Smarter

I recently posted an essay on NPR on the Atheist group on Google+.  The essay called for civil discussion of theological beliefs, or lack thereof, between theists and atheists. The post generated more discussion than I expected. One person wrote that religions are making humans less intelligent. I don’t agree with that comment, but I can see why someone would think so. The Westboro Baptist Church is a very convenient example.

Religion made me more intelligent. I grew up with a lot of problems that extended into adulthood. I went through therapy and self-help groups. At the age of 30 I enrolled in a self-esteem class that helped me turn a corner. It helped a lot, but I still needed something else. I came upon the Parable of the Ungrateful Servant. This story liberated me from my resentment for people who had harmed me and got me on a path to correcting my own behavior. The self-esteem class prepared me to understand the parable. If there were no excuses for the bad things people had done to me, there was no excuse for the bad things I did to others.

Letting go of resentment and behaving responsibly are more intelligent than holding grudges and making others suffer from one’s anger, whether one is a theist or atheist.