Do Atheists really consider Christians less intelligent?

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"Children are not born with a belief in a deity" is a negative claim. It requires no positive evidence. It is true until demonstrated false.

Would you be comfortable in a court of law that assumed a positive claim made about you to be true unless you could conclusively demonstrate otherwhise?


And given that a child takes nearly two years to develop enough self-awareness to recognize itself in a mirror, is there any reason to believe that, before then, they have the slightest thought regarding a power higher than their parents?


And that further begs the question; if a child was born with a belief in a deity, then which deity? The same as the parents? Is there a genetic component to religious affiliation now? Could it be used to prove infidelity? "I'm a Catholic, but this child is clearly a Pentacostal?"


Given the shortage of mind reading, a conclusive answer might be tricky to secure. But given what we do know, both about religion and about early development in children, is there any reason whatsoever to entertain the notion that they do, other than wishful thinking?

I don't think believing in something that's obviously not true necessarily makes you less intelligent. There are all sorts of reasons why people believe things that are obviously irrational, and a lack of intelligence is just one of them. Even the most intelligent people believe things which are obviously irrational.

A momentary glance at people like sir Isaac Newton will certainly confirm that. Though, paraphrasing the Hitch; they wouldn't be remembered if that's what they were remembered for.

I live with a christian who doesn't fully follow the christian faith because doesn't go to church but uses online/tv documentaries (Revelation TV) as an alternative, if i were christian I suppose i would avoid churches because he also would avoid churches because of the social inclusiveness. I suppose they would denounce my autism as a curse and 'cleanse' me of it through baptism, maybe i would be the better person if that were the case but I lived most of my childhood conditioned through atheism, even though I rarely cursed or used the name of God in the presence of my family. I don't believe in sex after marriage but at the same time I have the state of mind that accepts that one must be pure and unspoiled and not to engage in lustful acts before they meet the one they are destined to be in love with for the rest of their lives - even if I don't plan on being with anyone or having children.

As i've been writing I realised i avoided the question, I consider them less intelligent if they straight away dismiss my thoughts on e.g. evolution, things that have a scientific and logical explanation, afterlife; or if they don't take the time to listen on my theory and continue on the path of ignorance bearing in mind they are pensioners so that should be expected in old age.

A bit of a tangent yet relevant is when discussing theism versus atheism and whether there is any kind of god of the infinite eternal variety a question sometimes is asked about who designed the designer. Asking which self-existing first cause created that other self-existing first cause seems odd.