Are Atheists Generally Smarter Than Religious People?

In a recent article at Live Science, Laura Geggel asks, “Why Are Atheists Generally Smarter Than Religious People?” She claims that “For more than a millennium, scholars have noticed a curious correlation: Atheists tend to be more intelligent than religious people.”[i] How they could know this, since IQ tests and other means of measuring intelligence were only developed at the start of the last century, was not answered. Another problem is many kinds of intelligence exist, such as doing well on paper and pencil tests, or on performance tests, for example. Also, there exist intelligence in other areas, such as music IQ, math IQ, abstract conceptualization IQ, verbal IQ, personality IQ, even emotional IQ,[ii] and, according to some authors, 120 different kinds of IQs.

I agree they are missing something, a hole in their lives is why they are lashing out at people of faith. I don’t know if it is envy, jealousy, anger at God or they are just plain mean and mad at everything. It might just make them feel superior to mock the faith of others. They spout science-science-science, yet if you really look at evolution one has to have more faith to believe in that than creation or intelligent design. There are just so many holes in the theory of evolution, they must have faith in something they can’t scientifically prove.

Did the universe suddenly appear on it’s own? How? Was it created from another universe, if so where did the other universe come from and start? How do you get something from nothing? If we are in a multiverse where and how did they all begin? And as a person of faith I am ridiculed for lack of scientific proof?

And you are right Christian can be their own worst enemies, but the message is more important than the messenger as you have stated. If they want to not believe that’s fine with me, I respect your decision, but don’t agree with it and unless you are in my face ranting and raving, I’m go with the live and let live credo, but accord me the same respect.

It is hard to pay attention to anything in this article when it oozes idiocy about so many specific kinds of “IQ”.

IQ is well established and understood as a “g” general intelligence element that pertains, to different degrees, across domains.

There is clearly a correlation between IQ and religious liberalism, however. With Unitarians, for example, outpacing even Jews or, in the US, Hindus for educational attainment, while the more fundamentalist Jehovah’s Witnesses and Pentacostalists tend to be at the other end of the spectrum. Atheists are in the middle, though slightly above the overall average.

It is sad. But maybe, as they say, they are crying out for help. The bitter angry atheists, that is.

As Christians, we need to be the perfect example to the followers and the nonbelievers alike. We tend to not do a very good job here.

IMHO, there are very few people who are worthy of teaching the gospel. It takes a very, very disciplined person and a very, very intelligent person.

Disciplined because there is a tremendous amount of power as the teacher and folks being taught are very vulnerable.

Intelligent because there is a tremendous amount of information in the Bible to be digested and understood.

I have seen the failures of both — the teacher who exploits their position of power and the leader who doesn't know the gospel and tries to make it up or embellish on the Word. Both are very bad, but I believe that the exploiter has a special place in “that very hot place where very bad people go.”

As for science providing all of the answers. It can't and it won't and it never will. Nature is too big and too complicated for us to understand.

One thing for certain: for good or bad, having faith can drive people in a positive direction. Faith gives people hope. Hope helps us survive life's trials.

Atheists lack faith and therefor hope and maybe that is what makes them so angry and bitter.

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