To think that some people conflate being “intellectual” with rejecting anything spiritual?

[BothAndNotEitherOr]

I’ve noticed a pattern, especially in online spaces like this one, where people seem to tie their sense of intellect or rationality to a total disbelief in anything spiritual. It’s like the idea of fate, intuition, synchronicity or even a loose belief in “something more” gets lumped in with being irrational or uneducated. I’m not talking about organised religion necessarily, more the subtle stuff people feel or notice but can’t always explain.

And to be honest, a lot of the responses I’ve seen on here reinforce that vibe. If you say anything even slightly beyond logic or science, there’s an instant eye-roll or a wall of statistics.

AIBU to think that some people over-identify with being hyper-logical and that rejecting anything spiritual has become a kind of intellectual performance?

I get that and i have also experienced it. I just know there are atheists who cant rest in a room where there are believers without wanting to debate with them and tell them how wrong and stupid they are. So they are essentially the same as the religious people you speak of. It's ironic really.

@Squishedpassenger

I also have no patience for that. It’s obnoxious and really disrespectful.

It does go both ways. Atheists are more vocal in some academic circles; some really intolerant evangelicals have a very big megaphone in MAGA land.

The irony in being a professing Christian who believes in the death penalty escapes them.

Yup. I am atheist too, Brit, ex Christian, and I have had a fair few online debates with US evangelicals. The full on Noah's flood was real type. The ones that watch Ken Ham and read his Answers in Genesis web site. Throw Kent Hovind into the mix too, with his whack an atheist Youtube channel.

They are a total breed apart.

Threads like this are mild compared to what they say.

Dare to suggest the Bible is made up, and they call you a Demon, spawn of Satan etc. Then they say they will pray for my soul. And some just joyfully say they look forward to watching me burn in hell.

After a few years of debating them, I can fully understand why America has so many "militant atheists".

But here, loads of good mannered discussions going on. No need to engage militant atheist mode.

:-)

Jesus was pro death penalty though, or so it seems to say in the Bible.

Mark 9:42 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.

And that is repeated in Matthew and Luke. And the crime that Jesus thinks deserves the death penalty ? just persuading people not to believe in him. The list is expanded a bit in the mat and Luke versions.

I am atheist, but of the ex Christian variety, And just like ex smokers are often the worst non smokers, same with ex Christians :-)

I am an atheist ex Christian Bible literalist.

I think it comes from 20 years of reading the Bible and glossing over the bad bits, and doing all the mental gymnastics.

Now I refuse to gloss over the bad bits Now I want to highlight them.

:-)

Ants in a garden wouldn't believe what wa as on the other side of the garden wall,perhaps it's ignorance to be so small minded