Is there a correlation between religiosity and intelligence?

Question

There seems to be a correlation. I don't think it is very flattering for the religious types. Sorry bout your luck.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religiosity_and_intelligence

Answer 1

The correlation is the a lack in intelligence leads to the faith and belief in religiosity.

Answer 2

Sigh, this is a frequent question on this board. Wish someone was compiling that stat and surveying the religious affiliation and intent of the person asking the question.

Having designed and participated in some research projects, please realize that it is very difficult to remove the bias of the researcher even with a review board examining the study. Many research studies have major design and/or implementation flaws, but are still published for a very meager nugget of truth within the results that may spur someone on to clean up the study. In order to know if there is any truth in these results, first religiosity has to be defined. Is it someone who carries out every statement of positive living their religion requests? Is it just someone who attends a Holiday service? Does everyone who declares a religious affiliation meet the definition of religiosity? Is it someone who is totally obsessed with religions (e.g., a person with a temporarily lobe injury.) Second, religions would have to be selected. Are these studies looking at Christians versus Atheist? Christians versus Buddhist versus Hindus versus Muslims, etc.? Does the tool translate into difficult cultures so Christians in American can be compared to Muslims in Iran or Buddhists in Japan? Third how are the participants recruited? Did someone just go to various Churches, Mosques, etc? Did they select the most religious one within a religion or just go to the smallest one possible with less faithful members? Did they just mail this out so anyone can choose to be anything and answer? What sort of tool was used? Did they do intelligence tests or did the participants self report what they assumed their IQ was? Every aspect of a religious survey is important down to the statistical tool and who did the interpretation.

Frankly there are many fine universities and colleges in this country which are religious schools. Some of these schools are so outstanding in their fields of studies that people attend in spite of the schools religious affiliation.

I am sure you are thinking the mass of people in a religion versus the mass of people outside, but are you really including the poorly educated atheist or nonreligious person or do you assume it takes higher thinking to choose to be atheist? It is easy to take the few outspoken atheist and assume they are all successes. I would think there is a flaw in that line of thought when we notice criminals on the news such as meth lab related arrests, etc. After all, no religion would condone such activities so they are not religious and by default mess up the atheist category since most think religious practice (a religion) versus lack of religious practice (atheist or agnostic or lacking the mental acuteness to even think of any higher purpose, good or religion.)

Frankly this is a very, very broad question that would take years of research of various designs to even begin to draw a conclusion. Go back and read the studies the article is based upon and find out if there is any true validity. Don't assume because it made Wikipedia this validates the research.

Answer 3

We may not agree with them about their religion but that is no reason to make fun of them and make disparaging comments about their intelligence. I can find statistics to support any sort of bigoted idea I can come up with. None of which make any of it true

If its any help to you there seems to be a correlation between people who make these types of comments about the intelligence of others and their own intelligence. It too is not very flattering.

In short the people in my life who's intelligence has been beyond question, never made these types of comments about the intelligence of others.

You have but two choices in this life. You can be a part of the problem. Arrogance, hatred and bigotry.

Or you can be a part of the solution compassion, understanding and tolerance.

Each of us need to decide which we will be.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 4

I am not into religion or luck or fate.

I am a bible student for 43 years. I have lived in a small area of the world in my life time, we have books, schools and educations sources now.

True, this book was translated, so with 6 books compiled in the wilderness by Moses who had to have the highest degree of education in all Egypt and Hebrew had to offer, and truely those with him that did for him, it all was a magnificent achievement.
Few people can even learn this.
So from their limited area of the world, and if they got any education in the 857 to 897 years after the flood, it had to be from parents and relatives and there was half a million persons involved.
Joshua was 14 days into the New Year at 898th year after the flood, and at Judges 11:26; 300 years has passed for them to be 1,198 years after the flood.
Some body had to be educated to record all this.
I have not seen any one in my life time able to read from Genesis through Judges and tell me that they understand what is is all about.
HAVE YOU?
CAN YOU?

Answer 5

It seems like you don't explain yourself very well. Are you trying to say something?
In answer to your question, the Bible was written so a child of average intelligence could understand it. So, it's no wonder so many of the unwashed masses have adhered to it's principles. It seems that those with higher intelligence just skip right past the simplicity of the gospel. It's probably not all that important anyway.
Poor Christians.

Answer 6

I find it funny actually, some people don't seem to realize that Christians go to highschool and college just like anyone else. However it's not usually the Christians who drink away their college years or drop out of highschool even. I have my BS in Business and my Atheist cousin dropped out of college because he couldn't keep his GPA up. Should I draw a conclusion here?

Answer 7

Your question is not serious. You have answered it for yourself. And what you are saying is that those who have spiritual convictions do so because of an inherent lack of intellectual understanding. Or to put it in terms that you can understand, religious people are stupid. Would you like to ask a serious question or just use this sight to demonstrate your animosity towards those with spiritual beliefs?

The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.

There is a reason why the word of God is foolishness to you. You are precariously perched on a path of destruction and anything regarding the truth of God will appear as foolishness to you.

The Bible says that the Word of God is foolishness to those who are perishing but to those who are saved it is the Power of God in Christ. So all you are doing is demonstrating to others the truth of scripture. I hope that things change for you. Merry Christmas.

By the way, what are you celebrating this Christmas Day?

Answer 8

"Their are a great many religious people with above average intelligence. You simply choose to disbelieve that like you choose to disbelieve in God. That is okay. Those of us who have made the intelligent decision to believe in God are not offended by the small minded yammering of those who only wish to mock us. Merry Christmas to you and may your holiday be blessed with love and riches."


You're SO not offended, you resort to insult.
ON CHRISTMAS, NO LESS!!

Spirit of the season moving you?

Answer 9

Their are a great many religious people with above average intelligence. You simply choose to disbelieve that like you choose to disbelieve in God. That is okay. Those of us who have made the intelligent decision to believe in God are not offended by the small minded yammering of those who only wish to mock us. Merry Christmas to you and may your holiday be blessed with love and riches.

Answer 10

You believe everything you read on line? And from an encyclopedia that anyone can edit, yet. Doesn't seem too flattering to you.