Finding Out [Whoever] Believes in God

[HappyHumanist]

When you find out that someone you admire and respect -- someone who is very intelligent and otherwise full of common sense -- believes in god, does your opinion of him/her take a nosedive?

I do understand why people who have been indoctrinated since birth and surrounded/brainwashed their whole life by family, friends, authority figures and "millions of faithful" would tend to just accept what they've been told as gospel (cough)... but I'm still shocked and disappointed to discover so many otherwise smart people can't eventually overcome all that as they grow up, and instead continue to believe in an all-knowing all-powerful magical invisible superhero who chooses to not help anyone.

To me, it's like they believe in Harvey, the giant invisible rabbit. (One of my favorite flicks, btw... and yes, I know this hints at my age. Just between you and me, I'd take Harvey over Yahweh in a second!)

[The Grand Nudger]

Depends on the god being invoked. Harvey the Invisible Rabbit is a shoe-in compared to some of the helpful little werewolves people believe in.

[5thHorseman]

When you find out that someone you admire and respect -- someone who is very intelligent and otherwise full of common sense -- believes in god, does your opinion of him/her take a nosedive?

Not in the slightest, unless they waffle on about it.

If they're a really good mate, i'm likely to be jokey with them about it.

[Erfalion]

When you find out that someone you admire and respect -- someone who is very intelligent and otherwise full of common sense -- believes in god, does your opinion of him/her take a nosedive?

Not in the slightest, unless they waffle on about it.

If they're a really good mate, i'm likely to be jokey with them about it.

I support that opinion. I actually have some friends who are very smart, but very religious (just getting raised that way, can't help it.). However, we never talk about religion since we have accepted our believes/disbelieves.

[Jackalope]

No. Belief alone doesn't change my opinion about them.

It's the batshittery that sometimes accompanies belief that does it for me.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

When you find out that someone you admire and respect -- someone who is very intelligent and otherwise full of common sense -- believes in god, does your opinion of him/her take a nosedive?

Of course not,unless they get in my face about it. I'm of the opinion that [as a general principle] our most powerful beliefs,attitudes and world view ,have nothing to do with reason.

[Whateverist]

I've found that theism is no more an impediment to intelligence than atheism is a guarantee of it. The PBS television journalist Bill Moyer is my favorite American Christian. Of course, the vast majority of theists I've met have been intellectually castrated by the way in which they hold their faith. It doesn't have to be that way but I'd say the challenge for them is probably greater since they have to come to terms with integrating what is essentially irrational with rationality at such an early age. And that says nothing about the way the adults in their environment will often sacrifice integrity in order to instill the all-important faith.

The challenge for atheists, I think, is to eventually accept the irrational basis for our rationality. Early on we want to gloat about our rational advantage and identify too strongly or exclusively with the rational. That is warped too.

[ElijahDrew]

When you find out that someone you admire and respect -- someone who is very intelligent and otherwise full of common sense -- believes in god, does your opinion of him/her take a nosedive?

Yes. Ron Paul.

[HappyHumanist]

I didn't mean to imply that I think religious people are less intelligent. Or that all atheists are intelligent (my boss is an atheist and he's an idiot).

I guess I'm not clear on what I meant, even in my own head.

Among all of my friends, only one is an atheist. My co-workers, whom I admire and respect, are all believers. None of them talks much about religion or god, though.

It's just when god IS discussed directly -- by someone I don't know personally but admire -- that the "wait... how can YOU believe in that stuff?" thoughts enter in my head. It's like they've let me down somehow. Silly, huh?

[Faith No More]

The only time my opinion nosedives when finding out they are religious is when I find out their religious beliefs cause them to have extremely conservative political views.