Religious Belief and Poor Understanding Of Physical World
It's beginning to make sense to me now.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Which is all very well until you consider the plethora of well educated people in all fields from science to the arts who have a religious bent in some direction and find no ‘poor understanding’ of their physical world.
What often gets overlooked is that much scientific work is self-referencing in its expression in that it can only express itself within its own closed system. Einstein and Bohr opened up new possibilities and showed that we have no idea how the micro levels of physicality work, especially as there is more space than matter. Why is that?
Consciousness is not understood for one minute yet there are many armchair neurophysicists that seem to be able to overlook the fact that no one knows what or where it comes from.
The scientific exploration will continue to push back boundaries, but to do that it is necessary to recognise that the boundaries exist, and what is beyond, as yet, nobody knows.
Geoffrey51
Level 8
Nov 30, 2019
1
The study can be seen here:
It is no surprise that people who think breaking a mirror leads to seven years bad luck, who think the wind has intentionality, or who have strong fundamentalist beliefs about religion would have done poorly in science classes and would also score poorly in various cognitive areas. The study was a waste—nearly anyone could have predicted the outcome.
The study employs complex statistical analysis that I don’t understand. Maybe that’s the reason for my metaphysical ruminations—lack of statistical knowledge. 
I think it is important in this frantic drive aimed at discrediting all religion and all metaphysical thought, to exercise discrimination. There’s a lot of difference between those who believe in silly superstitions and those who philosophize about a higher reality while holding deep awareness and appreciation for existence.
“My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind." Albert Einstein
In other words, don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Nov 30, 2019
2
I have always found it amazing that so many (here in the bible belt) believe what the preacher tells them without question.
Almost everyone around me is a 'believer.' They 'go along to get along'.
So I found a possible explanation for some of that.
"poor reasoning skills, low information about basic physics and biology, and a propensity to assign intention and mentality to non-mental phenomena (magical thinking)."
It's beginning to make some sense to me now.
@JoplinAtheist1 The odd thing is that I live in a rural part of Alabama, and I’m the only one in my little circle of friends who entertains any kind of metaphysical thoughts. At least half the people around here never go to church They don’t call themselves atheists but they are not believers in church dogma. Of course I know a number of religious people but they don’t bother me at all.
I’ve decided that the “Bible Belt” idea doesn’t hold water. Pew studies show only a few percentage points difference in religiosity among the regions, except for the Northeast, which is considerably less religious.
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