IQ and religiosity negatively correlated? Is it true?

Question

Several studies have investigated the relationship between intelligence and the degree of religious belief (excluding humanism), with most showing that intelligence averages decrease significantly with the "importance of religion" an IQ testee rates as apt. But most studies chiefly show that people with religious beliefs have lower IQ's and tend to be less educated.

Just google it don. You'll find many sites that talk about the studies.......sigh......see what I mean. lol

Answer 1

absolutely and undeniably true. It's a proven fact.

Answer 2

There is very little question about it.

From a previous set of questions on the same topic:

The question below was posted by "immortal beloved." There are citations, etc. In general, there is a negative correlation between IQ & the "Religiosity Index". A more recent study, with a long name that starts "Cross-National Popular Relgiosity ..." (Journal of Religion and Society 2005 - Gregery S. Paul), also directly correlates a higher "religiosity index" with higher rates of homicide, early death, STD infection rates, abortions & teen pregnancies. (In the U.S., the diffrrences are quite dramatic.) the study was done in 18 developed democracies.


"In the leading journal 'Nature' by Larson and Witham in 1998 a study showed only 7% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences (U.S) believed in a personal god. Of the 1,074 members of the Fellows of the Royal Society (U.K) a similar study was done showing that only 3.3% believed. Mensa (the society for individuals with high IQ) which publishes Mensa magazine, in 2002, had an article published by Paul Bell that concluded that of 43 separate studies carried out since 1927 on the relationship between religious belief and one's IQ and/or educational level, all but four found an inverse connection. That is, the higher one's intelligence or education level the less one is likely to be religious or hold 'supernatural beliefs" of any kind.

I do not assume that all believers are stupid. This question merely states certain facts and asks for responses."

Answer 3

Yes it is true.

The correlation is rather large, as well. Around R=-0.8 to R=-0.9, which means IQ accounts for anywhere between 64% and 81% of how religious someone will be.

However, people need to realize that this is again, a correlation. Correlation does not equate to causation; it is possible to have a result that does not agree with the statistics. It just means across the entire population, the correlation is true most of the time.

Answer 4

Who makes an Iq test? It doesnt seem that there can be any objective test. The test is created by somebody and the questions are framed according to a subjective standard, it cannot be objective. So depending on who makes the test, you can be an idiot and the results reversed. Wisdom is not quantifiable as such anyway, only a moron would believe that.
I score 130 what do you score? double digits I would guess, since you posted this question.
The correlation between education and religious belief, resulting in these inaccurate findings, is totally bogus.
Because education is subjective, do you consider todays college student educated? I consider them to be morons mostly?
Education is conditioning today to believe against God, to make enemies of what is normal and create confused individual, who do not believe in right or wrong. They call that educated. The person believed in morality before they went in and when they come out, they don't know if a man is made for a woman or what? That is real educated buddy.

Answer 5

There is a fundamental flaw in the studies and it is the fact that the
rise of civilization goes hand in hand with the rise of the need to
produce advanced engineering skills needed to build the mighty
temples and monuments that large religions often require.
It is an established historical fact that free thinking people
benefited by being hired to work on the various projects by popes during the period 1350 to 1700 in Europe.The finding of the studies may be right but needs of the religious are important to social development .Intolerance is the enemy.

Answer 6

If these studies are truthful then they show that greater numbers of people with high IQs are found in the number of people who are not religious as are found in the same number of religious people, or to put it another way, the same IQ is found in greater numbers in non religious people as opposed to religious people. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the findings but would simply point out that if they are true then they confirm what Jesus said concerning those who find the way that leads to life in Matthew 7:13-14. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Answer 7

it might be, I've also read that statistics show people get more religious after thirty, and some of the studies were done of college students using sat scores as intelligence quotients. i personally don't think that IQ has an effect on how religious one is or is going to be later in life. i also think if you took two people that have the same IQ differing only in their belief in God, and measured their overall health, happiness and prosperity, the person with the belief in God would be overall healthier, happier and more prosperous.

Answer 8

While I would never say that there are no smart, religious people, I will say that it takes a certain kind of person to follow blindly behind a religion, "or just have faith" as they call it. Critical thought is what separates people who can memorize information from people who can be orginators of information. It doesn't take too much thought to just spew out the stories Mommy and Daddy taught us as kids about religion.

I would also have to say that belief in God is different than belief in religion. You have to have an extreme amount of faith to believe that the world just popped into existence with all the proper conditions for life without the presence of an intelligent and powerful Designer. In other words, it takes as much faith to be an atheist as it takes to be a Christian. It is statistically next to impossible to have life as we know it without some higher power. Belief in this power constitutes one's spirtuality. Religion on the other hand is just doctrine and ritual.

Answer 9

there is extremely little question approximately it. From a prior set of questions with reference to the comparable subject rely: The question under replaced into published via "immortal liked." There are citations, etc. oftentimes, there's a detrimental correlation between IQ & the "Religiosity Index". a greater moderen learn, with a protracted call that starts "bypass-nationwide customary Relgiosity ..." (magazine of religion and Society 2005 - Gregery S. Paul), additionally directly correlates an stronger "religiosity index" with larger expenses of homicide, early dying, STD an infection expenses, abortions & teenager pregnancies. (interior the U.S., the diffrrences are extremely dramatic.) the learn replaced into completed in 18 stepped forward democracies. "interior the main effective magazine 'Nature' via Larson and Witham in 1998 a learn confirmed in basic terms 7% of the contributors of the nationwide Academy of Sciences (U.S) believed in a private god. Of the a million,074 contributors of the guys of the Royal Society (U.ok) an identical learn replaced into completed exhibiting that in basic terms 3.3% believed. Mensa (the society for those with extreme IQ) which publishes Mensa magazine, in 2002, had an editorial revealed via Paul Bell that concluded that of 40 3 separate learn achieved considering 1927 on the relationship between religious perception and one's IQ and/or educational point, all yet 4 stumbled on an inverse connection. that's, the better one's intelligence or training point the less one is probably to be religious or carry 'supernatural ideals" of any style. i do no longer anticipate that all people believers are stupid. this question in elementary terms states specific data and asks for responses."

Answer 10

I have not heard of these studies and I would like to see the methodology of the study. there are plenty of ways they can make any group look bad in a quantitative, or even qualitative analysis. But if it is a good study and based on science then it would be interesting to read.
Just be sure to have a critical eye when reading such things.
B

Answer 11

Uh... as a Christian who is fervent in my belief, I guess I'm too stupid to understand your question! Name one study, just one that really reports that. That might be the most ridiculous post yet. Even if you could name one I'm sure there was no bias in reporting that finding. I know plenty of well-educated highly intellectual Christians and religious people. A "study" I read said nearly 85% of all Americans are religious. So your claiming there is more intellegence among the other 15%? Or is my study wrong?