We all know it is a fact that religious importance and IQ are negativly correlated, such as in uneducated areas, but do you think it is religion that lowers IQ or is it a low IQ that causes the need for religion in the first place.
http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/iq_relig.h...
2006-07-28 06:40:47 · 20 answers · asked by dino_ou812 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I would vote that it's the low IQ that causes the need for religion. Most religions began as a way to explain the unexplainable. e.g. where did the world come from.
The more intelligent the individual, the more likely they are to ask questions and see beyond the dead end of religion. (because I believe it is so). People that don't see the question, or can't understand the answer will be more content with the mythology of religion.
2006-07-28 06:45:49 · answer #1 · answered by justpucky 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
LOL, dino.
Good question. I think it's both, the low IQ attracts to the religion for the most part (the faithful unthinking masses) but I think those who have been brainwashed who are ordinarily smart people otherwise (the minority) put their brain capacity into trying to reason out the unreasonable and make up explainations for God--like trying to analyze and interperet the bible and trying in vain to find scientific evidence that the earth is less than 10,000 years old! It must take a heavy dose of denial, a huge lapse of reason, a leap of faith for the otherwise intelligent person to be a believer. Also, I would think that the smart person who is a true believer doesn't have observation down as one of his/her strong points.
(notice how an xtian poster claims that believers are smarter, not based on any evidence or reason, but based on what a book written by primitive men meantioned....that says it ALL)
....and justpucky hit the nail right on the head,
she deserves the 10 points.
2006-07-28 14:09:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. The fact that I'm religious didn't change my I.Q. My I.Q. isn't low resulting in the need for religion. It's neither. People turn to religion for several different reasons. Whether you realize it or not... even if Christianity isn't true, it helps a lot of people cope with a lot of different stresses and things that they have been through, throughout their life. They find peace, happiness, contentment and full satisfaction from serving the Lord. Even if you don't think that any of it's true. Who is the ignorant one? To have all of the positive aspects of a faith? Or to deal with everything on your own without any hope? I think that turning to God is the smart thing to do.
Also, being religious has made me smarter. Not because of the fact that I am religious. But because of the fact that I have searched out the reasons for my faith. I have found scientific facts that support the Bible, artifacts that support the Bible, and evidence that Supports the Bible. It has made me smarter in this aspect... I have searched for the answers... and found them.
Thus, your theory is full of nothing but holes.
2006-07-28 13:43:13 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion has nothing to do with IQ. A person's IQ cannot be lowered. Repent and come to the Lord before it is too late.
2006-07-28 13:44:45 · answer #4 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, some of the smartest people ever have been strongly religious. So provide the study that justifies fact you stated. Please add to comments.
Nothing can make you smarter, however, you can become wiser.
Read proverbs. If you study and gain knowledge, then you will begin to gain understanding. As you gain more and more understanding, you begin to gain wisdom.
The bible says, gain wisdom, for it is the principal thing.
A wise idiot is much to be preferred over a smart person without wisdom.
2006-07-28 14:12:53 · answer #5 · answered by Cogito Sum 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many of the most brilliant minds in history belonged to Christians. Many were important leaders, influential and famous writers, investigators, the list goes on. Examples are Martin Luther King, the writer C.S Lewis, Lew Wallace, Frank Morrison, Deitrich Bonhoeffer, Francis Schaeffer and many more.
Look for the autobiography of these people like C.S Lewis and Lew Wallace and you will be surprised that they were non-believers just like you and realized he really exist.
The conversion to Christianity doesn't affect the intellect of a person, it complements it. To many people it has provided relieve, since it gives them the missing pieces they were looking for and that they couldn't see.
Conversion to Christianity stimulates the imaginary capacities and creativities, take C.S Lewis and JRR Tolkien who were catholics and created wonderful works of literature.
Be wise and believe in God, maybe you have some missing pieces that need to be found.
Pro 14:6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
Hos 14:9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.
Pro 14:15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Pro 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
Pro 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
True Wisdom comes from having a special relationship with
God, the foolish ones are the ones who aren't in the right path.
2006-07-28 17:18:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity is based on the inspired word of God which is the Bible. The intelligent designer which is God, he has made everything that you see around you in the natural world. The Bible is Gods communication to you, what he thinks. So if you read and think about what the ultimate intelligence has said, then you become intelligent or smarter.
2006-07-28 14:03:35 · answer #7 · answered by Rez 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny, I believe in God and I looked under the heading the 26 false prophets and had to agree with them.God and religion are so far apart its almost scary. True believers in God never supported any religion anyway, maybe more people should read that link
2006-07-28 13:53:44 · answer #8 · answered by ostrom57 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How could anything lower IQ?
We have a need for religion, because God puts the need in us.
We either nourish it or reject the idea. Actually we have the need for God.
2006-07-28 13:46:30 · answer #9 · answered by cowgirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All in how you choose to apply it. If all your choices are based solely on a 2000 year old book that hardly applies to modern life, rather than think for yourself and answer your own questions, then yes. Religion doesn't cause ignorance, it only encourages it.
2006-07-28 13:44:20 · answer #10 · answered by Kenny ♣ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