Age and Religion

[Peisandros]

I was brought up in a non-practising Catholic family. I guess I was about 15 when I decided for myself Catholicism was for me.

[New Limacon]

Why would there be?

Colder weather allows the synapses to fire faster. Simple physics, really.

[Maurepas]

Why would there be?

Colder weather allows the synapses to fire faster. Simple physics, really.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Why would there be?

Colder weather allows the synapses to fire faster. Simple physics, really.

You win.

[Nercer -]

Yeah, time is no guarantee for wisdom. It's what you do with your time.

I use it wisely. That's how I got to be smarter than most people I know (including adults.) I'm not being arrogant, I really am. It is actually depressing, as I would naturally expect older people to be smarter. So everytime I've needed advise, I've had to seek it on my own. But then again, I live in rural Tennessee so that probably has something to do with it. If I lived in say . . . Vermont?, I would probably be dumber than most people.

Bad choice of alternate state... Not too much difference between rural Tennessee and rural Vermont.

There is an increadible amount of difference.

Why would there be?

Beacuse Vermont is in New England and Tennessee is in the South. Why do you think the Beverally Hillbillies were from Tennessee and not New England?

Plus, I have read numerous reports and Vermont is usually in the top five on state lists of education statistics and "Best States to Live in" lists. Plus, most people in Vermont are socialists and Agnostics (or fake Christians), so that obviously shows more intellegence than the bottom-listed Tennessee full of southern baptists and smake-handling, tougne-speaking Pentocostals.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Beacuse Vermont is in New England and Tennessee is in the South. Why do you think the Beverally Hillbillies were from Tennessee and not New England?

I know idiots (and extremely intelligent people) from both places. You're point is moot.

Plus, I have read numerous reports and Vermont is usually in the top five on state lists of education statistics and "Best States to Live in" lists. Plus, most people in Vermont are socialists and Agnostics (or fake Christians), so that obviously shows more intellegence than the bottom-listed Tennessee full of southern baptists and smake-handling, tougne-speaking Pentocostals.

And you say you aren't arrogant...

[Blabgoolia]

I was brought up in a non-church-going catholic family.... weird, I know.
I questioned it first when I was extremely young. In fact, I can't really remember a time when I didn't say "..wait a second..." about every little thing they told me. I was about 12 when I completely disregarded it as b.s. I went through all sorts of searches and depression until I was about 17. I ended up deciding that no matter who you are, what you do, where you're from, life is what you make it- pretty much literally. Life is what you make it. So I can choose to believe this or that- or I can make my own beliefs.
I'm 21 now and still making my own. All in all, I would say I'm very happy with my life.

[Nercer -]

Beacuse Vermont is in New England and Tennessee is in the South. Why do you think the Beverally Hillbillies were from Tennessee and not New England?

I know idiots (and extremely intelligent people) from both places. You're point is moot.

Plus, I have read numerous reports and Vermont is usually in the top five on state lists of education statistics and "Best States to Live in" lists. Plus, most people in Vermont are socialists and Agnostics (or fake Christians), so that obviously shows more intellegence than the bottom-listed Tennessee full of southern baptists and smake-handling, tougne-speaking Pentocostals.

And you say you aren't arrogant...

Yup.

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/vermont
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/tennessee

[Buffett and Colbert]

Yup.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/vermont
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/tennessee

Let's take a look at Vermont and your original claims, shall we?

"Most people in Vermont are socialists or Agnostics"
It lists Christians as making up 84% of the population and people of no religion (not necessarily atheists, so atheists are probably an even small number) 13%. Let's look at Tennessee. Christian 82% and non religious as 9%.

Now let's take a look at the socialism claim.
Hmm... lack of evidence in your sources for both sides.

Now the education. It ranks Vermont at 11th as smartest. Tennessee? It's silent so your source proves nothing.

[Nercer -]

Religious identification Religion 1990[36] 2001[37] 2008[36]
Christian 84% 67% 55%
Roman Catholic 37% 38% 26%
Protestant 47% 29% 29%
Congregational/United
Church of Christ 6%
Methodist 6%
Episcopal 4%
Other Christian 4%
Baptist 3%
Other Protestant 2%
Assemblies of God 1%
Evangelical 1%
Seventh-day Adventist 1%
Non-Denominational 1%
Other religions 3% 2% 4%
No religion 13% 22% 34%
Declined to answer 1% 8% 6%

[Maurepas]

Yup.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/vermont
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/tennessee

Let's take a look at Vermont and your original claims, shall we?

"Most people in Vermont are socialists or Agnostics"
It lists Christians as making up 84% of the population and people of no religion (not necessarily atheists, so atheists are probably an even small number) 13%. Let's look at Tennessee. Christian 82% and non religious as 9%.

Now let's take a look at the socialism claim.
Hmm... lack of evidence in your sources for both sides.

Now the education. It ranks Vermont at 11th as smartest. Tennessee? It's silent so your source proves nothing.

You'd never be able to prove "smartest" based on the Education rankings, as they rank them based on the performance of schools, which vary wildly between different parts of the State...

