Susan B. Anthony said in 1896: I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
The above is not news to anyone who is paying attention. Ask most Believers what they feel God’s stance is on a particular moral question and then ask what their own views are on the topic and, more often than not, you’ll get the same answer. Now there’s a study that supports that simple truth:
For many religious people, the popular question “What would Jesus do?” is essentially the same as “What would I do?” That’s the message from an intriguing and controversial new study by Nicholas Epley from the University of Chicago. Through a combination of surveys, psychological manipulation and brain-scanning, he has found that when religious Americans try to infer the will of God, they mainly draw on their own personal beliefs.
Psychological studies have found that people are always a tad egocentric when considering other people’s mindsets. They use their own beliefs as a starting point, which colours their final conclusions. Epley found that the same process happens, and then some, when people try and divine the mind of God. Their opinions on God’s attitudes on important social issues closely mirror their own beliefs. If their own attitudes change, so do their perceptions of what God thinks. They even use the same parts of their brain when considering God’s will and their own opinions.
Religion provides a moral compass for many people around the world, colouring their views on everything from martyrdom to abortion to homosexuality. But Epley’s research calls the worth of this counsel into question, for it suggests that inferring the will of God sets the moral compass to whatever direction we ourselves are facing. He says, “Intuiting God’s beliefs on important issues may not produce an independent guide, but may instead serve as an echo chamber to validate and justify one’s own beliefs.”
It’s the sort of thing that prompts a knee-jerk reaction of, Well duh! But it’s probably best that there’s some research that supports what seems obvious to many of us. If nothing else it can act as a jumping off point for challenging believers to truly consider what they think they know about their God(s). Combined with the fact that there’s such a wide-ranging variance between believers on what they think their God’s viewpoints are, it also bolsters the argument that there likely aren’t any God(s) to begin with.
Gods are created in man’s image and always have been as it is only in the mind of man that they exist. Considering some people’s opinions on what God is like, perhaps it’s best that simply wishing for something doesn’t make it real.
…perhaps it’s best that simply wishing for something doesn’t make it real. Ramen!
Well, duh. Next thing you know, a study will determine that water is wet.
Well, duh
Do you think this may change how True Believers™ perceive the “Will of God,” or just give rational thinkers more ammunition?
And, I can’t login, again.
Add it to the list of qualified sources coming out. While this may not be very enlightening to us, it can help make a stronger argument which benefits any atheist.
As I said in my post on this today, it’s actually not as obvious as all that. The prima facie dismissal of this would be to say that it’s the other way around: people are taught what their families and communities say that God thinks, so it’s their views that align with God, not the other way around.
What makes this study interesting is that it nicely supports the conclusion that we individually mold “God’s view”, rather than that God molds us. That is something useful to have.
Not that any True Believer is going to give this any credence, of course.
[Wow... the CAPTCHA on this post is "quality $1.5-billion". That's the most involved CAPTCHA I've yet run into.]
[...] Study suggests people attribute their own views to God. – Voltaire said it: “If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor.” [...]
I have been reading through this site and wanted to comment about a few things. I didn’t find a general comment area. I noticed many people posting here with an anti religious view resort to name calling, followed by an accusation of name calling by someone else.
Personal attacks are a perfect example of a religious person. No matter what they say.
I believe christians are the dumbest race on the planet earth. Yes I said race. (observation) hehehe
Ghandi said it best “I like your Christ, I do not like christians, they act nothing like your Christ.”
How many so called true believers call names during a discussion?
Every single self professing christian I have met is guilty of this.
So whats the difference between someone who claims to be religious and acts like that, and someone who claims they aren’t religious?
Nothing, both are lacking.
Now don’t be confusing the off hand joking comment to what I am talking about. The complete lack of self respect and rudeness is what I am speaking of.
I know of people who have been on the wrong path, and have read the bible and then have chosen to change how they behave and treat others.
They treated the bible as an instruction book for how to treat others.
(do unto others as you want others to do unto you)and did a good job changing.
Now anyone wanting to quote the old testament and claim that’s what the message of the bible is, obviously lacking in information.
The problem with christians is by knowing what one SHOULD do (do unto others as you want others to do unto you) they think that somehow equates to salvation.
So is it any wonder that you see the same clone for every christian that shows up? Obedience is not taught. Nothing makes me puke faster than a disobedient christian.
Now what do those who do not read the bible use to better themselves and their treatment of others? This site? hahaha see that was a joke.
No matter what YOUR opinion is there will be someone else with a different opinion. If a person is rude and abusive to anyone with a differing opinion they will never be able to educate themselves beyond their current position.
Everything you have ever learned has come from someone with a differing opinion. Sometimes you had no opinion, which is still different.
So as a critical thinker, will you dismiss people with differing opinions or will you dismiss the opinions instead of the people?
For instance I saw where the owner of this site doesn’t have a best friend named Tom Bearden. I do not know Tom personally but I have read some of his work, not all of it. If the owner has information I don’t have, and I dismiss the owner because of the differing opinion, will I come to the truth?
I would like to know why Les doesn’t like Tom. Maybe Tom is a whacko and I don’t know yet. Maybe Tom stole Les’ girlfriend and that’s why he doesn’t like him. Either way a personal attack from me because Les has a different opinion of Tom is not beneficial to either party. I simply ask WHY? and hope Les tells me why.
I also wanted to comment on a thread from the archives pertaining to someone’s idea of evolution.
Because someone posted they believe that there is a God that created the universe they were mocked and berated, only for those who were mocking to post one of the most ridiculous assumptions I have ever heard.
claiming that single celled organisms “figured out” things, like reproducing.
