darth_ender said:

This is probably among the most ignorant, yet most frequent beliefs of atheists today. Many of the greatest minds in history have been religious, and the greatest discoveries and theories developed by the pious. I'd venture to say without shame, regardless of how arrogant it sounds, that I have a greater capacity to reason than most of this forum here. Am I the most intelligent? Likely not. Am I the most learned? Assuredly not. But I have delved into study and self-examination, into philosophy and refinement of understanding like no one I've met. I am willing to refine my theories, to question my beliefs, to examine different angles, and to entertain and acceptable seemingly contradicting possibilities with equal validity better than anyone I know. I consider my mind very gifted in this regard, and I find the snobbishness of today's Google atheists so tiresome aggravating that I can hardly describe it.

I didn't say that people who are religious cannot do those things. I just consider religion a hinderance to those things. Kudos for those today and throughout history who have. I just think that a lot more of such thought and reflection might have happened without religion.