Originally Posted by
straitR
Murby
After reading all 9 pages of this thread, and not seeing it mentioned, I felt compelled to say what everyone is thinking, and what you clearly want to hear.
Dude, you're smart, we get it. You argue content or positions that people are making to be alternative to their words. That certain phrasing, words, or points are clearly a sign of this or that, and cannot challenge your position and higher intellect.
I have no doubt you are smarter than me, I am smart enough to know that. I knowingly type this with the full expectation of you picking my words and motives apart like Freud, but I'm ok with that, because God is amazing.
If you want to see smart, go here and see what a PhD is.
http://matt.might.net/articles/phd-school-in-pictures/
I think I'm average..Maybe above, maybe below, who knows. PhD's are smart... That I do know.
It's that same amount of education that contributes to you agreeing with only what you can see, and the "science" you chose to believe. Evolution must be true, because an educated human says so. Who determines who is correct? Who determined the carbon dating method is correct? You're still choosing to believe in someone or something, it's just something other than God.
I think there's a term for this kind of statement.. I'm not sure what it is but the term "circular argument" comes to mind.
How do you know your great, great, great, great, great, great, great-grandfather existed? Where is your physical proof? You're here, so you take it for granted that he existed, that's faith.
That is not faith, that's logic.
I know the sun is going to be there tomorrow. Its not faith, its logic.
Maybe, most believers appear "uneducated", as you put it, because they haven't been educated to the point of feeling smarter, better than, and more superior to everyone around them.
Now that clears up your perspective on this. Let me explain a bit so you don't think I'm some pompous jerk. (Or should I say, "so you STOP thinking I'm some pompous jerk)
One of my friends is a jet engine mechanic. We grew up together and I've known him for 35+ years. He moved away and we just reconnected a while back after not seeing each other for almost 15 of those years. He was one of the most trusted friends I have ever had the privilege of being associated with and I am a bit ashamed I let ourselves drift apart the way we did.
He works on all types of jet engines and he is a specialist. When there's a problem that the normal trouble shooting procedures can't resolve, they send him in. To say he's spent a bit of time in the classroom learning all this stuff is an understatement. I'm an engineer and while I understand the basics of a jet engine, they're way out of my ballpark.
My friend believes in God.. Born, raised, catechism, church every sunday, etc.. hardcore christian.
He also didn't believe in evolution.. Until we reconnected and I set him straight. He still believes in God, but he admits he wasn't aware of the science that has developed. He is/was uneducated in that respect.
You think that I used the word uneducated as a synonym for stupid or idiot. Well, sometimes that might be true.. But its not a rule.
I find that the
majority of people who believe in a god are:
1. Uneducated.. Sometimes they just haven't kept up with the science that could have changed their minds, other times they are just idiots who have fried their brains on drugs or never bothered to read anything.
2. Indoctrinated.. They
might be very educated folks but they were heavily exposed to religion at a very early age when their brains were developing. Their neurons are PHYSICALLY wired to incorporate religion into every aspect of their lives. No amount of education or proof will change the hard-wiring of their brain. You can write all the software you want, but you can't change the way a processor works.
3. Agenda.. Those who don't believe but know that pretending will bring in followers and give them money and power or something else they want.
Hope that clears it up.
Except for my ruggedly handsome good looks
, I do not feel superior to anyone as I have my own list of shortcomings and faults.
That said, if you still think I am somehow superior and smarter than you, than I'm good with that! LOL