Who is more intelligent . . .?

Question

I have seen many claim that athiests are more intelligent than those with religious beliefs - can you provide any support for this?

It would be interesting if everybody volunteerd what they believed and what (if any) standardized test scores they have (not that they are that accurate for testing intelligence), just to see.

to volunteer my own: don't believe in any organized religion, but do believe in the Creator - GMAT 700 (93rd percentile)

Answer 1

religious beliefs have nothing to do with I.Q.

Answer 2

IQ doesn't affect anything, look at President Bush.

And it's not intelligence that matters it's the ability to use it in a good fashion, I'd rather associate with someone who had a little wisdom then someone with just a lot of knowledge.

And religion doesn't matter and which way look at President Bush again, would you be proud to call him a Christian, I know many that would not, whereas some great scholars have come from Christianity, same as any other faith like Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, etc.

Answer 3

Believing in God, fairy tales; bundles of sticks and mud; or nothing at all; has little impact on how one manipulates the environment around ones self. Belief in ones own abilities and seeing how, through the trails and errors of life this belief holds up; may be the better indicator of intelligence. So then, we could have a young Lady who believes God is riding around on a unicorn but also can spin out an open heart surgery be considered very intelligent. An old fellow who believes in nothing at all but has the uncanny ability to assess the value of world energy demands and profit from that knowledge would also be considered intelligent. Belief and intelligence aren't mutually exclusive, in my opinion. However if you do find yourself worshiping bundles of sticks and mud, well that might require something extraordinary to adjust into the 100 IQ medium; but hey maybe they would be great at tracking small game; and that takes a bit of thinking. Intelligence is relative to the situation, beliefs aside. I hope this helps, this is only my opinion; but it helps me make sense of the world.

Answer 4

My IQ was 172 when tested in 1975. I was told that puts me in the top 1% and I was a member of Mensa for a few years.

I found most of the people in Mensa to be boring and boastful.

There is little if any link of IQ and academic ability. Also general IQ tests reveal little of substance. The tests need to be much more specific to indicate anything really useful. For instance one person may be gifted in mathematical skills, another in verball and another in visiospacial and the list goes on.

I am sure the list of scientists and geniuses who believe in religion is a long one.

Most religious beliefs are learned or indoctrinated but are after all items of faith not fact. Very little in the Christian faith, or any other for that matter, stand up to the fact test. If they did it would no longer require faith.

The modern world with it's gifts of information, interpretation just general availability of scientific knowledge in laymans terms gives most people an ability to test faith against reality in real terms.

It has long been suggested that the various religions are simply props to those unable to understand or cope with life without them.

Whilst I am now firmly an athiest I would not decry any person following any faith or belief they wish as long as it is not harmful or detrimental to others. What really does count is peoples attitudes to faith and non believers. Where intelligence and faith divide is the different attitudes each has.

Athiests in the main seem to defend the right of people to follow any religion they wish as long as they do not bother others. Christians more and more seem to seek to dictate to others.

As a half answer I would therefore suggest that Athiests are intelligent enough to seek peace and freedom for everyone whilst Christians in particular seek to covert it to themselves. That the antics of Christians, particularly 'born again' or 'evangelical' ones actually drive people away from the church and that the use of religious references by politicians actually makes world problems worse. Therefore on the surface religions show less intelligent thought and reflection than athiests.

Answer 5

There is a strong correlation between religion and intelligence. Intelligence varies inversely with religious beliefs according to the studies quoted on wikipedia (higher IQ means less likely to be religious).
Have a look for yourself.

Answer 6

Intelligence, again, has nothing to do with religious beliefs. Actually most of the "religious" people I know are highly intelligent. I hav an IQ of 128, and I firmly believe in Christ. My husband has an IQ of 182 and he, too, is a believer. So I guess that's my proof.

Answer 7

Religious belief has to do with gullibility, not intelligence. Some of the brightest people I know are the most gullible.
I wish that the "Einstein believed in god lie" would stop being used by religionists, he was an Atheist.

Answer 8

Intelligence and Relgious beliefs....

I do not believe that there is any correlation whatsoever. This is honestly an example of some crap studies. Studies like these are designed to influence people's answers by informing them of the desired answer BEFORE the study is really underway.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/friend/peer_pressure.html

Go to the above link if you are feeling conflicted.

Answer 9

i dont think intelligence has anything to do with what somebody belives in. Everybody has a reason why he or she belives in his belief. Being an atheist or a religious beliver doesnt make one intelligent, so i think no group is more intelligent than the othr here.

Answer 10

At least one study I've read from Cambridge suggested that the higher the IQ, the lower the tolerance for mythology and folklore in that person's life.
Essentially, the smarter you are, the more apt you are to realize that god is imaginary.

Answer 11

I have an IQ of 131 and I am a Catholic but I am sure many can bost of much higher IQ's but hopefully this is not too shabby. But your intelligence quotient is only useful if you put it to use.