For example, Mississippi is consistently ranked near the bottom, however, on the Coast the schools are consistently ranked near the top, the University of Southern Mississippi is one of the premier colleges in the South...

[Buffett and Colbert]

*snip list*

Well? I wasn't lying.
EDIT-- Upon further inspection, I've realised that I was looking at the 1990 estimate.

Whoopsie.

EDIT 2-- Although I would like to add that the latest Vermont estimate is in 2008 while the latest Tennessee estimate is 2000.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Yup.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/vermont
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/tennessee

Let's take a look at Vermont and your original claims, shall we?

"Most people in Vermont are socialists or Agnostics"
It lists Christians as making up 84% of the population and people of no religion (not necessarily atheists, so atheists are probably an even small number) 13%. Let's look at Tennessee. Christian 82% and non religious as 9%.

Now let's take a look at the socialism claim.
Hmm... lack of evidence in your sources for both sides.

Now the education. It ranks Vermont at 11th as smartest. Tennessee? It's silent so your source proves nothing.

You'd never be able to prove "smartest" based on the Education rankings, as they rank them based on the performance of schools, which vary wildly between different parts of the State...

For example, Mississippi is consistently ranked near the bottom, however, on the Coast the schools are consistently ranked near the top, the University of Southern Mississippi is one of the premier colleges in the South...

Another reason as to why his sources prove nothing.

[Jordaxia]

I'm not sure when I realised my non-religious beliefs. Pretty early. I remember at 12 praying to a god I knew didn't exist, so I guess a year or two before then?

[Maurepas]

Yup.

http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/vermont
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/tennessee

Let's take a look at Vermont and your original claims, shall we?

"Most people in Vermont are socialists or Agnostics"
It lists Christians as making up 84% of the population and people of no religion (not necessarily atheists, so atheists are probably an even small number) 13%. Let's look at Tennessee. Christian 82% and non religious as 9%.

Now let's take a look at the socialism claim.
Hmm... lack of evidence in your sources for both sides.

Now the education. It ranks Vermont at 11th as smartest. Tennessee? It's silent so your source proves nothing.

You'd never be able to prove "smartest" based on the Education rankings, as they rank them based on the performance of schools, which vary wildly between different parts of the State...

For example, Mississippi is consistently ranked near the bottom, however, on the Coast the schools are consistently ranked near the top, the University of Southern Mississippi is one of the premier colleges in the South...

Another reason as to why his sources prove nothing.

Just elaborating on your point,

[Station 12]

Beacuse Vermont is in New England and Tennessee is in the South. Why do you think the Beverally Hillbillies were from Tennessee and not New England?

I know idiots (and extremely intelligent people) from both places. You're point is moot.

There are idiots everywhere and extremely intelligent people everywhere. Your point mooting is moot.

[Nercer -]

My reference for the socialist Vermont theory is this: Vermont is the only state to elect a Socialist Senator; current Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the Vermont Progressive Party (a socialist party) has equal footing with the Dems and Rep. Only 55% of Vermonters report being Christian. Only, I think, 23% go to church. So . . .

[Buffett and Colbert]

Beacuse Vermont is in New England and Tennessee is in the South. Why do you think the Beverally Hillbillies were from Tennessee and not New England?

I know idiots (and extremely intelligent people) from both places. You're point is moot.

There are idiots everywhere and extremely intelligent people everywhere. Your point mooting is moot.

No because his original claim was that Vermontians (?) were inherently smarter than Tennesseeans (?). In this case, one counterexample suffices.

[Nercer -]

Okay, then if Tennessee is just as smart as everywhere else is, then move out really for into the rural areas and live here for 16 years, then report back.

[Maurepas]

Okay, then if Tennessee is just as smart as everywhere else is, then move out really for into the rural areas and live here for 16 years, then report back.

You could apply that to any rural area...

[Buffett and Colbert]

My reference for the socialist Vermont theory is this: Vermont is the only state to elect a Socialist Senator;

This proves nothing as there quite possibly can be a higher percentage of socialists in other states. Sanders just happened to get elected.

current Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the Vermont Progressive Party (a socialist party) has equal footing with the Dems and Rep. Only 55% of Vermonters report being Christian. Only, I think, 23% go to church. So . . .

Sources?

[Nercer -]

Okay, then if Tennessee is just as smart as everywhere else is, then move out really for into the rural areas and live here for 16 years, then report back.

You could apply that to any rural area...

No . . .

[Buffett and Colbert]

Okay, then if Tennessee is just as smart as everywhere else is, then move out really for into the rural areas and live here for 16 years, then report back.

You could apply that to any rural area...

No more needs to be said.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Okay, then if Tennessee is just as smart as everywhere else is, then move out really for into the rural areas and live here for 16 years, then report back.

You could apply that to any rural area...

No . . .

I'd be willing to bet that education in the rural areas where I live is far worse than those areas in Tennessee.

[Nercer -]

http://www.statemaster.com/graph/lif_be ... es-to-live

http://www.statemaster.com/graph/edu_be ... ated-index