On 5/11/2016 11:32 AM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Muggles writes:
On 5/11/2016 3:12 AM, Bod wrote:

One thing that is true about people who have a religious belief system
is that people of all levels of intelligence BELIEVE. How do you explain
that many very smart people still believe in a God?

1) Even smart people, brainwashed from birth into a specific
religion, seldom question their beliefs.

That doesn't explain how smart people still choose to believe in a
greater power.

2) Most smart people are smart only in their specialty.

Not necessarily true. Smart people are often smart in areas indirectly
related to their specialty, or even totally unrelated, such as hobbies,
or outside interests they've chosen to study just out of enjoyment.

3) Most people wish desperately to believe that there will
something after death.

I think that is probably true, but it doesn't explain people who believe
with no other explanation.

4) You can never underestimate peer pressure and the
need to conform.

I agree, but still, many people believe in a higher power despite
extreme consequences for their beliefs.

Pascal's wager comes to mind as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_Wager


I'm sure that can be true for many people, too.

--
Maggie