Religion Makes Smart People Believe Stupid Things

Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsiktmXeBUs&ab_channel=LogicOverFaith

This video, titled "Religion Makes Smart People Believe Stupid Things" by Logic Over Faith, explores how highly intelligent and educated individuals can hold irrational religious beliefs.

The speaker explains that intelligence doesn't guarantee immunity to bad ideas, and sometimes, it can even be used to rationalize pre-existing beliefs rather than to critically examine them. This phenomenon is often rooted in childhood indoctrination, where religious concepts are taught before critical thinking skills are developed. As individuals grow, emotional attachment to these early beliefs can override rational analysis, leading to "motivated reasoning" where people seek to support a conclusion they already want to be true.

Several examples are provided to illustrate this point:

Noah's Ark: The belief in a literal global flood and a 600-year-old man building an ark is maintained despite a lack of evidence and logical inconsistencies.
Faith Healing: Intelligent people may believe in prayer as a cure for diseases, disregarding scientific evidence and framing outcomes to protect their beliefs.
Belief in Hell: The concept of eternal torment by a loving God is accepted and even defended, despite its inherent contradiction if applied to any other context.
Religious Apologetics: Intellectual gymnastics are used to reconcile contradictions and justify moral horrors found in holy texts.
The video also highlights other factors contributing to this phenomenon:

Argument from Tradition: The idea that something must be true because it's old or has lasted for centuries is a common but flawed justification.
Emotional Needs: Religion offers comfort, purpose, and the illusion of cosmic justice, which can be powerful psychological hooks.
Social Pressure: The fear of losing friends, family, or community can lead even smart people to compartmentalize their religious and rational beliefs.
Fear Factor: Many religions instill fear of doubt, punishment, or offending God, which discourages questioning.
Institutional Indoctrination: Prestigious universities with religious origins have used sophisticated language to defend irrational beliefs, making them seem more rational.
Ultimately, the video concludes that intelligence is distinct from rationality. While a high IQ doesn't prevent irrational beliefs, intellectual honesty and the courage to question deeply ingrained teachings are key to breaking free from them. The real test of truth, according to the speaker, is not how deeply a belief is held, but how well it stands up to scrutiny.