral teachings of some sort.

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   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   Most people were religiously indoctrinated during their early childhood by their parents. Many were in Sunday School before they could read!
   They don't call our early childhood years the "formative years" for nothing. Early teachings and beliefs tend to stay ingrained with people especially if they were constantly reinforced by parents, grandparents, and others. Religion (stays) with most people.
   Lastly a lot of folks find some measure of comfort knowing they can reach out to God for guidance and support during rough times.
   Just about everyone has a story where they prayed and got something they wanted. However these same people have also prayed for things and didn't get them but it does not stop them from believing. It would be interesting percentage wise to know how often people got the things they "wanted" or not after prayer.
   Faith & Logic are unrelated.

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      Lady Guinevereposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      There is a BIG difference betwee Faith as in a religious word and Faith as what Jesus spoke about.  People get that messed up becasue of their indoctrination.

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      dashingscorpioposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree there is some difference. However since the question was asked under a religious category I was talking about the faith one has that God will come through for them in times of trouble or "make a way out of no way" or whatever they ask for

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   Lady Guinevereposted 9 years ago

   Religion and intelligence are two different things.  There are several physician's that I know who are also very religious.  So that would put out that study's theory that intellegent people cannot be religious too.

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   Kiss andTalesposted 9 years ago

   To answer this question ,Mathew 6:19 “Stop storing up for yourselves treasuresa upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,b where neither moth nor rust consumes,c and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
   James 5:3 simply says what can happen if we choose the earthy  treasures over spiritual treasures ,
   there are people that are wealthy in this system of the world today,  but there are people who do not live for something that can be taken away at anytine, your spiritual treasure will be with you into eternity with God .
   and that is the wisdom that preserves it owners life.

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   M. T. Dremerposted 9 years ago

   The rituals and community of religion is something that can easily follow someone into adulthood regardless of their intellect. Even if they didn't believe what the religion was saying, having grown up with those customs, they would likely still continue them out of respect for their family and pure nostalgia. However, I do believe that a great deal of atheists are still in the closet. It's taboo to not be associated with some kind of religion or deity.

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   Karen Ranoniposted 9 years ago

   Because it's brainwashing by parents passed onto children who have been taught not to question religion and to just practice blind faith. IMO

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      connorjposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Is this not in itself a classic over-simplification?

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    daydreamer13posted 9 years ago

    This implies that poorly educated people are the ones who believe in religion. This question could be taken offensively. To answer the question though, I could name many great minds who have religious beliefs. What would cause that to happen would be an understanding and faith in their chosen religion. I suppose you could say the same for the less educated as well.

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    promisemposted 9 years ago

    I know highly educated and intelligent people who are not religious because a) they rely on logic to decide if God exists and b) they don't have the spiritual experience (revelation) that is central to being religious.

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    Stargrrlposted 9 years ago

    What studies?  Can you quote specific sources?  Or are you going by words of your friends?  What makes someone highly intelligent?  By what standards are these people intelligent? 
    
    This is a pretty offensive question. You are implying here that anyone who is religious must be uneducated and stupid.  That is pretty unfair.  I have two degrees, and I have chosen to believe that a God exists, that a God has created me, and loved me, and that does NOT make me less educated than you.

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