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Why does it seem that so many fundamentalist Christians are against intellectualism? My father really looks down on universities and anyone who has a bachelor's degree or above. Of course my mom who is about to get her Doctorate in December is pretty upset (it's not that he's jealous, he truly looks down on higher education).
I've noticed this trend in many fundie conservativies both where I live and on this board. Is the fundie tactic to dumb down our generation with scientific illiteracy?
__________________ Slug's 1st Law of YECism- Genesis 1-9 must be interpreted literally. Slug's 2nd Law of YECism- Any other verses can be interpreted liberally to support the 1st Law. Slug's 3rd Law of YECism- Make up any extra-Biblical claim, no matter how wild, to wave-away evidence in violation of the 1st Law.
"If God sent a wind from space, and blew waters off the surface, for example, the waters would go down. Just as if you take a cup full of water over a sink, and blow hard on it, a lot will go out of the cup. Elementary." -dad ^This statement nullifies his own argument by comparing a "present state" event to a "past state" event!
Last edited by BananaSlug; 3rd July 2009 at 06:04 PM.
Reason: Changed the language
Why does it seem that so many fundamentalist Christians are against intellectualism? My father really looks down on universities and anyone who has a bachelor's degree or above. Of course my mom who is about to get her Doctorate in December is pretty upset.
I've noticed this trend in many fundie creationists both where I live and on this board. Is the creationist tactic to dumb down our generation with scientific illiteracy?
That isn't a tactic exclusive to creationists; undereducated people are malleable, controllable people...
To me being intellectual and being, say, a yec is mutually exclusive.
One mindset seems to be to accept on faith, and that is a praiseworthy virtue. To question is a sin. Doubt is weakness. Changing your mind is death to the immortal soul. The devil is the one who generates any seemingly contrary information. Knowledge comes straight from the supernatural, not from hard work and study.
Why does it seem that so many fundamentalist Christians are against intellectualism? My father really looks down on universities and anyone who has a bachelor's degree or above. Of course my mom who is about to get her Doctorate in December is pretty upset.
I've noticed this trend in many fundie creationists both where I live and on this board. Is the creationist tactic to dumb down our generation with scientific illiteracy?
LOL!!!! Broad brush anyone? Just because we don't believe as you do does not make a creationist any less intellectual than an evolutionist.
__________________ If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend. Augustine
Why does it seem that so many fundamentalist Christians are against intellectualism? My father really looks down on universities and anyone who has a bachelor's degree or above. Of course my mom who is about to get her Doctorate in December is pretty upset.
I've noticed this trend in many fundie creationists both where I live and on this board. Is the creationist tactic to dumb down our generation with scientific illiteracy?
You have ommitted some important information. Are your parents both YECs? Is your father considerably less educated than your mother? If, so, does he perhaps feel a little resentful of her success, even if he has supported her in attaining it?
LOL!!!! Broad brush anyone? Just because we don't believe as you do does not make a creationist any less intellectual than an evolutionist.
Its not about alignment of beliefs. Its about the willingness to maul mundane facts and observations in an attempt to get them to align with established religious notions; you cannot be intellectually dishonest, and an intellectual at the same time.
But yeah, anti-intellectualism is a broader conservative phenomenon, than it is something exclusive to the Christian fundamentalists...
Its not about alignment of beliefs. Its about the willingness to maul mundane facts and observations in an attempt to get them to align with established religious notions; you cannot be intellectually dishonest, and an intellectual at the same time.
No one here is being intellectually dishonest but merely do not remove the supernatural from the natural. Abiogenesis is a forensic science not simply an empirical science.
__________________ If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend. Augustine
No, indeed, it's that fact that they find creationism a worthwhile and convincing hypothesis that makes them less intellectual.
Your opinion.
__________________ If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend. Augustine
As an aside, it's not difficult to demonstrate statistically that belief is inversely correlated with intelligence, but I suspect that's not a demonstration you'd be interested in seeing.
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