Atheists are more intelligent than religious people, finds study.

[RobertX]

What do you guys think about "Scientific Creationists," ones who delve in science, but subscribe to the Creation store that God made the world in seven days?

You know, unlike those in either extreme, religious believers can be open-minded. I mean, in Catholic School, I was fortunate enough to learn science and allowed to have my own beliefs in God and science that are different than the others in my class.

[Fant0men]

Atheists have a high suicide rate.

Have you ever been surrounded by fanatics and bullied into following their credo with applied shaming strategies and the whole lot? Can you imagine how that would make you wanna kill yourself?

I get the feeling that suicide rate is higher among intelligent people in general. You don't have to be intelligent to be an atheist, as that too can be a little like a mindless religion of its own, based on science dogmas. But there's a much higher chance that an atheist is relatively intelligent than a religious fundamentalist. At least most of them have made a halfhearted attempt at thinking for themselves, rather than being told what to think by god-fearing middlemen.

If your intelligence is higher than the average, you will go through life feeling utterly alone in this world full of morons. Not to mention you will be shunned from most social groups if you ever decide to open your mouth and break down idiocy using logic and facts. I can totally see how that would make you want to kill yourself.

I'm kind of agnostic about the whole "god" thing. I've gone through various phases in life. I was religious growing up, then I was a hardcore atheist (trying to rid myself of the mind virus that had been installed in my brain)... Then I went deep into the New Age religion (not realizing it was in fact also a religion), Buddhism, Law of Attraction and Gnosticism... Now, I've sort of stabilized on thinking there's more going on here than just matter, but whatever you want to call that "thing" is irrelevant.

You can call it "god", the "aether", or as I call it "universal consciousness". The words themselves are unimportant, but the important thing is what these words point at and describe. It's due to various paranormal experiences I've had, coupled with my many sessions of high doses of psychedelics, that forced me to admit matter isn't the be-all and end-all of existence.

[RobertX]

Forgive me, but I don't see why it's intelligent to commit suicide if you are indeed intelligent.

Human life is a wonderful thing, and you don't extinguish it just because you don't think that there is such a thing as Eternal Damnation after suicide.

I don't believe in religion, but I believe that if you did something wrong and boneheaded like committing suicide, you will have to account for it in the hereafter, by I don't know, Yahweh, God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or anyone that's out there governing it. I even think Chris Benoit would have to account for what he did, not just because he strangled his life partner and took the life of a child, also by taking his own life. However, the actions of the former former wrestler Chris Benoit can be discussed at another thread. Just citing an example.

I'm just saying, just because you're an atheist doesn't mean you're smarter than everyone.

[Fant0men]

Forgive me, but I don't see why it's intelligent to commit suicide if you are indeed intelligent.

Human life is a wonderful thing, and you don't extinguish it just because you don't think that there is such a thing as Eternal Damnation after suicide.

I don't believe in religion, but I believe that if you did something wrong and boneheaded like committing suicide, you will have to account for it in the hereafter, by I don't know, Yahweh, God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or anyone that's out there governing it. I even think Chris Benoit would have to account for what he did, not just because he strangled his life partner and took the life of a child, also by taking his own life. However, the actions of the former former wrestler Chris Benoit can be discussed at another thread. Just citing an example.

I'm just saying, just because you're an atheist doesn't mean you're smarter than everyone.

Dunno if your last line referred to me personally or not, but I'm clearly not an atheist. I don't think you have to account for anything to anyone, but you do get consequences from your actions, as this is a world of cause and effect. I don't think suicide is a wise thing to do, but if you're shunned by society and hated by everyone (because you tell the truth), then I'm sure suicide looks like an attractive option.

Again, I don't think you'll be punished by "god" for it, as "god" knows your suffering and your intentions, having experienced it all through you. But I do think you'll probably have to relive a similar life to the one you just lived, as you failed to learn the lesson and failed to process all of the karma that was meant to be processed in that lifetime.

[LZA]

Forgive me, but I don't see why it's intelligent to commit suicide if you are indeed intelligent.

