Studies show a correlation between IQ and 'beliefs'?

Question

Studies show a correlation between IQ and 'beliefs'?

Answer 1

I think the higher the IQ, the more one looks for answers.

Answer 2

Duh, gee, Father Guido...is that your ego you're stroking?

Answer 3

It's amazing. I would think that all of these "gifted" people here would understand that a correlation doesn't automatically mean religious=low iq and atheist=high iq. Of course there are going to be people who go against this and that's why it's a correlation, not a black and white fact.



When will these christians learn that personal stories mean nothing when it comes to statistics?

Answer 4

I'd wager that the 93 percent of the NAS members don't waste a lot of their time trying to persuade believers that they should become non-believers. I think the measure of our intelligence is that we concern ourselves with the behavior of people -- believers and non-believers alike -- rather than their faith/religiosity or lack thereof.



I don't know whether George Bush's war-mongering, Constitutional rights suspending, environment destroying, Geneva Convention ignoring policies are motivated by his religion or his low IQ and it doesn't matter. They are wrong because they cause suffering and they need to end.

Answer 5

Wow, an article that supports someone's view. There are enough articles in the world if you look hard enough to support any view you could ever think of. "Studies show" is just another term to mean we came up with a different way to make our view look the most accurate.

Answer 6

There's also a study that says your wife had 8 other guys before she married you and you had 9 other women before you married her.



There's also a study that says 30% of the US doesn't believe men landed on the moon.

Answer 7

I just want to agree with Stacy R... I think that the smarter you are the more you search for answers and your own personal truth. For some that leads to Atheism and for others it made lead to other spiritual paths. :-)

Answer 8

This is not surprising. I'm sure atheists are more intelligent, at least they thought about the belief systems handed down by their parents and society, and were rational enough to make their decision to reject these belief.



Karl Marx is quoted as asking if religion was the opiate of the masses.



below is his full quote



'*Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions'.

Answer 9

I won't get into what my IQ is--I'm in the gifted range--I willingly go to an Episcopal church every Sunday. So, does that mess up that study? I know a lot of college professors who are regular church-goers. One of them is a philosophy professor and could run circles intellectually around a lot of the people here. Try not to generalize.

Answer 10

I'm sure there are smart people who believe in god still. It's amazing the ability we have to shut off part of our brain when it's an issue we don't want to deal with. Realizing that you've been deluding yourself for X number of years can be a difficult pill to swallow. =)

Answer 11

The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God

Answer 12

What I say below is as an atheist/agnostic.



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Yes, there might be a correlation, but even someone with a "high" IQ SHOULD realize this correlation does not prove squat with respect towards the existence or non-existence of a god. If anything (assuming the studies valid), the relationship between IQ and faith show that people with "higher" IQ tend to have less faith. Whoopee-do-do.



Belief in a god is a matter of faith (belief that is not based on proof), not intelligence. Just like the argument that faith in a god does not prove its existence, the lack of faith in a god does not prove that a god does not exist. That should be clear. Moreover, one can reject institutionalized religious views towards a god and yet still have faith in the existence of a higher power beyond themselves. I just don't give a damn either way.



It is not surprising that members of the National Academy of Science are much less likely to believe in a personal god. The ability to test an argument is core to the scientific method. Thus, since one cannot reliably test for the existence of god, it seems logical that these people would not accept the argument as being valid.



I fail to see the big deal about the correlation. So what?!? Do you feel somehow superior because of it?

Answer 13

You also proved IQ means nothing. Why do people treat "Mensa" like it's an accolade that leaves you with inherent happiness once reaching admission? Nobody cares about these high IQ societies as they are absolutely pointless. I've never met one real intellectual that ever had to gloat about his IQ amongst his peers to satisfy what a mathematical score told him in which hardly measures anything other than cognitive ability which is not what humans are "Entirely" built upon.

Answer 14

it does have a bias since it's an article on atheism. Some other interesting things are that IQ may not be a good measure of intelligence, but more a measure of education and the kind of environment you grew up in. Also it could be a measure at how little you question things and just accept the standards that are prevailing and learn to be a winner in a questionably sane world. The most educated people run the governments of the world and look at what a mess they've made of it. How intelligent is it to waste so much of our resources while not addressing basic needs? Keep in mind that our president graduated from Yale. What does it prove? That they've mastered the rules of a heartless and self-serving system. Perhaps something to be considered is that life may be more about heart than intellect, although I would encourage a balance :-)

Answer 15

The last IQ test I took I rated very high in and the results were that I had a very analytical mind. But then that doesn't really mean anything except that I can see the big picture and patterns better than the average guy. So what?



