Well, you are indeed a Saint, the Patron Saint of those with delusional beliefs that are contradicted by reality.

I have learned it is wise to be wary of the confused fantasists whose god lives in the skies.

If Christians were capable of rational thought and analyzed the Bible unemotionally they would see that Jesus was no more than an anarchist who was successful, that's all.

I'm absolutely certain that if Jesus and Mohamed could see the millions of 'sheepeople' praying and singing their praises they would die a second time from shock.

No. Retarded means: "less advanced in mental, physical, or social development than is usual for one's age." according to Google. Let's start with the first thing listed: mental development. Studies show that there is little to no correlation between religiosity and IQ, proving that atheist average to be about as intelligent as anyone of faith. I will point out that religious people have a lower rate of mental disorders, but a mental disease is not a convector of intelligence. Second: Physical development. I could not find any studies linking any form of physical development to religion, so I have no evidence for or against that category. Third: Social development. There is scientific proof that region has a slight positive correlation with extroversion, but it is weak and many introverts can socialize just as well as any extrovert. So, by the actual definition of retarded, no. Atheists are not retarded. It's like arguing that Christians are retarded because the follow a 3,000 year old book with evidence against it. There are smart Christians and smart atheists, and faith is not a large factor on having handicap. Thank you for taking the time to read my argument.

These are 10 commandments for atheists.

1. Thou SHALT NOT believe everything you are told.

2. Thou SHALT seek information and evidence constantly.

3. Thou SHALT educate and teach each other about science and history.

4. Thou SHALT NOT forget the atrocities committed in the name all the gods throughout history.

5. Thou SHALT leave valuable contributions for humanity and be a good steward of our planet Earth.

6. Thou SHALT live in peace with other humans and other living organisms.

7. Thou SHALT live your one life you have to the fullest and to the best of your ability.

8. Thou SHALT follow a form of ethics and beliefs that does not harm anyone and tries to minimize harm.

9. Thou SHALT maintain a strict separation between Church and State.

10. Thou SHALT support and encourage other people to follow these 10 commandments.

A new review of 63 scientific studies stretching back over decades has concluded that religious people are less intelligent than non-believers.

A piece of University of Rochester analysis, led by Professor Miron Zuckerman, found “a reliable negative relation between intelligence and religiosity” in 53 out of 63 studies.

According to the study entitled, 'The Relation Between Intelligence and Religiosity: A Meta-Analysis and Some Proposed Explanations', published in the 'Personality and Social Psychology Review', even during early years the more intelligent a child is the more likely it would be to turn away from religion.

In old age above average intelligence people are less likely to believe, the researchers also found.

One of the studies used in Zuckerman's paper was a life-long analysis of the beliefs of 1,500 gifted children with with IQs over 135.

The study began in 1921 and continues today. Even in extreme old age the subjects had much lower levels of religious belief than the average population.

The review, which is the first systematic meta-analysis of the 63 studies conducted in between 1928 and 2012, showed that of the 63 studies, 53 showed a negative correlation between intelligence and religiosity, while 10 showed a positive one.

Only two studies showed significant positive correlations and significant negative correlations were seen in a total of 35 studies.

The authors of the review looked at each study independently, taking into account the quality of data collection, the size of the sample and the analysis methods used.

The three psychologists carrying out the review defined intelligence as the “ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly, and learn from experience”.

Religiosity is defined by the psychologists as involvement in some (or all) facets of religion.

According to the review, other factors - such as gender or education - did not make any difference to the correlation between intelligence and religious belief.

The level of belief, or otherwise, did however vary dependent upon age with the correlation found to be weakest among the pre-college population.

The paper concludes that: "Most extant explanations (of a negative relation) share one central theme —the premise that religious beliefs are irrational, not anchored in science, not testable and, therefore, unappealing to intelligent people who 'know better'."

Criticisms of the conclusions include that the paper only deals with a definition of analytic intelligence and fails to consider newly identified forms of creative and emotional intelligence.

The psychologists who carried out the review also sought to pre-empt the secularist interpretation of the findings by suggesting that more intelligent people are less likely to have religious beliefs as they associate themselves with ideas around personal control.

"Intelligent people typically spend more time in school - a form of self-regulation that may yield long-term benefits," the researchers wrote.

"More intelligent people get higher level jobs (and better employment (and higher salary) may lead to higher self-esteem, and encourage personal control beliefs."

If you're a saint as you claim, think about this: would Jesus have asked such a question?

I think a better question for debate would be: "Is NowASaint afraid of atheists?"

After all, you wouldn't expend this much time and effort trying to bring atheism down at every opportunity, if you were secure in your own beliefs. The fact you seem to hate atheism implies you're afraid they might influence you and change your mind.

Either way, you're obviously a "real" Christian whereas I never was, so this is clearly the way Christ would have acted.

"You're stupid, you're going to hell, now follow me!"

Oh wait...

OH, Nowasaint, you should remember the definition of insanity. How many times have you tried to convince the world that YOU are better than anyone else because YOU know more than WE do?? With the same result ... and continue to do so. There is a fine line between the insane and the retarded ... which do you think YOU are??

Lovely way to childishly try and preemptively discredit the other side (why are you on a debate forum, dear?). The answer to your question is the utilization of your question. No. Atheists just do not believe in magic space daddy. Seeing no evidence and deciding no to believe the claim isn't retarded, love, and your being brainwashed isn't your fault (though your will full ignorance and pettyness is). Why beleive in God when I have just as much proof that the spageti monester exists? Your cult just has more supporters and is a tad older.