Human life is a wonderful thing, and you don't extinguish it just because you don't think that there is such a thing as Eternal Damnation after suicide.

I don't believe in religion, but I believe that if you did something wrong and boneheaded like committing suicide, you will have to account for it in the hereafter, by I don't know, Yahweh, God, Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or anyone that's out there governing it. I even think Chris Benoit would have to account for what he did, not just because he strangled his life partner and took the life of a child, also by taking his own life. However, the actions of the former former wrestler Chris Benoit can be discussed at another thread. Just citing an example.

I'm just saying, just because you're an atheist doesn't mean you're smarter than everyone.

MAybe his purpose in death was to bring awareness to CTE so others can learn from it. His spiritual presence was in a nonfunctioning physical body. I assure you, there is no hell for him to burn in, just the source energy to return to. I bet if anything, he is reviewing the rights/wrongs with God, and "regrets" in a spiritual way not trying to mirror the god energy. OR (and this is what I believe), God sent him on this mission.. If anything, to display the evils of life so we can avoid it. Somehow the spirits of the wife and son before birth accepted this as their fate as part of a larger life lesson.

I tried suicide a few times. but knowing what I know now, if gods plan for me is to struggle, so people can see me (even to learn from me how NOT to act) of if I take my negative thoughts and teach people how to overcome them, I can honor the God energy by living through hell on earth and coming out helping others... No all lives have a glitz and glam ending. I may never succeed as far as being rich or accomplishing all my goals... but I was at a level at life before I fell, then I fell low.. But as low as I go is as high as I can climb.

When I was thinking suicide was a good idea I was too into my physical traits... Wife was fighting, job sucked, I was suffering depression... All the goals I had set were met, yet I was unhappy. Spiritually, I should have set new goals and advanced as a being. but the human part kept me down and saying fuck it... It really was when I started the hardcore drugs I learned that my ego/physical self is nothing. I also think the drugs kept me from being able to commit suicide.

I remember in one of my fogs on drugs, I asked why I couldn;t die... KNOWING there is an energy source that I'd be better off in. I heard (or it came to me... whatever you want. I can't explain in words that my physical and spiritual were so different, my soul was lost... and you can't kill what you can;t find...

Take that for BS... whatever, it made sense to me. I was also told (I think I stated it before in another post) that if I keep coming in this way (drugs), I'd eventually lose everything physical over time.. I lost almost everything, and If I didn't stop, i'm sure that would include my physical life.

so before when I was feeling physical depression, It was a way out of a no way out, hopeless situation. During my drug stint, and more importantly (more thoroughly and comprehensively) during sobriety, I realize these are all physical ailments, and we are on a temp journey here. There is no reason to be depressed or upset ovver a shit life spiritually. You are serving God in your way and, hey, reincarnation... a chance to get it different.

having said that, we are not just beings, we are HUMAN beings, and as much as I know this as a personal truth, being in the physical realm and feeling physical feelings that aren't always positive, sometimes that's easy to forget. People who commit suicide aren't stupid or evil, simply lost as their physical presence is so far apart from their spiritual presence, they forget (or don't care) who they really are: the being that makes choices, NOT the result of prior poor choices.

Does that make sense? It's hard to explain drug use if you don't go through it, but 99.999% was confirmed by reading different texts and info, watching videos or others, and even communicating with others here... Jesus, seeing this sober is more powerful than ever seeing it high. Sometimes I'll ask myself something then a song on the radio would help me through... Granted, I know i'm the forum psycho, but I hope some good comes out of the dumb shit I put myself through... I'm more at peace now and I have a cloudier history then when I thought I was unhappy... Some people aren't' lucky enough to not succeed in their suicide attempts.

[ill88eagle]

Discussing suicide in polly's thread seems a bit off, but I'll voice my opinion anyway. I don't believe anybody chose to be born. Most, if not all of us, are the results of horny parents with limited foresight. As such, I believe it's anybody's birth right to opt out of life.

[RobertX]

I've found that when I go to church or a Buddhist temple for shits and giggles, I tend to gather wisdom from what was said to me.

