Meta-study shows religious people are less intelligent

[cailin maith]

The penguins beat the stuff into be.

Snap!!

[BrianSnail]

Religion is an outdated, man-made concept to keep the masses in line.

But that's just my opinion.

[Mich the Tester]

Well you would say that 'cause you're wrong

Explain the Big Bang.

silencesilencesilenceBANG!

[cailin maith]

silencesilencesilenceBANG!

[NotAllThere]

Once you've found a correlation, you then need to find a causitive factor, or at least a causal link.

Perhaps religious people are less likely to go to college, because they've decided to persue more vocational careers, not requiring a degree.

Or maybe religious people are discriminated against, and get a poorer education than communist party members.

Or perhaps the educational system is hostile to religious belief.

Or maybe it's just coincidence.

Most of the studies quoted seem to be US based. So, rather than religious people are thicker than non-religious, it would be more accurate to say "People bought up in a the US style of Christianity are less likely to attend college/be physicists/be millionaires that those who are not".

tbh - having seen what passes for majority christian though in the US, I'm not the least bit surprised that there is a correlation.

Why does this correlation exist? The first answer that comes to mind is that religious beliefs tend to be more illogical or incoherent than secular beliefs, and intelligent people tend to recognize that more quickly. But this explanation will surely be rejected by religious people, who will seek other explanations and rationalizations.

A possible counter-argument is that intelligent people tend to be more successful than others. The lure of worldly success and materialism draws many of these intellectually gifted individuals away from God. After all, who needs God when you (apparently) are making it on your own?

However, this argument does not withstand closer scrutiny. Most of the studies outlined above describe the religious attitudes of students, who have yet to enter the working world, much less succeed in it. Some might then argue that the most intelligent students are nonetheless succeeding in school. But "success" in school (for those who may have forgotten!) is more measured in terms of popularity, sports, physical attractiveness, personality, clothes, etc. Grades are but one of many measures of success in a young person's life -- one that is increasingly becoming less important, as many social critics point out.

The simplest and most parsimonious explanation is that religion is a set of logical and factual claims, and those with the most logic and facts at their disposal are rejecting it largely on those grounds.

[NotAllThere]

Well you would say that 'cause you're wrong

Explain the Big Bang.

Latest from New Scientist is that it was a big boing.

[gingerjedi]

silencesilencesilenceBANG!

What casued it and what was there before?

I find a lot of scientific theory is just as hard to comprehend as a god, the human mind just isn’t capable.

[deano]

All I would suggest is that religious people try atheism for a little while; try thinking critically and leaving all the options open; see if you still believe after a few months of critical thinking.

Okay, let's explore this a little. Suppose I did do that. What actual, real difference would it make to my life? Beyond a lie in on Sunday.

Would it make my life better in any way at all? Would there be a definite improvement for me personally? If so, what would they be exactly?

If there isn't any improvement to be had, then what is the point of your suggestion, because all it is really saying is "Hey, try this because it will keep your life the same and might actually make it worse".

Sell your idea to me!

[Bagpuss]

What casued it and what was there before?

I find a lot of scientific theory is just as hard to comprehend as a god, the human mind just isn’t capable.

That's what a physicist would call a moronic question, which is always a good ploy when you don't have an answer

[ace00]

Latest from New Scientist is that it was a big boing.

Is that something to with can-a-peas? Marjaramama?
Which is incidentally what most of these so-called prophets were all about. Totally wasted.