Studies show a correlation between IQ and 'beliefs'?

Question

From Wikipedia's featured article on Atheism:
According to a study by Paul Bell, published in the UK Mensa Magazine in 2002, there is an inverse correlation between religiosity and intelligence. Analyzing 43 studies carried out since 1927, Bell found that all but four reported such a connection, and he concluded that "the higher one's intelligence or education level, the less one is likely to be religious or hold 'beliefs' of any kind."[90] A letter published in Nature in 1998 reported a survey suggesting that belief in a personal God or afterlife was at an all-time low among the members of the National Academy of Science, only 7.0% of whom believed in a personal God as compared to more than 85% of the general U.S. population.[91]

But then, anyone reading through this forum already knew there was a correlation.

capitalctu, are you sure it's "of balance".

Better spell check that, genius boy.

Answer 1

The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God

Answer 2

What I say below is as an atheist/agnostic.

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Yes, there might be a correlation, but even someone with a "high" IQ SHOULD realize this correlation does not prove squat with respect towards the existence or non-existence of a god. If anything (assuming the studies valid), the relationship between IQ and faith show that people with "higher" IQ tend to have less faith. Whoopee-do-do.

Belief in a god is a matter of faith (belief that is not based on proof), not intelligence. Just like the argument that faith in a god does not prove its existence, the lack of faith in a god does not prove that a god does not exist. That should be clear. Moreover, one can reject institutionalized religious views towards a god and yet still have faith in the existence of a higher power beyond themselves. I just don't give a damn either way.

It is not surprising that members of the National Academy of Science are much less likely to believe in a personal god. The ability to test an argument is core to the scientific method. Thus, since one cannot reliably test for the existence of god, it seems logical that these people would not accept the argument as being valid.

I fail to see the big deal about the correlation. So what?!? Do you feel somehow superior because of it?

Answer 3

You also proved IQ means nothing. Why do people treat "Mensa" like it's an accolade that leaves you with inherent happiness once reaching admission? Nobody cares about these high IQ societies as they are absolutely pointless. I've never met one real intellectual that ever had to gloat about his IQ amongst his peers to satisfy what a mathematical score told him in which hardly measures anything other than cognitive ability which is not what humans are "Entirely" built upon.

Answer 4

it does have a bias since it's an article on atheism. Some other interesting things are that IQ may not be a good measure of intelligence, but more a measure of education and the kind of environment you grew up in. Also it could be a measure at how little you question things and just accept the standards that are prevailing and learn to be a winner in a questionably sane world. The most educated people run the governments of the world and look at what a mess they've made of it. How intelligent is it to waste so much of our resources while not addressing basic needs? Keep in mind that our president graduated from Yale. What does it prove? That they've mastered the rules of a heartless and self-serving system. Perhaps something to be considered is that life may be more about heart than intellect, although I would encourage a balance :-)

Answer 5

The last IQ test I took I rated very high in and the results were that I had a very analytical mind. But then that doesn't really mean anything except that I can see the big picture and patterns better than the average guy. So what?

I'd rather be a fool for Messiah than have all the knowledge in the world. I know that you can't possibly understand that but that's just how it is. If you wish to insult my intelligence when you don't even know me I guess that's your prerogative.

All these kinds of questions do not change a believers mind. All it does is create resentment and ill will and shows us really where your heart is at. You have no interest in what you proclaim. To insult us is to make a lie out of the claim of the atheist that each person is responsible for their own beliefs and that they are a product of culture and evolved morals. If we have learned our morals from our culture what difference does it make to you if we live according to our morals or beliefs.

It's all a lie. The fact is you know you are without God and it just makes you crazy that we believe because you know your doomed so instead of looking inward and crying upward for understanding you attack.

I'm pretty sure your next post will be blasting a christian understanding or blasting the bible since you have already established that pattern. Your a hypocrite. You don't live up to your own belief system. Live and let live.

Answer 6

While that survey is indeed correct, it does not correspond to history! Historically, those with high IQs were often religious (if only deist), which leads me to believe the findings of the aforementioned survey correspond more to modern culture than to IQ.

