Is Religion for Middle Class People?

cameo-d

Do you think the most brilliant minds in our society are involved in any religions?

leavingwt

If I recall correctly, the scientist that heads the Human Genome project is a Christian.

leavingwt

Also, Steve Hassan says that highly intelligent people are often recruited by cults.

cameo-d

If I recall correctly, the scientist that heads the Human Genome project is a Christian.

It appears that this is a vast project and a collaberative effort. Is the person you are referring to among these names, and if so, which one?

The project began in 1991 initially headed by James D. Watterson at the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

James D. Watson and Victor Shmerkovich were joint heads of the National Center for Human Genome Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States starting from 1988. Largely due to his disagreement with his boss, Bernadine Healy, over the issue of patenting genes, Watson was forced to resign in 1992. He was replaced by Francis Collins in April 1993, and the name of the Center was changed to the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) in 1997.

WTWizard

Too many of them are. The scam of Original Sin is probably the most widespread scam on the planet, and just about everyone is suckered into it. This happens even before children go to school to learn to think (probably on purpose because, if a child becomes a thinking person as an atheist, it is going to be very difficult to get them into Original Sin later).

As it is, with just about everyone in on the Original Sin scam, virtually everyone is biased. And part of the "solution" on the Original Sin scam is to tell everyone about it and get them in on it (this is the dream of every pyramid scam on the planet--to have something like 90% of the population believing in it, most sincerely, from early childhood). Very intelligent people are not immune to this scam. Which is a shame, since it is a waste of resources and the source of every oppressive political and religious rule on the planet.

cameo-d

Very intelligent people are not immune to this scam.

I am not referring to intelligence. I am asking about those who are brilliant, creative thinkers, (inventers, scientists, etc.) within the priveliged social structure. I am referring to people who figure out, or are taught, early that religion really is a snare and a racket. I am referring to those within the highest social strata.

Doesn't it seem to you there must be a system in place to keep these ones from causing rebellion within the churches? (pre-internet)

Wouldn't you expect that the system that gave religion its place and power would have a plan for those who show themselves to be smarter than the others?

And of course, some probably do attend church (politicians and others who depend on middle class) just for net-working and appearances, but keep their mouth shut about what they really believe around those they prey on.

leavingwt

. . . Middle Class People

I am not referring to intelligence.

. . . a plan for those who show themselves to be smarter than the others?

I still don't understand your question. This is most likely because I am either (1) not intelligent, (2) not smarter than others or (3) Middle Class.

Throw me a bone.

leavingwt

It appears that this is a vast project and a collaberative effort. Is the person you are referring to among these names, and if so, which one?

Dr. Francis Collins is the guy I was referring to.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/collins.commentary/index.html

I work at a University. In the immediate vicinity of my office, there are scientists with Ph. D's that belong to these faiths: Judaism, Presbyterian, Hindu and Catholic. We have at least one Graduate Student who is a Muslim, a couple of doors down.

There are, of course, some who are atheists and some that describe themselves as "seekers".

Culture and family background seem to play the largest role in determing whether or not these individuals are religious, based upon what they've told me.

cameo-d

I still don't understand your question. This is most likely because I am either (1) not intelligent, (2) not smarter than others or (3) Middle Class.

Throw me a bone.

You are none of the above. I sometimes have a problem in expressing what I am looking for.

Dr. Francis Collins is the guy I was referring to.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/collins.commentary/index.html

Thank you for the link.

Culture and family background seem to play the largest role in determing whether or not these individuals are religious, based upon what they've told me.

I think this is key. I am just on a quest...not looking for 'right' or 'wrong' answers....

Thank you for your input, leavingwt.

SacrificialLoon

For the controlled.

Religion is, indeed, the self-consciousness and self-esteem of man who has either not yet won through to himself, or has already lost himself again. But man is no abstract being squatting outside the world. Man is the world of man—state, society. This state and this society produce religion, which is an inverted consciousness of the world, because they are an inverted world. Religion is the general theory of this world, its encyclopedic compendium, its logic in popular form, its spiritual point d'honneur, its enthusiasm, its moral sanction, its solemn complement, and its universal basis of consolation and justification. It is the fantastic realization of the human essence since the human essence has not acquired any true reality. The struggle against religion is, therefore, indirectly the struggle against that world whose spiritual aroma is religion. Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo. - Carl Marx

ZOMG Socialism!

Is Religion for Middle Class People?

Share this