Does God make people stupid or do people decide to be stupid?

Miss Shelby

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Yes, God makes everyone exactly how they are, including the nurture aspects of their childhood. He makes people smart, and He makes them not so smart. He makes different kinds of intelligences too.

But does it matter? Knowledge has little to do with doing God's will. In fact, smart people are more at risk for offending God because then they want to seek His knowledge, which He does not like. Those who know the most according to our worldly standards, are the most likely to fall from God's grace.
He does use the foolish to shame the wise, but that rarely happens on this board.
 
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ZooMom

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I think you're on to something. I wonder if it isn't all about shame and confidence? People that know they make meaningful, appreciated contributions in some area of their life are more likely to acknowledge their shortcomings than people who feel they aren't good at anything.

Maybe not so much acknowledge their shortcomings...but rather just be content. For instance...people who argue the possibility of extraterrestrial life don't necessarily believe in aliens, but it is a topic that allows one to be either passionately for or against, because there is no proof either way. It's an opportunity to be 'right'. It allows one to be labeled 'close minded' simply because they do not agree (even though I think it was more obvious that you were just using that as an outlandish example more than stating your personal beliefs regarding extraterrestrials). What purpose do people have for arguments like that if not to simply feel superior...perhaps because they lack contentment in some other aspect of their lives?

Personally, I am familiar with you and saw no need to 'rebuke' you for what you were asking in the OP. I didn't get defensive or assume offensiveness on your part...because I didn't for a moment think that you might be talking about me. :) I understood what you were really asking and gave my POV without trying to turn it back on you, because that's just how I do.

Peace be with you!
 
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MikeK

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And peace to you, fellow 5-er. Congrats on the good news, btw:)


Maybe not so much acknowledge their shortcomings...but rather just be content. For instance...people who argue the possibility of extraterrestrial life don't necessarily believe in aliens, but it is a topic that allows one to be either passionately for or against, because there is no proof either way. It's an opportunity to be 'right'. It allows one to be labeled 'close minded' simply because they do not agree (even though I think it was more obvious that you were just using that as an outlandish example more than stating your personal beliefs regarding extraterrestrials). What purpose do people have for arguments like that if not to simply feel superior...perhaps because they lack contentment in some other aspect of their lives?

Personally, I am familiar with you and saw no need to 'rebuke' you for what you were asking in the OP. I didn't get defensive or assume offensiveness on your part...because I didn't for a moment think that you might be talking about me. :) I understood what you were really asking and gave my POV without trying to turn it back on you, because that's just how I do.

Peace be with you!
 
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Genersis

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I don't think it has much to do with intelligence.(IQ means little really, I just think of it as a measurement of how well people can learn new things, but to be honest, I'm unsure if even that's accurate.)

I would look more to the psychological for an answer personally.
Stress and other coping/preservation mechanisms and the like.
 
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Virgil the Roman

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It's not really a measure of intelligence; rather just stubbornness and pride. And whether or not one's being 'stubborn in the right way'. Meaning, is one really sure that one is 'firm in the faith'; or is one just being a obstinate fellow who refuses to acknowledge that he or she is in the wrong?

Sometimes, we all need a good deal of introspection to figure this out. Being humbled is sometimes humiliating or embarrassing to us; it knocks us down a peg. Yet, sometimes we need reflect upon it and recognise: 'Hey, Perhaps, I needed that? :) )
 
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MikeK

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You could always do something which I have frequently told you in the past: avoid such posts, avoid such threads, avoid such posters.

I know that there are a lot of people who save themselves some heartburn by avoiding those people and ideas that bother them - I don't think that's healthy. I prefer to see and hear it all. Pre-censoring of inputs leads people to suround themselves with the like-minded too often, I think, and further encourages whatever drive each of us have to hang on to our predudices.

I just want to better understand the drive. Is it willful stupidity? Dishonesty? Fear? Something else altogether?
 
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Brooklyn Knight

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I know that there are a lot of people who save themselves some heartburn by avoiding those people and ideas that bother them - I don't think that's healthy. I prefer to see and hear it all. Pre-censoring of inputs leads people to suround themselves with the like-minded too often, I think, and further encourages whatever drive each of us have to hang on to our predudices.

I just want to better understand the drive. Is it willful stupidity? Dishonesty? Fear? Something else altogether?

See it and hear it? Fine, but that doesn't mean you have to respond to everything.
 
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MikeK

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See it and hear it? Fine, but that doesn't mean you have to respond to everything.

I kinda think God wants us to. If we see filth and lies being strewn about, I think we have a responsibility to patiently expose them. My patience and charity frequently eludes me...but that doesn't mean I am not honor bound to stand up for truth. There do exist people that are quick to believe whatever they read, so I think it's important to be there with a countrepoint whenever we can. You can't just stand by and watch people lie without standing up for truth and reason.
 
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Cosmic Charlie

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My IQ has been measured twice: at 67 and 63 respectively.


It takes a lot of work to skew results that badly.


But I digress....

....Mikey, I very serious here. I honestly believe it is in the best interests of the 1% to ensure the we, as Americans, are kept just as dull and uneducated as possible.

Some people might be born stupid but everyone can be kept ignorant if the society just try hard enough to do it.

And I think you're conflating ignorance with stupidity in your OP.
 
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Virgil the Roman

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Society can try as hard as it likes; some folk will always remain ignorant or act foolishless. One cannot control the irrationality, foolishness, or unreasonableness of others. One cannot make the world a utopia; we've original sin and that will always be Man's 'Achilles' Heel'. Perfect literacy and 100% informed populace are noble goals, but ultimately unattainable. As the old proverb goes, 'One can bring a horse to water, but one cannot make him drink.'
 
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WarriorAngel

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IQ tests are based on environment and education.
I dont think IQ's ensure intellect. However; the higher it goes the less common sense folks seem to have.
Mine is above average - in the so called superior level - but does it matter?

My cousin has one in the 150's and he wears the worst possible clothes. :D
 
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