What does God do?

[naomi24]

Apparently we can't blame God for the ills of this world and we must be grateful to him for the good in the world- but I don't see him doing anything at all - so what does he actually 'do'?

[Khandro]

// all the studies conducted in this area show conclusively that there is an inverse relationship between having faith and intelligence level.....//
How can this assertion be other than nonsense, when it is demonstrable that the race with the highest proportionate intelligence upholds a faith?

[jomifl]

Khandro, have another look at your argument, it is nonsense. What do you mean by race,? What race do you mean? What proportion of that race have chosen to uphold a faith? Demontrate the demonstrable please.

[Khandro]

Ashkenazi Jews, I can't say what proportion are complete upholders of the faith, but I suspect nearly all of them celebrated Yom Kippur on Wednesday.
Please see my earlier posts.

[LazyGun]

@Khandro - take another look at your last statement and see if you can reason for yourself the major flaw in your thinking.

All the studies relating to religiosity and intelligence have shown an inverse relationship. The higher the intelligence, the less likelihood of having faith.

[kenny1234]

What I have always wondered is this---who was the Anaesthetist when one of Adam's ribs was removed[I rest my case]

[beso]

Many people believe that men having one less rib than women is evidence of the Biblical truth.

Only thing is women actually have the same number of ribs as men.

[Khandro]

LG; If anyone has a major flaw in their thinking, it could perhaps be yourself, - my example involves proportionality; I assume your 'studies' are taken from a random selection of people in a given point in time. What are they by the way?

[modeller]

Hi Naomi I said I would send an update of the lecture I attended entitled
" Is God Good ?"
I won't bore you with the details but sufficient to say the Minister failed answer a single challenging question . He went round and round and round without addressing the question . A bit like the Theist answers we get on ABers. and from many MPs. The other problem was most of the audience were Theists and took everything the minister said at face value.

There were only 3 of us that challenged him and he took so long to answer, the original question was lost in the garbage.

I expect you know this but the Theists dont use the word Atheist they say we are Searchers ( Searching for the Faith ) .

[Khandro]

modeller; Pardon my butting in, but with the certainty of your convictions, why did you attend? Could it be you really are a 'searcher' for something?

[LazyGun]

@Khandro
This is how I understand your post.
1. Ashkenazi Jews are on average smarter than the rest of humanity, adjudged by various selected references you offer.
2. Jews celebrate Yom Kippur.
3. This means that they are religious.
4. Since they are on average smarter than humanity, this means a direct relationship between intelligence and religion - the higher the IQ, the greater the religious belief.

But, the studies show that there tends to be an inverse relationship between IQ and religiosity.

More importantly, its the cultural and familial conditioning that influences belief - far more than an individuals IQ.

Analytical thinking is a hallmark of high intelligence - so it is no surprise that faith fares badly when subjected to critical enquiry.

[Khandro]

LG; your summing up is quite good except for the closing; "the higher the IQ, the greater the religious belief." this I have not said. In reference to the often expressed opinion on here, that those holding any religious conviction are lacking in intellect, and that all religious tracts are nonsense. I simply point to the case of the Ashkenazi Jews - who have gained 29% of all Nobel prizes since 1950 (this despite the holocaust) and yet they represent only 0.25% of humanity, statistics which seem to me to be irresistible.
Perhaps, as you have now reiterated your claim that "the studies show that there tends to be an inverse relationship between IQ and religiosity.", you could reveal your source for this assertion.

[modeller]

khandro #Could it be you really are a 'searcher' for something? #

Yes! Knowledge ! A challenge ! I have also emailed the minister how in opinion he could do better in future.

[modeller]

I should add the minister particularly asked me to go as to use his words
"It's the only way he can get challenging questions ."

[Khandro]

modeller; I see, - he's a friend. It has been said that the friend of a doctor loses his health, the friend of a cleric loses his faith, and the friend of a lawyer loses his fortune. I see your position regarding the 2nd confirms this. ;-)

[jomifl]

Khandro, A couple of points, Ashkenazy Jews are not a race, and your assertions do not stand up to statistical analysis. A small group of people from an intelligent 'superfamily' who were born jewish and are most likely to be jewish by religion just demonstrates that even intelligent people cannot resist peer group presssure and social conditioning.

[naomi24]

Modeller, thanks for getting back to me. A ‘searcher’. I’ve heard this before. What arrogance!! It seems to me these people cannot contemplate life without imagined support – and they erroneously assume that everyone else must be as needy as they are. Personally, I find it insulting.

Khandro, I assume Modeller attended the event for the same reason I read books relating to religion – to learn. I can't speak for him, of course, but for me the more I learn about religion, the more it exposes itself to criticism.

[Jeza]

Going back to the 'What does god do' If he's at a loose end my house needs a good clean so have him sent round.

[Khandro]

jomifl; "Ashkenazy Jews are not a race," - wrong again! , O.E.D. 'Race; A group of persons connected by common descent, posterity, house, tribe, or nation, regarded as of common stock.'
As for the rest of your risible post, that these 'intelligent people cannot resist peer group pressure and social conditioning.' this, even for you is beyond belief.
naomi; I'm pleased that you are continuing your reading of books 'relating to religion in order to learn', I wish you well in this enterprise, though I wont be holding my breath.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //naomi; I'm pleased that you are continuing your reading of books 'relating to religion in order to learn', I wish you well in this enterprise, though I wont be holding my breath. //

Resorting to rudeness - yet again - is no substitute for a sensible response. You make yourself a fool.