Quote Originally Posted by Alpha View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Gandalf View Post
Freedom questions the Bible, Alpha. That indicates critical thinking. Like I say, not every religious person is going to be stupid and likewise not every atheist is going to be Einstein who was clever with his words but pretty much rejected the Biblical God too. Common sense means you have to. I respect moderate Christians in that they appear to display an evolved mindset. The IQ evidence is what it is. It cannot be refuted as easily as an all powerful and now apparently gender neutral God.
Sorry maybe I misunderstood you're quote:

"I question anybody who can believe a book of folk stories over genuine research".
When I say folk stories, I mean folk stories, stories passed down generation after generation, and like with evolution such memes will end up being distorted and historically mutated. I don't think the Bible all comes from nothing, but it has its own agenda and mission to fulfill and does not require evidence to back up what it says and this is where science and reason forced Christianity to question itself. Many Christians today likely do question aspects of the Bible, you would have to be stupid to not question it at all. However in saying that there are Christian extremists, particularly in America who do take it all at face value and those people are inevitably going to be intellectually challenged.

I accept that my culture is a Judeo/Christian one and that this along with the freedom of expression has led to the finest of civilizations. That I do not believe in God nor an actual interpretation of the Bible does not mean I cannot see the positive things that have emerged from that tamed tradition. It is one reason why Islam needs to go through a serious process of analysis too, but unfortunately our governments are rejecting our tradition of freedom and silencing anyone who does question the 'religion of peace'. Jesus appears to have been a decent person and of course we can learn from decent people.