All I can do is laugh, and laugh a lot.
(to the person posting)
So you want me to dismiss the possibility of something invisible being the creator of all things, but want me to blindly accept a notion that a single celled organism ” figured out” something. Did they use a calculator? A computer? Slide rule?
I am sorry but if those are the only 2 choices, I am going with the invisible. Stop pretending to know things you do not know. That just makes you look like a christian.
Critical thinking goes both ways.
If you are going to mock, don’t post such easily mocked responses.
Like I said christians are the dumbest race on the planet, but there is a village idiot in every town that makes them look smart.
Don’t be the village idiot.
This study proves what disobedient christians do. Do as they please and equate it with God.
Obedient christians do not do this, too bad an obedient christian is harder to find than bigfoot!!!
I was going to take the time to respond to this, but I figure a quick fuck you is really all it needs.
When I got to the part where you ask why I’m derisive of Tom Bearden it became clear you’re one of those “I’ll consider any idea no matter how ridiculous it is” people. The fact that you think evolution is false only confirms you’re an idiot and a waste of time better spent playing a video game.
Or, as is the case at the moment, going to class.
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Peace
LOL@Les you did exactly as predicted.
At no point in time did I say I didn’t believe in evolution, what I did say is that single celled organisms do not ” FIGURE THINGS OUT” .
It was that statement that caused my reaction. If you think single celled organisms “FIGURED OUT” things then it is you whose “FAITH” is larger than any faith I have ever seen.
That’s right your religion has caused you to respond in such a way.
I never said evolution was false, I simply said with people making “DUMBASSED STATEMENTS” like single celled organisms ” FIGURE THINGS OUT”
If the only 2 choices were (see the qualifier?) THEN I would have to pick the invisible creator.
However those are not the only 2 choices. It would do you good to brush up on your comprehension. And stop assuming things.
I never said I liked Tom Bearden. I never said I agreed with Tom Bearden. I simply said I read some of his work.
It is you and your
“FAITH” that has caused you to ASSUME these things.
If someone uses different words to describe the events of evolution then maybe they won’t be referred to as a “VILLAGE IDIOT”
It takes a whole lot more faith to believe a single celled organism “FIGURED OUT” things than it does to believe a creator of superior intelligence created the universe.
SO we have Tom Bearden who has quite an accomplished record now that I have been looking, (I still didn’t say I agree with anything he wrote)
and then we have you,
” a FATASS loser from michigan, who doesn’t have a clue, just a website he can bitch about things on. ”
See how I too can sling irrelevant comments.
JEALOUSY doesn’t look good on you.
500 years ago the world was flat, according to people like you. People with your attitude and outlook on things are the very same people that locked up Galileo for saying the earth revolved around the sun.
So they mocked him discredited him and locked him up, because they couldn’t expand their mind beyond their ego.
They were jealous and now they look like complete fools.
Follow in their footsteps.
I don’t expect this post to last I expect you to delete it because if anyone challenges your jealousy and ignorance you will cry I am sure.
And again, you have no idea what I believe I never stated it. So you called me names because I read some of what Tom wrote.
Did you read anything Tom wrote? Yes? then you are just like me. I never said i agreed with Tom on anything he wrote.
If you haven’t read anything he wrote then you are just a BIG FAT LOSER!!!,,,lol Making claims without looking.
see how tossing names around is again irrelevant?
I have never met someone with so much FAITH in my life, you are the most religious man I have ever communicated with.
SO what are your accomplishments? Exceeded 200 pounds by the age 12?
HAHAHAH
The bottom line is you try to PREDICT what people think, which is a bad move. EGOCENTRIC
Again you still have no idea what I believe, I never stated it, however you have condemned me for NOT KNOWING A THING about what I believe.
THAT IS NOT CRITICAL THINKING>
That’s just a moron with an attitude.
And you never stated why you didn’t like Tom Bearden. I will just chalk it up as jealousy on your part. Or is it wrong to make assumptions without knowing? ROTFLOL
Have a GREAT DAY!!!
You know, it would help if the trolls would learn to assemble their comments into paragraphs every so often.
Ken, I called you an idiot because you’re acting like one. Now, as MM pointed out, you’re just acting like a troll.
You’re right, though, I am just some fat loser in Michigan with a website he can bitch about things on. Beyond that my accomplishments in life are few. A happy family, a somewhat decent — if at times rocky — career in IT, and a fairly popular blog are about all I can lay claim to. Nobody has any reason to take anything I say as being anything more than the ramblings of a nobody from nowhere, but then I don’t expect anyone to take them for more than that. Surely there is some ego involved in being a blogger, but not as much as a lot of folks would like to think. Not enough that I think my words are gospel to anyone outside of myself. Hell, I’m amazed anyone stops by on a regular basis.
As for what you believe, I don’t really care what you believe. You showed up and started spouting off as though you had some great wisdom to dispense and proceeded to show that you can’t tell one someone is trying to put things in layman terms by saying a cell “figured out” how to divide.
Did the cell literally think and come up with a method of dividing? Of course not, but at some point a cell did manage to divide and rather than go into the technical details of cell division it’s a bit quicker to euphemistically say they “figured out” how to do so. Apparently you’re a bit too literal minded to deal with that.
If you’re not capable of telling when someone is trying to speak in layman terms then I seriously doubt you have anything to add to the conversation. And if you’re even remotely considering anything Tom Bearden has to say then you’re not worth wasting anymore time on.
MM, not just paragraphs, but legible paragraphs. Some trolls don’t know when to cut things off.
Yep, he’s a troll. Banned now.