That said, I'm a member of MENSA and don't subscribe to one religion (though I do believe in God). So perhaps you're right.

Did you know that intelligence/high IQ also corresponds to a low birth rate? The more intelligent a person is, the fewer children they tend to bear. Great, that speaks well for the future, aye?

Answer 7

I question the validity of those studies simply because of the different types of intelligence. I mean, taken to the extreme, you might have an idot savant with who is a mathematical genius but still believes in the Easter bunny. the word "intelligence" doesn't really mean anything inthis context. The IQ tests probably focused on analytical skills or scientific knowledge, which is certainly a good measure of some types of intelligence, but it completely disregards others. Issues of belief are more likely to be influenced by Mathematical and Logical intelligence than by musical or interpersonal or visual/spacial intelligence. Most IQ tests focus only on math, logic, visual/spacial, and linguistic. One with a BA, such as myself, does not necessarily have the aptitude to conquer advanced scientific principals, while, conversely, one with a PhD in Bio-Chem might not have the aptitude to conquer James Joyce. That doesn't mean that one is not intelligent, but rather that their intelligence is in different areas. I strongly suspect that those who are intelligent in logic are more likely to scrutinize the holy teachings of their faiths, but someone might be a brilliant writer and still be quite likely to have a religion.

Answer 8

I definitely agree with that, and the reason for it is as plain as day and easy to understand. It is exactly because people that go through such great lengths to educate themselves are totally wrapped up in this world and do not want to give it all up. But as the Bible clearly states: What is a man profited if he should gain the whole world and lose his soul?
You know living life without God and by our own terms looks very enticing now. But when payday comes from then on forever it will be time to pay for that decision. What I fail to understand is why don't the people that want to live without God, want to spend the rest of their life in prison without the possibility of parole?
They obviously think they will enjoy spending eternity in pain, agony, and torment. And all they are actually doing is straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel. But all I can testify to is better them than me. But I still feel very sorry for them, because I have been blessed with knowledge that I cannot deny. Take care and may God bless you spiritually.

Answer 9

One should see correctly what IQ is. It measures response time, searching for patterns, analytical processes and knowledge. People who have high IQ's are therefore more suitable for leadership positions since they on average make better decisions here in the material world.

This does however not make a person wiser, happier or more sensitive to the spiritual. The last research I read is that the happiest people are not in the western world at all, but in Afrika (Nigeria if memory serves). So they enjoy their lives more than we do and so I would postulate that despite their lack of IQ they are a lot wiser.

One can adapt to optimize oneself in the material world or to optimize oneself for the spiritual world and optimization in one can be a drawback for the other.

If I would spend my working days reading aura's, praying all will go well and consulting spirit guides instead of resolving arguments, analyzing data and forming strategies, procedures and tactics I'ld soon be out of a job for mismanagement. However if I would deny the existance of the spiritual my life would be lacking an important dimension which gives me contentment, a sense of fullfilment, peace, harmony and purpose.

I think those of high IQ should use their high powers of perception and analysis to find out what they want for themselves and adapt their methodology to the spiritual terrain which is another dimension with other requirements, strategies and tactics than the material.

Spiritual development however can be quite separate and even opposite to organised religion.

Answer 10

It's amazing. I would think that all of these "gifted" people here would understand that a correlation doesn't automatically mean religious=low iq and atheist=high iq. Of course there are going to be people who go against this and that's why it's a correlation, not a black and white fact.

When will these christians learn that personal stories mean nothing when it comes to statistics?

Answer 11

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12

Jesus chose men who were by the standards of the world unlearned...fishermen,tax collectors etc...

There is a reason for him doing so.


1Corinthians 1:27. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.
Paul the Apostle,was an exception to the rule (probably smarter than you and i put together).

Jesus also quite often spoke in parables to hide precious truth from those who will incabable of hearing or seeing.

I would submit to you that these studies only lend validity to that which I was already aware and much more than they were aware