Not at all. I know many intelligent Christians. As an atheist, I have many beliefs.

I believe in fairness, kindness, honesty, protecting the Earth, clean air and water, women's right to control our bodies, good education, safe housing for the poor, civil rights, gay marriage, helping people in need, etc.

it depends on what it is you believe, how strongly you believe it, how important that belief is to your life, what your evidence is for belief in whatever it is, and why you believe it. belief is a pretty general word, isn't it? it begs the question "belief in what" as well as all i've just said. i totally believe my throat is sore right now. it's not a religious belief but you didn't specify that. (nor does that belief control my lifetime of behavior; it did stop me from going outside today.) you indicated that with your picture but on the other hand your picture appears (by virtue of your words) to indicate that christianity is the only possible belief for a person to hold. that simply isn't true. even religion is not the only possible kind of belief for a person to hold. besides, intelligent people can be brainwashed too.

g

Linus Pauling, one of my atheist heroes who won two Nobel prizes (the peace prize, and one for chemistry), said this when asked what he believed. "I believe that all complicated phenomena can be explained using simpler scientific principles." That quote galvanized my own atheism some 45 years ago, but it is in essence a statement of belief. He was not an unintelligent man. So though I know what you are driving at here, no, I don't think that's universally true.

Not necessarily. There are many intelligent believers. I think anecdotally, non believers feel smarter because they perceive themselves as not being deluded into a modern mythology: but that in itself isn't a sign of higher intelligence. I know a few dumb non believers too. I do think it's easier to see errors in the belief structure, and become atheist as it gets studied. But I think average intelligence would conclude the same when studying Christianity. Problem is, most never study. Smart, dumb or otherwise.

belief lacking proof, yes. belief itself? no.

I think it could go either way. If someone is the "I found Jesus" type, then yes, intelligence gone. However, if you're raised religious, but decide you don't believe it, then your intelligence is just being born.

No. Everything begins with a hypothesis where one makes a conjecture or “what if” proposal. Belief that the conjecture is correct drives new ideas and experimentation. Belief is part of the machinery of exploration. Faith, however, is another matter!

I don't think belief causes loss of intelligence, but I DO think that believers are encouraged to suppress their critical thinking skills. They are encouraged to believe without questioning, and when they DO ask questions, that may be viewed as inappropriate. So maybe it is "learned stupidity," now that I think about it.

Not at all. I have known many intelligent believers. We just don't see religion the same way, but often agree on many other things. I think the Wilson quote is a little bigoted.

When someone says “I think”, are they really saying “I believe”?

Faith, as defined in the biblical book of Hebrews, is belief without evidence. It is seen by religionists as a virtue. However, it is in reality a vice. We must follow facts and evidence if we are to determine what is true and what is false.

Belief isn't even the problem. Justified, substantiated beliefs are fine. It is the unsubstantable beliefs foundational to religion, and their aversion to contravening facts, that are the problem.

Even rubbish beliefs aren't proof of stupidity. They negate intelligence and make people who are capable of far better, act stupid.

No

No

Yes, belief is a VERY poor substitute for knowledge. When you know something, really know it, you do not need to have faith in it.

Randy

Not everyone but many are

Belief, away from religion, can lead to inquiry and finding evidence and truth.

Where a god has been inserted, critical thinking and fact finding is no longer required. So in that sense, belief is the death of intelligence.

Hey, people believed the Cubs would win...

No. In my experience believers are non less intelligent than non believers.

Absolutely true

Indeed!