Are secular people more rational than religious people?

Question

During the cold war with the Soviet Union, we relied on the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) to keep us safe. This was basically, if either side fired nukes, the other side would retaliate and both would be destroyed. This was deemed reliable because while Soviets were atheistic communists, they did not want to die.

Now we are fighting religious fundamentalists. The fear is that they are not afraid to die because they believe they will go to a paradise after their death. So threatening them with annihilation if they attack us has no impact.

Based on this, doesn’t it seem like secular people are more rational than religious people?

Foghorn · Accepted Answer

It seems that you are really calling out radical religious peoples.  In that instance, there is no accounting for the potential insanity of their actions.  Typical religious people are quite capable of making rational judgments in all areas of life, with the arguable exception of their god.

? · Answer

Depends.

Communist leaders did their level best to remove any religion from their countries.  Atheism was not their desire, mind you.   They simply wanted people to worship the god of the State.

As for religiousness -vs- rational, I am sure people on this forum have their opinions and can even cite this or that "study" that was performed chiefly for the purposes of finding an inverse correlation.

That said, I know countless rational/logical people of faith.   I don't know one in my faith with which you cannot discuss many subjects.   The major one on which you might disagree would be the existence of a deity and its relationship with us.   That's it.

Can religion bring about radicalism?   Certainly.  But so can many other causes.   You may find it is the individual who is prone to being radicalized and that the underlying catalyst is merely the vehicle.

tonalc2 · Answer

Not necessarily. I know many reasonable, altruistic and dare I say it, liberal religious people.

I think you're speaking of the religious right, here in America and other places; and yes, secularists are more rational than them. Or any religious extremist who justifies harmful action with religious tenets.  As they say, no atheist ever flew a plane into a building.

Anonymous · Answer

Depends on if the religious people are really believers or just church goers.

Being a secular person, I think that we are more logical,but the religious folks will have a different opinion.

Nakkiel · Answer

It is more rational to not try to fit yourself in one of those 2 categories and try to keep a balance between looking ahead and living in the here and now. Religious or not.

? · Answer

Yes.


Next Question.

abitleftofcenter · Answer

Not necessarily. It depends on the religion . . . and the person. And too many tyrants and dictators are/were secular.

Anonymous · Answer

ANYONE is more rational than religious people.

? · Answer

by far

? · Answer

No

Trending News

Are secular people more rational than religious people?

10 Answers