I'd rather be a fool for Messiah than have all the knowledge in the world. I know that you can't possibly understand that but that's just how it is. If you wish to insult my intelligence when you don't even know me I guess that's your prerogative.



All these kinds of questions do not change a believers mind. All it does is create resentment and ill will and shows us really where your heart is at. You have no interest in what you proclaim. To insult us is to make a lie out of the claim of the atheist that each person is responsible for their own beliefs and that they are a product of culture and evolved morals. If we have learned our morals from our culture what difference does it make to you if we live according to our morals or beliefs.



It's all a lie. The fact is you know you are without God and it just makes you crazy that we believe because you know your doomed so instead of looking inward and crying upward for understanding you attack.



I'm pretty sure your next post will be blasting a christian understanding or blasting the bible since you have already established that pattern. Your a hypocrite. You don't live up to your own belief system. Live and let live.

Answer 16

While that survey is indeed correct, it does not correspond to history! Historically, those with high IQs were often religious (if only deist), which leads me to believe the findings of the aforementioned survey correspond more to modern culture than to IQ.



That said, I'm a member of MENSA and don't subscribe to one religion (though I do believe in God). So perhaps you're right.



Did you know that intelligence/high IQ also corresponds to a low birth rate? The more intelligent a person is, the fewer children they tend to bear. Great, that speaks well for the future, aye?

Answer 17

I question the validity of those studies simply because of the different types of intelligence. I mean, taken to the extreme, you might have an idot savant with who is a mathematical genius but still believes in the Easter bunny. the word "intelligence" doesn't really mean anything inthis context. The IQ tests probably focused on analytical skills or scientific knowledge, which is certainly a good measure of some types of intelligence, but it completely disregards others. Issues of belief are more likely to be influenced by Mathematical and Logical intelligence than by musical or interpersonal or visual/spacial intelligence. Most IQ tests focus only on math, logic, visual/spacial, and linguistic. One with a BA, such as myself, does not necessarily have the aptitude to conquer advanced scientific principals, while, conversely, one with a PhD in Bio-Chem might not have the aptitude to conquer James Joyce. That doesn't mean that one is not intelligent, but rather that their intelligence is in different areas. I strongly suspect that those who are intelligent in logic are more likely to scrutinize the holy teachings of their faiths, but someone might be a brilliant writer and still be quite likely to have a religion.

Answer 18

I definitely agree with that, and the reason for it is as plain as day and easy to understand. It is exactly because people that go through such great lengths to educate themselves are totally wrapped up in this world and do not want to give it all up. But as the Bible clearly states: What is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and lose his soul?

You know living life without God and by our own terms looks very enticing now. But when payday comes from then on forever it will be time to pay for that decision. What I fail to understand is why don't the people that want to live without God, want to spend the rest of their life in prison without the possibility of parole?

They obviously think they will enjoy spending eternity in pain, agony, and torment. And all they are actually doing is straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. But all I can testify to is better them than me. But I still feel very sorry for them, because I have been blessed with knowledge that I cannot deny. Take care and may God bless you spiritually.

Answer 19

One should see correctly what IQ is. It measures response time, searching for patterns, analytical processes and knowledge. People who have high IQ's are therefore more suitable for leadership positions since they on average make better decisions here in the material world.



This does however not make a person wiser, happier or more sensitive to the spiritual. The last research I read is that the happiest people are not in the western world at all, but in Afrika (Nigeria if memory serves). So they enjoy their lives more than we do and so I would postulate that despite their lack of IQ they are a lot wiser.



One can adapt to optimize oneself in the material world or to optimize oneself for the spiritual world and optimization in one can be a drawback for the other.



If I would spend my working days reading aura's, praying all will go well and consulting spirit guides instead of resolving arguments, analyzing data and forming strategies, procedures and tactics I'ld soon be out of a job for mismanagement. However if I would deny the existance of the spiritual my life would be lacking an important dimension which gives me contentment, a sense of fullfilment, peace, harmony and purpose.



I think those of high IQ should use their high powers of perception and analysis to find out what they want for themselves and adapt their methodology to the spiritual terrain which is another dimension with other requirements, strategies and tactics than the material.



Spiritual development however can be quite separate and even opposite to organised religion.

