While I concur with the majority of views here, I do have to note what I've noticed so far on this forum.
While there is a definitely and totally understandable degree of anti-religious sentiment, the views of what religious people are like and what their convictions entail are not very accurate in not a few too little cases.
I am very on the side of atheism, freedom of speech, and the call to critical thinking. But, in my humble and possibly mistaken opinion (becuase it has only been a few weeks that I have been on here), to me I noticed that the understanding of some ex-JW atheists here seems limited to only Watchtower concepts and attitudes about "false religion."
The ideas that religion or theist concepts are wrong, make people "less smart," and similar views are highly reminiscent of the "we're right, they're wrong" attitude prevalent in the Watchtower theology.
While I think it is always, always a very good thing to put religion under the microscope and seek for logical explanations from the "believer," I was expecting to meet people here who adopted anti-religious views to be well-versed not on anti-religious propaganda but on accurate, college-educated views.
Remember, many in religion are university-educated people, and once we are outside the Watchtower there is little to no excuse to get ourselves formally educated. Most on this forum show what I would call an innate and natural intelligence that would only bloom further in a masterful way by applying themselves to learning about these things in the halls of higher education.
But a lot of these attacks or critiques on relgion show very little growth to at least be accurate about other faiths and move beyond Watchtower views. They were not accurate about what other religions believed. You cannot argue logically if your views and personal convictions are not accurate and verified. Anger with relgion does not automatically ensure a correct view.
In some instances it seems like that same compartmentalization technique we underwent in the Watchtower is still going on with some here (not all): the same old arguments have to be raised and discussed as if it is a lesson, and then everyone gets patted on the back for their rehashed answers, but only if they are agreeable with the mindset of the majority.
But looking for a flaw in the person with another conviction is not logical. Religion or belief in God don't make you dumb. Refusing to get a formal education and keeping that education going as you live is what makes you dumb.
