Why do very religious people seem less intelligent than average people?

Question

I hate to dis my religious friends but I've really noticed that usually the more religious they are the worse they do in school, and they always seem to blame it on God that they are the way they are. "God made me dumb", they say. Or, "since I got an F, this is the way it's supposed to be, because God plans everything". To me is sounds like a bad excuse. What do you think, religious thinking correlates with lower intelligence?

Answer 1

Bcoz when ur religious u have a lot of faith in god.And when u put in faith or trust u use the right side of ur brain which has got to do with arts,crafts,spirituality and u shut down ur left side of ur brain which is responisble for logic,intelligence etc.That's y when u have faith ull do anyhting it's beyond logic or intelligence.I dont knwo bout the blaming god thing though guess they are just looking for excuses.But that aslo doesnt account for all the ppl...as i have seen a lot of ppl who can be religious as well as very intelligent and sumtimes i think it''s maybe bcoz they are so religious.

Answer 2

I don't know if there is any correlation between religion and intelligence that could stand up to scrutiny.

I think the problem may have less to do with religion than with native intelligence. One form of intelligence (logico-verbal) is the ability to understand and resolve problems. This requires causal thinking (a causes b and b causes c, so a and c are related). Some religious people aren't interested in understanding or problem-solving, they're sort of fatalistic, whatever will be will be, types for whom thinking may be difficult. Hence they "accept" conditions, do not attempt to resolve or improve conditions and problems, and seem to have little concept of self, as in self-reliance or self-confidence. They're passive. They are pessimistic. Sounds a little like depression. They don't use their intelligence, so they appear "dumb." Maybe this is more a medical than even an intelligence problem or religious problem.

Answer 3

Does it make sense to you that people who are very religious need to make excuses because they are too insecure and close minded to accept responsibility for their own actions or learn about new things. Religion was created because people needed to explain natural phenomenon and now we have those answers due to science. People who are religious have parents who are religious and they inherit and mimick the same actions and strengths from their parents. They spend all their time either blaming god or praising him, not reading or taking any true interest in extending their knowledge. Proof of this: when you hear George W speak (and we all know that he is super religious).

Answer 4

Well, for starters, most people hate to take the blame for their own deficiencies. We'd much rather blame it on someone else. That being said, you seem to paint with a fairly broad brush.

Most Christians I know have college degrees. Several of my friends have IQ's of 125 or over. While this isn't true of all, or maybe even most, it does show that your statement is overtly unfair. You generalize way to much.

My question to you is, "What deficiencies are in your life? Would you stand up to the same type of scrutiny that you have placed upon "religious people?""

Answer 5

mainly cause they are fully devoted to some thousand year old 'scriptue' that may very well be untrue due to mans manipulation. when someone believe wholeheartedly in something they are very closed to outside influences. therefore they aren't so concerned with things cause they 'know the truth' and are 'with god'
But at the same time you friends are probably just plain stupid. they are right when they say "god made me dumb". I have religious friends and I can not claim that any are stupid, they are extremely intelligent.
but then again did you ever hear that you attract similar types of people? based on that, it's not just your friends but it's you AND you friends.

Answer 6

How can you be intelligent and believe that myths are literally true?

I've always wondered how people could graduate college and continue to take the bible as the literal truth.

It's one thing to follow a religion because of what you get out of it...it's another thing to believe that you are going to burn in hell for all eternity just because you didn't recite some words and get dunked in water.

So yes...I think people who are religious (the ones that believe it word for word and do not question it) are less intelligent.

Answer 7

Wow!!! They really say that? They're blaming their God for not working in school? This is just beyond stupid...

The one's I come in contact with are that way due to the fact that they ignore any new information. I've had one tell me "there's nothing new under the sun" to support her ignorance. Like the arguments in here about evolution. They view that as a direct attack against their faith (must not be very strong faith if THAT bothers them) and will ignore ANY information about it. Even if it is proven in some way... even a small way.

Answer 8

Actually this is ironic. Most of your brightest american students come from religious and homeschool back grounds and are at some of the best colleges. Its hard to be religious and ignorant since being religious means having knowledge of religious practices.

Answer 9

Your circumstancial evidence isn't compelling. I think a lot of religious types just default everything to God, though, and that makes them sound naive.

Answer 10

What happens to upset me is that you lump us all as ignorant.
If they are saying those things they are looking for excuses.
Also , when religion is concerned emotions can interfer and for alot of people we react not think.
That is called to be human, and the last time I checked we all were regardless of our beliefs.