Are Atheists Generally Smarter Than Religious People?

Creation-Evolution Headlines ^ | June 8, 2017 | Dr Jerry Bergman

[fishtank]

June 8, 2017

Are Atheists Generally Smarter Than Religious People?

by Dr Jerry Bergman

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.

[Red Badger]

Well, gee, I thought my 136 was something.........................

[tophat9000]

well there are different flavors of atheists...

some atheist come at it from what they believe is a position of reason and logic but I would say if you're truly ruled by reason and logic outside of your personal “Wants” then reason and logic are your God

But I find many other atheists are not really just anti God. There anti anything even reason and logic putting any restrictions on them, on their “Wants”

[AndyTheBear]

My sense is that most people just accept the default metaphysics of their culture without seriously thinking about it. Western Culture is Theist by default. A small subset of our culture wants to think about metaphysics, and I think most of Atheists are in this subset....for if they didn't care to think about it they would just be Theist by default. I suspect that this subset of those who like to think about Metaphysics (theist or Atheist or whatever) tend to be smarter, thus I would expect that the average Atheist in our culture was smarter.

I also think the very best analysis and thinking about Metaphysics has been done by Theists. Particularly because as has been shown by the great thinkers,Theism is self evident.

[Bryanw92]

According to the same standards of measuring intelligence, whites are smarter than blacks. Let the Progs chew on that a bit.

[Jamestown1630]

Sheer intelligence is often unaccompanied by wisdom.

[Heartlander]

stupid

/ˈstu·pɪd/ adj

› lacking thought or intelligence:

Consider this, to remove any ‘creator’ from our very existence including the beginning of our universe is to remove any ‘thought or intelligence’ from the equation. By definition, you are ultimately left with an existence from stupidity.

…that if we would maintain the value of our highest beliefs and emotions, we must find for them a congruous origin. Beauty must be more than accident. The source of morality must be moral. The source of knowledge must be rational.
- Sir Arthur Balfour

Newton, Copernicus, Maxwell, Lord Kelvin, Faraday, Pascal, Harvey, Boyle, Pasteur, Mendel, Carver, et al. maintained that nature manifests the design of a preexistent mind or intelligence. The US Constitution assumed all human rights were bestowed to us by our Creator through Natural Law .

[Romans Nine]

Can’t remember was mine 85 or 185? Maybe 65, I don’t know......

[wbill]

Valuable study. Atheists are smart, just ask them.

"We interviewed 100 atheists, and asked them if they thought that they were smarter than most people. 92% answered 'yes' and 8% didn't understand the question."

In a related study, we asked 100 FReepers if they thought that they were smarter than most people. 30% said 'yes', 40% called the question 'too invasive' and declined to answer, 17% denied that they were FReepers, and 13% said that 'they don't participate in studies', then proceeded to comment at length on the thread about studies, the people who do them, their parental lineage, and about anything else that came to mind.

[tflabo]

Choosing hell over heaven is like the dumbest decision EVAH and forever.

[Bob434]

220? Holy Cow-

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

And n 100 years their “brilliance” will be dust and ashes.

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

[Bob434]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraides not; and it shall be given him.

[truth_seeker]

Why should I be concerned, with the religious beliefs of others in America?

[sarge83]

That is what I have found as well, angry and bitter and eager to attack something they claim they don’t believe in. I don’t attack them, I feel sorry for them, but figure it is their business, not mine. But they on the other hand are eager to ridicule, mock and impune anyone of faith.

Smart, no. Arrogant, elitist, snobbish, bitter and full of hate is a more apt description.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

intelligence ≠ smart ≠ wise

[spel_grammer_an_punct_polise]

I remember the movie, “Hombre,” with Paul Newman.

The Indian Agent who had stolen much money from the Indians was asked, “Is there a God?” His quick answer was that no, there was no God. But then he was told, “Well, then, surely there can be no Hell.” He responded, “Oh, yes! There is definitely Hell!”

I wonder if he realized the contradiction. ;-)

[nickcarraway]

Then why don’t atheists stop using any science from believers, starting with genetics?

[Leep]

If you do not believe in macro evolution, micro yes but macro no, you might be a red neck..i mean not very smart.

[Heartlander]

And in other news: Survey says one in three democrats - just as stupid as the other two...

[amihow]

An I.Q. of 220? On what reliable test?