Christians Please Explain This

[edswarnok]

I live in the United States, and I was wondering why is it that the most illiterate parts of the country also have the greatest number of religious people? Is it because they are ignorant sheep? Also, how come there are so many religious Americans who supported the war in Iraq, aren't Christians supposed to denounce war and the killing of people, or are they just a bunch of hypocrites? Is this all just coincidence?

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1010-02.htm

[MaximiIian]

Not a Christian here, but I can give some answer to your question:

It's mostly coincidence. The most illiterate parts of the country are rural areas, which have fewer, and less well-funded, schooling systems. Rural areas also happen to be more traditional, and with that, generally more religious in the traditional sense. Now, traditionalism and ignorance might feed each other sometimes; but they are largely separate phenomena that happen to coexist due to the geographic and demographic situation. Remember, correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

[Torment]

Not a Christian here, but I can give some answer to your question:

It's mostly coincidence. The most illiterate parts of the country are rural areas, which have fewer, and less well-funded, schooling systems. Rural areas also happen to be more traditional, and with that, generally more religious in the traditional sense. Now, traditionalism and ignorance might feed each other sometimes; but they are largely separate phenomena that happen to coexist due to the geographic and demographic situation. Remember, correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

Crap. Correlation always implies causation, it just doesn't mean it.

Anyway, I could tell you this the fancy way, but I'll just keep it simple. In civilized parts of the world, people get schooled in things that have been scientifically and empirically varified. This means these people tend to become intelligent people who raise their children intelligently so that they may also one day become intelligent people. It's no wonder that in these parts of the world most of the progress in human understanding of things is done.

On the flipside of that coin you have Jesusland. Here, people get told that the Bible, the Quran or another collection of Bronze Age bedtime stories contains all the truths men could possible want, so instead of actually paying attention at school and reading a book once or twice, people go about playing banjo and chewing tobacco all day, and when someone asks these people questions they have no answers for, they simply say "God dun' it" and continue with their day. So it's no surprise these people end up with the intellectual capacities of a handicapped chipmunk.

Essentially, religion is just the greatest intellectual demotivator out there. Why go out there and look for actual answers when you have a book right at home which contains all the answers?

[Delta228]

Crap. Correlation always implies causation, it just doesn't mean it.

Anyway, I could tell you this the fancy way, but I'll just keep it simple. In civilized parts of the world, people get schooled in things that have been scientifically and empirically varified. This means these people tend to become intelligent people who raise their children intelligently so that they may also one day become intelligent people. It's no wonder that in these parts of the world most of the progress in human understanding of things is done.

On the flipside of that coin you have Jesusland. Here, people get told that the Bible, the Quran or another collection of Bronze Age bedtime stories contains all the truths men could possible want, so instead of actually paying attention at school and reading a book once or twice, people go about playing banjo and chewing tobacco all day, and when someone asks these people questions they have no answers for, they simply say "God dun' it" and continue with their day. So it's no surprise these people end up with the intellectual capacities of a handicapped chipmunk.

Essentially, religion is just the greatest intellectual demotivator out there. Why go out there and look for actual answers when you have a book right at home which contains all the answers?

Epic

A bit over the top and excessive, but epic.

[jankren]

Not a Christian here, but I can give some answer to your question:

It's mostly coincidence. The most illiterate parts of the country are rural areas, which have fewer, and less well-funded, schooling systems. Rural areas also happen to be more traditional, and with that, generally more religious in the traditional sense. Now, traditionalism and ignorance might feed each other sometimes; but they are largely separate phenomena that happen to coexist due to the geographic and demographic situation. Remember, correlation does not necessarily imply causation.

Yeah coz once they get higher level of education they stop believing in imaginary friends.

[Machiavelli25]

Yeah coz once they get higher level of education they stop believing in imaginary friends.

Actually i disagree.

I've noticed that people tend to simply adapt the popular beliefs of those around them. Due to culture, once someone reaches a higher education level they may find themselves surrounded by atheists, and that gradually turns them into one as well.

Its the same for a non-religious person who spends a great deal of time around religious people.

Urban areas tend to be less religious than rural areas, for whatever reason. People adapt to the norm.

[MaximiIian]

Yeah coz once they get higher level of education they stop believing in imaginary friends.

