Religious Activity Does Not Lower Blood Pressure.

The problem with this guy, along with many other religious people, is they see it as a cause to try to follow a bunch of rules. Of course this creates stress because it is another part of your life you are creating an opportunity for failure. As with all rules go, you will fail them from time to time, so this is where these people are adding stress in their life.

If people accepted 'religion' (protestant faiths are a good example of this) at face value, they would realize that failure is a human inane trait and there is relief in a power greater than their own. In other words, a person doing it the right way would have less stress, and a more positive outlook on similar circumstances than these people who merely attempt to be pious law abiders. (Law in a sense of doctrine not necessarily legality)

According to your example they aren't born human either, because they lack the ability to fashion and utilize tools for a few months. This would be what separates the homo genus from others, therefore until a specific age, we are just animals.

I would disagree, we are all born equal, and remain so. Our only distinctiveness (internally disregard physical), is what we choose to believe in each aspect of life as we encounter things.

Hi =D

seconded and aren't you from America too?

I'm from Texas too, so, double whammy

No, even good people are pushed beyond their sanity for short periods of time.

The only thing that makes someone a bad person, is the motivation behind their actions.

Sorry for all the double posts, coming in late and too lazy to multi-quote.

I am America.

I was actually referring to Art. Was in direct reference to part of his statement.

I'm not going to take the trollbait left all over this thread BUT I would like to make one point and move on. I think if you were looking for definitive proof to make a point you would take control groups with minimal variables.
The main problem with testing religion vs. intelligence is: Most religions are intertwined with long oral histories and tradition. The amount of people who receive religion from their parents, as opposed to those who find their own, is many times larger. On top of that religion is prevalent with the impoverished (You and I might have a difference of opinion as to why, but I'm not getting into that debate here). Genetics, environment, money, location, and upbringing all can easy factor into an education debate but are not thought of when a study like OP comes along. If I quit practicing my faith and didn't offer it to my children, they wouldn't magically jump up 40 IQ points in 3 generations.

As for the Mensa grade comment about religion making you close-minded: That's an unfair generalization. If i spouted a stereotype about any other demographic, my post would have been instantly nuked. I don't hate all muslims because of a radical group; just as I think it's unfair of you to assume that all religious people are close minded because of the few social interactions you've experienced with a small portion.
I understand it's bandwagon lately to join the aetheist cult. It's been having an uprising of "coolness" to slam people of faith in the past couple years. Maybe it's just me passing through the age where I see all the college kids who are influenced at college by professors and peers. It doesn't make YOU jump up 40 IQ points to spout "I'm smart because I'm not religious." It makes YOU close-minded (not to mention overcompensating).

I'm a youth minister. I am to some extent pro-choice (as long as it's in the first month or so). Before the 1970s catholics did not read the bible to formulate our own interpretations. We used to have the priests up on high speaking down to the lay people and explaining the verses TO us. Thanks to the second vatican council, it is encouraged to meditate on the bible, even as a lay person. I encourage the kids in my youth group to have free thought and to use the Holy Spirit (conscience) as their prime direction. We have free-forum talks about their thoughts, ideas, and fears.

Oh, OK ; ;

I'm not really America anyway.

(I figured I should clarify, since you're religious and all.)

Thanks, my unintelligent brain couldn't have ciphered that on its own. ; )

how is a survey of 200 people a study?

It reminds me of the study "Research is the leading cause of Cancer in lab rats."

I consider myself "Religious" or at least a "Spiritual" person. I'm a 6 foot 5 inch 32 year old male... i eat tons of carbs and caffeinated beverages, nothing even REMOTELY healthy... and i weigh about 150 lbs.

I'm underweight by about 22 lbs. for my height. I have a bad disc or two in my spine, which makes it hard for me to really excersize, though there is a gym in the complex i just moved in so i may try that.

My blood pressure is perfect, as is my cholesterol. I tend to be introverted, so even when i'm doing something worshippy i'm still pretty chill.

My congregation has about 200-300 people on average. They are a mix of shapes and sizes.

I find that statistics normally dont work in the real world. Especially on me.

I'm also reminded of a Japanese device that supposedly let users communicate with their dog. Dogs arent overly complex creatures, you can normally tell what they want just by looking at them...

Hint... your dog wants steak.

Technically newborns are agnostic, not knowing anything of what is or what isn't. Atheism is a direct belief that there is no god.

I don't know for sure, and I don't want to argue semantics, but I think you are right.

To my (completely unresearched) understanding an agnostic does not have any belief system, but is open to the concept of everything; while an aetheist strictly does not believe in any form of religion.

Again, I am no expert.

I've always had a laissez faire approach to the beliefs of others, but this is definitely what I saw in my peers in college. I understand it's not always a case of bandwagoning, but it is pretty comical that most of my friends and family that took such a hard stance against religion as a young-adult adopted the same beliefs and values once we all reached the threshold of adulthood, domesticity, etc... Thus, it's hard for me to take atheism seriously (and who wants to have such a pessimistic outlook on life and death?).


Your description is dead on.

Meh...Not necessarily. I'm only twenty-six, so some of the perks of youth are still there. LOL! I like the age I'm at now. I can't complain.

Twenty-five and enjoying where I am in life. Agreed

Missing how I felt after 5hr football practices, however.

I'm 32 and when i think back on what it was like to live with my parents (who i love dearly) and having to ask to have friends or potential romantic interests over, and not being able to drive, and having a curfew... i really dont miss it.

I also joke and say i act like i'm "this many" (i hold up 7 fingers). Of course i also play a metric ton of video games when i am not working or with friends. A 21 year old friend of mine who was drunk off his rump said to me "you're 3 years younger than my dad, and yet he criticizes everything i do, and refuses to even try to have anything in common with me... and yet you're this amazing chill person and i often forget that you arent my age."

I love my friends sometimes. Sorry for being OT.

Oh, God! I would give anything to run like I use to.

No worries...My fault for going this direction.

Here's my answer to much of the data provided in this survey:

I literally have never seen you post an original thought. In every political/religious thread you seem to pop up and repost something you found online usually followed with the extremely descriptive "lol, you are dumb for you not like obama" to punctuate the copypasta.

Just an observation. I would love to hear your actual opinion on anything bereft of whatever propaganda you dug up online (no malice or sarcasm).

Saying that babies are atheists=over-statement.
They don't have a categorical description or a belief system, but attributing atheism to be what belief system infants fit into is sheer arrogance.

Just because the baby doesn't have a belief system, that doesn't mean that they subscribe to the atheist belief system.
They don't subscribe to anything because they are a damned infant lol.

The only true way to not submit your beliefs to others is to...remain silent on your beliefs essentially.
We are all trying to mold the world around us to something we want it to be, denying that you step on someone elses toes is silly and it's an unavoidable truth in the real world.
You can't make everyone happy.
But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't strive to make the lives of those around you better.
Take the good with the bad, all that stuff.

My thoughts on his song and dance too, but what are we going to do about it? Oh, well...

\shrug

I think Refreshtwo is the anti-Starr.....