Your perception of theists

[Whateverist]

I voted no because I'm always hopeful they'll turn out to be one of the good ones. I do realize the deck is stacked against me in this country but that doesn't deter me. I also like to think that along with a sloppy standard for believe in extraordinary things, a theist may also show some other good quality which makes that easier to overlook. But as so many have said it is the pushy, the stubbornly ignorant and the rude ones which come in for contempt from me.

[KevinM1]

I voted 'other' simply because the question is too broad to be useful. I do have a visceral reaction to some theists, but it always stems from their actions.

[Excited Penguin]

Funny how the numbers stack up. Sign of uniform collective intelligence, or rather dyshonesty maybe?

[AFTT47]

I voted other because it really is going to vary. Like others here, I'm going to be less inclined to respect a young-earth creationist because - damn. Thing is, I'm going to be equally less likely to respect someone who denies the Apollo moon landings or global warming, thinks the government is behind 9-11, Obama was born in Kenya, the government has alien bodies frozen at Area 51 or any other example of a complete lack of critical thinking. Theism by itself doesn't make me think less of a person because like many others here, I've personally known many who were anything but stupid. And Isaac Newton - one of the smartest persons who ever lived - was a theist.

[Excited Penguin]

@AFTT47, you can't really compare young-earth creationism with those other 'crazy' ideas, given that one is unscientific in nature and the others are surely viable albeit improbable explanations for certain events(except global warming denial). Or maybe I'm not informed enough to see how ridiculous these claims are exactly - is there as much available information for the average citizen pertaining to the disproving of such unsubstantiated beliefs as(I think) there is for the age of the earth and the universe and anthropogenic global warming? And if there is, then why isn't it made more readily available?
I don't believe in the validity of any of these things, by the way, but I can see how one could, given that he is uneducated enough to be able to do it in the first place.

[IATIA]

Initially I was thinking my answer was NO, but as i was pondering a response, I realized my answer is YES.  They are worshipping a non-existent deity and most feel the need to impress their belief onto me and some even quite vehemently.  So yes, I do prejudge a theist from what I have come to expect of them.

There is no god and if one believes in a god, that does suggest a person unable to think for themselves or comprehend logic and in a lot of cases even science.  They are 'battered children', "Daddy, I love you. Please don't send me to hell, I won't do it again.  Please make the 'bad' logic go away.  Please make the 'bad' science go away.".  I feel sorry for them and wish I could help, but it is beyond my power to do anything but just be there when they are ready.

(This does not include deists, but they are just as guilty of worshipping or even acknowledging an invisible sky-daddy.  They do not, however, attempt to follow any sort of dogma that forces them to impress their belief onto me.)

[IATIA]

A lot of the posts seem to be addressing after the fact. Though I voted yes, after meeting the person, I may very likely change my initial opinion of them. Initially, however, I expect that if they are a theist, they have something to prove.

[Longhorn]

Yes.

YECers, WBC, IS, faith healers, astral projectors, New Agers, devout catholics, passionate wooists. It does make me think less of them, in that department. I'll think they're crazy, like to follow the flock or don't question their beliefs. Or maybe are great at compartmentalization.

Does it make me like them less? Yes, if they're assholes. No if they're nice people.

You're trying to make it a bit too black or white, CL. Everything 'depends'

[robvalue]

No. Just being a theist means they believe in some definition of a "God". Until I know what their definition is, I can't tell anything from this. It may be that they say the sun is their "God". I'd say that's weird, but OK.

It doesn't necessarily mean they are going to worship whatever it is, or even try and rationalise their belief with logic.

So all I can say is they either are using God to mean something trivial, or else I expect to hear logical fallacies or emotional reasons if I ask their justification. Apart from that, I know nothing else so that's not enough to make any kind of assessment.

If they start saying a bunch of stuff they apparently know about this God, then I will think they are irrational on this point unless they provide some amazing argument or evidence I've not seen before. It will make me suspicious about their critical thinking skills, but I know all too well how cognitive dissidence can cloud people on just one issue.

[Napoléon]

I voted yes.

People say "don't judge a book by its cover", but usually if the cover says "Catholic" I'm going to think "cherry picking, child abuse ignoring, dickwad".

Right or wrong, that's what I'm inclined to think.

I think it differs on this forum than in real life though. Not all theists I've met IRL are dicks, but some of them were, and it was primarily due to their theism than anything else. If I had to be succinct, I'd say at the very least if someone tells me they're a theist, or makes that fact known and wears it like a badge of honor, I'm immediately very skeptical about their general intellect.