Not really. As the above person said, it's more of the person adapting to local societal norms. Urban areas tend to be have more irreligious or loosely religious people, and often more people describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious". This is probably due to the fast pace of city life, which leaves one with little time to actively and regularly practise a religion, but certainly enough time to contemplate beliefs and spirituality.
Cities tend to have more, and better, educational facilities and institutions; so, city people tend to be better-educated. The lack of obvious religiosity and the higher education rates are both incidental of city life, but are otherwise unrelated phenomena.

[Del Valle]

Also, how come there are so many religious Americans who supported the war in Iraq, aren't Christians supposed to denounce war and the killing of people, or are they just a bunch of hypocrites? http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1010-02.htm

Some christian beliefs have completely fallen by the wayside, with the emphasis on nonviolence being the largest one. It's a great pity.

[LegionnaireX]

Non-violence hasn't been part of Christianity since the Roman Empire took over the faith.

[nce_wht_guy]

Non-violence hasn't been part of Christianity since the Roman Empire took over the faith.

No, it's always been pretty violent.

[Gauvin]

No, it's always been pretty violent.

It was pacifistic for the first 300 years, provide evidence to the contrary, take note of the number of martyrs during this period, and take note of how many of those were martyred in combat.

Consider the Quakers, Amish, and certain monastic orders, as well.

American quakers have always been anti-war, they were against fighting the Nazis too.

It's better there aren't more honest American Christians, we'd all be at the mercy of fascists, and communists

[nce_wht_guy]

It was pacifistic for the first 300 years,

Mostly, as far as we know. But it was also an insignificantly small cult.

provide evidence to the contrary,

Well if there's any truth to the hagiography St. Nicholas was quite fond of mob violence. Actually, christian street violence seems common place by the end of the third century. Though this obviously resulted in violent backlash.

take note of the number of martyrs during this period, and take note of how many of those were martyred in combat.

See above.

Consider the Quakers, Amish,

And think about what more mainstream "orthodox" christians have done to them.

and certain monastic orders, as well.

And consider all the millitant orders too.

It's better there aren't more honest American Christians, we'd all be at the mercy of fascists, and communists

No kidding...

[LegionnaireX]

No, it's always been pretty violent.

No. Christians were to busy being executed by the Roman Empire to get violent.

[nce_wht_guy]

No. Christians were to busy being executed by the Roman Empire to get violent.

Did you ever think about why?

[Carpathian Wolf]

I live in the United States, and I was wondering why is it that the most illiterate parts of the country also have the greatest number of religious people? Is it because they are ignorant sheep? Also, how come there are so many religious Americans who supported the war in Iraq, aren't Christians supposed to denounce war and the killing of people, or are they just a bunch of hypocrites? Is this all just coincidence?

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1010-02.htm

That's why.

[Каие]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religio...d_intelligence

[Hippolord]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religio...d_intelligence

Seems to be no real connection between the 2, as religous countries seem to cover the whole spectrum of intellignece, as with non-religous countries...

Edit: A Religous country (With over 50% Believing in god), holds the highest level of intelligence, and the lowest...

[Gromovnik]

I live in the United States, and I was wondering why is it that the most illiterate parts of the country also have the greatest number of religious people? Is it because they are ignorant sheep? Also, how come there are so many religious Americans who supported the war in Iraq, aren't Christians supposed to denounce war and the killing of people, or are they just a bunch of hypocrites? Is this all just coincidence?

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/1010-02.htm

maybe you should ask mom & dad...

[edswarnok]

based from evidence though there seems to be a direct correlation between lower IQ and strong religious belief, i don't think it's just a coincidence and believe me its not just in the US my family is from ukraine and Russia and the most dim witted people in my family seem to be the most religious. I personally think that to believe in this entity that rules everything and created everything and to eat his son's skin and blood is just plain silly, more suited for dull people...

[Del Valle]

based from evidence though there seems to be a direct correlation between lower IQ and strong religious belief, i don't think it's just a coincidence and believe me its not just in the US my family is from ukraine and Russia and the most dim witted people in my family seem to be the most religious. I personally think that to believe in this entity that rules everything and created everything and to eat his son's skin and blood is just plain silly, more suited for dull people...

That's retarded. I'm very spiritual, go to church, and pray, yet I easily top everyone in school tests on science, mathematics, and language arts. And I'm willing to bet that their are plenty of people like me in the six billion or so who populate our planet. Never make such broad generalizations, for they are always wrong.