From: mam@jcnpc.cmhnet.org (Mike A. McAngus)
Subject: Re: iq<->religion: connection?
Organization: Homebrew Virtual Reality Labs
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Distribution: world,public
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 01:20:36 GMT

Iikka Paavolainen (iikkap@mits.mdata.fi) wrote:
: In article <1992Dec27.162821.4675@jcnpc.cmhnet.org> mam@jcnpc.cmhnet.org (Mik
e A. McAngus) writes:
: >
: >This is still statistically insignificant, anecdotal evidence.
:
: 1000 people statistically insignificant?

You "Know" 1000 people?  I mean know each one well enough to compare hir IQ 
with the other 999?  Criminy, I seriously doubt that I have know that many 
people well in my entire life, let alone know them all now in order to do the 
comparison.


:
: >Sorry, I thought this was a rhetorical question related to your sentence
: >"Proof?" above.
: >Now I will say that, given the context, I don't understand what you are aski
ng.
: >What is the point I'm evading?
:
: Proof of this 'intelligence' in Luther et al.
: You must define intelligence for yourself to be able to state this.
: You are bashing yourself with your own words.

A.  Stephen Doe brought up Luther, et al., not me.
B.  By deleting everything related to the words above you have completely 
removed the context, and I don't know what "Proof" really related to any more.
C.  This is really peripheral to your contention that Atheists are more 
intelligent than Xians.
D.  If I'm an Atheist, and I'm bashing myself, then I must be one stupid 
atheist.

:
: >: >Where is your statistical study of this area of intelligence?
: >:
: >: On my desk.
: >
: >Could you post the results and email a copy to me?
:
: No thanks. Only to a person who does something with them.

I am now going to come straight out and say it:  I believe you are lying.  You 
don't have any study on your desk or any where else.

:
: >Given that Mr. Doe and I are arguing that your personal experiences are not
: >significant, pointing to your belief and saying that Xians will suppress
: >evidence is begging the question.
:
: If you don't find my experiences significant, why don't you have some experie
n-
: ces for yourself. This isn't a thesis or anything, just a sincere observation
.

I have many experiences.  I know many Xians and fewer Atheists.  I don't 
observe your correlation.  In fact, your assertion was a thesis, and Stephen 
Doe and I are rejecting it because it is unsupported.

: Anybody saying that my 'thesis' is not substatiated or sounds stupid, can say
: what they want, because I don't have a thesis.
: So what if you prove that intelligence has no effect on atheism? Easy?

Ah no.  Mr. Doe and I are not out to prove anything.  Your assertion, if left 
unchallenged, is dangerous to honest thought and inquiry because such 
assertions can assume dogmatic legitimacy out of proportion to any supporting 
evidence.

:
: >: People tend to believe what they have most proof of. Intelligence is used
to
: >: deduce which of the options is the 'most' correct.
: >
: >Intelligence is used to decide which option is most workable.  Utility and
: >Truth are not necessarily synonymous.
:
: So why on earth are you demanding a definition of intelligence, when you are
: giving one yourself?

I never demanded a definition of intelligence.  I demand PROOF of your 
assertion.

:
: >: And the stuff in the Bible is pointless without proper study. Gotcha.
: >
: >I'll also ask the Xians for proof of their assertions.  When the Xians state

: >that god exists, we in this group ask for corroboration independent of their

: >holy texts.  When you state that Atheists are more intelligent than Xians, i
t
: >is reasonable for people to ask you for corroboration independent of your
: >circle of friends.
:
: And? How true have you found the christians beliefs to be? Did you not use
: intelligence to deduce your conclusion?
: I am just getting more and more support for the original idea.

I have found the Xian's beliefs to be as valid as yours, because in both cases 
no proof has been forthcoming.

Again, put up or shut up.
-- 
Mike McAngus 			 | As if I needed Another time consuming hobby.
(mam@jcnpc.cmhnet.org)		 | 
The Truth is still the Truth	 | This Post exploits illiterates.
Even if you choose to ignore it. |