Answer 20

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12



Jesus chose men who were by the standards of the world unlearned...fishermen,tax collectors etc...



There is a reason for him doing so.





1Corinthians 1:27. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.

Paul the Apostle,was an exception to the rule (probably smarter than you and i put together).



Jesus also quite often spoke in parables to hide precious truth from those who will incabable of hearing or seeing.



I would submit to you that these studies only lend validity to that which I was already aware and much more than they were aware

Answer 21

So you've gained the knowledge of the whole world and you've lost your soul. What have you profited?



The mastery of the future is so clearly seen in two books of the Bible, i.e. book of Daniel and book of Revelation. The proof of the existence of God is in the facts of the prophecy of the Bible. God has demonstrated such complete control and knowledge of the future.



At this time biblical prophecy is taking place in rapid succession. If you are ignorant of the Bible, then please don't talk to me about man's IQ's, intelligence, religiosity or Wikipedia's article on atheism. My friend, if you don't know the Bible then you are an educated idiot. I apologize for that remark, but then I don't know any other way to say it.

Answer 22

If the delusion and passed on memes are deeply ingrained in a person's mind, no amount of I.Q. can overcome it. Dr. Francis Collins is a perfect example of that.



Collins’ book (The Language of God) reveals that a stellar career in science offers no guarantee of a scientific frame of mind.

Answer 23

I don't think it is a matter of what you believe or don't believe, I think its a matter of whether you find your own answers by looking within, or believe in things just because that is what you have always been taught. Each person must find his or her own answers, by looking within for that is the only place anyone can ever hope to find the real God. The more intelliegent a person is, the more willing that person is to ask questions, and look inside for their own truth, instead of blindly following someone else's truth, just because you are afraid to question conventional so called wisdom. *sm*.

Answer 24

Sorry but I've read enough of your rude questions to be quiet anymore. I'm tired of your statements like-- believers must have low IQ's, or believers can't possibly be well informed or educated. To fellow answerers, don't waste your time. Father Guido thinks HE is all knowing and the most intelligent person on the planet. You'll never convince him otherwise. SO, let him read studies and analyze everything. God will get him in the end, one way or another. I will continually be praying for you Father Guido. Continually.

Answer 25

why is there such an abundance of dumb questions and answers when most people say they have a near genius IQ?

Maybe measurement of an IQ is not as hot as it is supposed to be?

Apart from that I don't think you need the intelligence to question the existence of god, you need intelligence to question whatever belief system you inherited from your parents. If you are born and raised atheist, you don't need to think at all to stay one.

Answer 26

Are not highly intelligent people richly blessed? Rich in knowledge? Maybe that is why Jesus said it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

Answer 27

You'd love to think so, wouldn't you? There are a lot of factors in intelligence other than the IQ score. Mensa is for pompous dips.

Answer 28

Yes, I have heard about this and the statistics in the Science academies.

Answer 29

I get a kick out of the answers above that flaunt their IQ. From personal experience, I have found that those who flaunt their IQ are most likely to falsely inflate it.



I'm not surprised about the NSA members being mostly atheistic. That is one of the highest honors to be inducted into the NSA, and it is reserved only for the cream of the crop among scientists.

Answer 30

Do not writers use information to support their arguement Guido?



An atheist asking a question about studies done on atheism by an atheist.



Sounds like water asking other water if it is wet after using info done by other water polling other water if it is wet.



Very funny -C

Answer 31

Gotta be true. LOL! I just noticed your first answerer. A genius that can't spell genius! LOLLOLLOLLOLLOL

Answer 32

a few days ago i saw some graph on the net like that.. the higher the IQ the less they believe or something...

Answer 33

Featured article on atheism: then there surely can't be any bias in that study.

Answer 34

I have faith and belief in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!! If that makes my IQ low, I don't really care. I still know I'll be in heaven and I have enough intelligence to know that.

Answer 35

Intelligence goes with pride and pride is a blinder for your need for God. If you don't need God, you are not going to find Him. So yes, maybe there is a correlation between IQ and beliefs but then it just makes me feel sorry for those who have let their minds blind the sight of their hearts.

Answer 36

Yes the Atheist are mentally retarded and should be exterminated by the rack and stake.

Answer 37

YAH! We win!!!



YAYAYAYAYAHHH!!!!



NEENER NEENER NEENER!!!!



ahem...



.

Answer 38

But I have a near genious IQ, and a BA. So, I think your article is of balance.