You see, I am not an idolater or a worshipper of graven images, but I think that all religions are akin to each other in that you can split faith, but you can't split wisdom.

Sure you get to learn different tongues and other ways to act ethically, but He made us all and He rewards those who do good, be you a monogamer (one deity), polygamer (two or more deities), or an atheist.

No offence, but I think atheism seems to be self-defeating and self-weakening; the atheists I met in my time have been offensive and mean-spirited. I'm not saying every atheist is like that, but I'd rather spend my life being hopeful and positive than gloomy. I'm not saying that I want to bar myself from the truth, I am saying that if you want to believe something, don't stop believing it. Of course, you need to logically analyse what you are believing in, but after that, you shouldn't let anyone tell you otherwise, like that Kellog's Frosted Flakes commercial.

Damn, I was thinking of something to say, but i forgot about what I was going to say. I guess I'll just stop here for now.

Speaking of politux, I'd say hi to him if it was possible.

[LZA]

I've found that when I go to church or a Buddhist temple for shits and giggles, I tend to gather wisdom from what was said to me.

You see, I am not an idolater or a worshipper of graven images, but I think that all religions are akin to each other in that you can split faith, but you can't split wisdom.

Sure you get to learn different tongues and other ways to act ethically, but He made us all and He rewards those who do good, be you a monogamer (one deity), polygamer (two or more deities), or an atheist.

No offence, but I think atheism seems to be self-defeating and self-weakening; the atheists I met in my time have been offensive and mean-spirited. I'm not saying every atheist is like that, but I'd rather spend my life being hopeful and positive than gloomy. I'm not saying that I want to bar myself from the truth, I am saying that if you want to believe something, don't stop believing it. Of course, you need to logically analyse what you are believing in, but after that, you shouldn't let anyone tell you otherwise, like that Kellog's Frosted Flakes commercial.

Damn, I was thinking of something to say, but i forgot about what I was going to say. I guess I'll just stop here for now.

Speaking of politux, I'd say hi to him if it was possible.

I think of religion this way now...

You see a guy walking down the street. you ask 5 people to describe him

1 He's wearing a black hat
2 he's wearing a white shirt
3 he's tall
4 he's got brown shoes
5 he's got dark hair

That is organized religion... They pick out part of the whole and go with it. Christianity is #1, Muslims, #2, so on and so forth. What most people don't see is that all are correct on their own AND together. Just because you saw the shirt and not the hat, doesn't mean the hat is incorrect or doesn't exist.

People should realize and see all 5, but if they can't oh well.. Atheist didn't see the guy so they say he didn't exist. BUT he didn't exist because the atheist wasn't with the guys who saw him. doesn't mean he doesn't exist...

AND, just because you saw him wearing one thing, doesn't mean you are 100% right.. tomorrow, the white shirt maybe a blue shirt and he may not be wearing a hat. not wearing a hat, you may see his hair is more brown or blonde than black...OR, the guy may have dyed it a different color.

So what one may know may not be correct forever, and it certainly isn't all of it (no one can tell if he wore boxers, briefs, or anything at all), so it's impossible to know it as a whole for sure since from our perspectives, we can't see everything.

Communcation also comes in all sorts of ways. phone, face to face, text, TV, etc.. You can communicate with Politux and say hi, but he can't communicate back using usual ways. but He can communicate... Listen to the radio for a song, maybe the TV commercial will be a linux commercial or something else that will remind you oof him... Or, go outside, and notice the breeze hitting you or the trees swaying in a way where you think, this is not random.. Communication is not just how to talk, but more importantly, how to LISTEN

[RobertX]

Wow, LZA, that was a great post, it's not something I would be able to say.

Thanks for sharing that!

[hawkman]

I don't think a study was even needed, it seems obvious to me. Do you believe magic is real or an illusion? Common sense should tell you it's an illusion made up by man, same as religion. If there is some all mighty creator out there I highly doubt it would want us killing each other in it's name to make the other guy worship or think the way you do. And yet.........