Why Are Theists Less Intelligent?

Author: Salixes

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#1
Salixes
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Apparently so.
Numerous, authoritative studies have revealed that those who are religious followers have lower IQs than atheists.

“It is well established that religiosity correlates inversely with intelligence,” (Richard Daws and Adam Hampshire, Imperial College London)

Some findings indicate that, on an international level, countries with more intelligent people tend to have more atheists.

Other reports suggest that religion is an instinct and people who can rise above instincts are more intelligent than those who rely on them.

Yet more telling studies have shown that because religious institutions shun followers from acquiring knowledge that may contradict their belief (for example, scientific studies), the chances of religious followers gaining a balanced knowledge base are stifled, therefore producing lower IQs.  
#2
ronjs
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@Salixes
Again you rely on a logical fallacy (appeal to authority) and make false claims about Christians. Any church that shuns information is ignoring scripture which tells Christians to, come, let us reason together, and denies the fact that multitudes of Christians have PHDs and other qualifications, many of which who have made a number of positive contributions to mankind.

#3
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@Salixes
Our religion is love of The Truth, and that discipline in action is the purifying of the nous of intentions, passions, and motivations that compromise that love of The Truth.


Orthodox Christianity when practiced properly leads to a saner and more rational people.


But if you want to believe that because you aren't "religious" that means you are smarter and that religious people are dumb, I'd say that this uncharitable attitude is not conducive to really learning the truth of things.
#4
ethang5
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@ronjs
The genius doesn't care about debate or supporting his illogical claims, the bitterness within him simply wants to vent.

Notice he will post more threads a day than he can reply to. He is not interested in logical argumentation.

When, for example, an idiot keeps yelling out "homo!" at an Elton John concert, do you think what he wants is an honest discussion of the morality of homosexuality?

Salixes will reach the point where no one will take his bait anymore, and just watch, he will just keep posting his clunkers. We had someone just like him here, name of Willows. Could make 26+ threads a day!

That is a compulsion, not a search for engagement. He's angry and bitter, a past hurt left to fester has turned to obsession expressed as a compulsion to post basically the same thing over and over.

"Christianity bad, progressive liberal good."

No reasoning, no argumentation, no logic required or wanted. Posters like him are the atheist equivalent of the Hillsboro Baptist Church mindset.
#5
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@ethang5
They sound just like the bolsheviks. 

And just like the bolsheviks, they call themselves democratic socialists. Just like the bolsheviks, when they seize power they will hold elections. Just like the bolsheviks, when they lose the election they will simply do away with elections all together and do what they want.


Young people are really falling for this shit.
#6
ludofl3x
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This is correlation, not causation. The question should be more along the lines of why do religious fervency and (some metric that your studies must cite but remain unexpressed in this forum) seem to have an inverse correlation. You're oly going to end up with people who say things like "well I know a doctor at my church!" and that would refute your 'argument'. 

#7
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@ludofl3x
My parish in particular is full of programmers and doctors. Business owners too, most notably the people who own Twin Liquors(which has 80 locations in central Texas) go to my church. Not to mention that so many of them are fluent in 2 or more languages.


The education level at my particular church is so high, I am one of the least educated attendees. 












#8
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@Mopac
You're proving my point, thanks. There's literally no way for anyone to substantiate any of that, so even the retort to his assertion is pointless. There are plenty of metrics that would support that areas of religious fervor are in general not as prosperous as places with less of it, he just doesn't show any of it, and even if he did, there's nothing that says religion causes stupidity. It's just correlated really strongly. 

#9
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@ludofl3x
And it should be apparent that mistaking correlation with causation leads to superstitious thinking.

#10
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I don't think these studies can be accurate anyway, because the vast majority of people who claim to be religious(at least here in America) don't put that much thought into it.

I think it is some sort of identity fallacy to equate self identification with proof of identity. Someone who goes to church simply to socialize is not in the same category as the person who lives and breathes the faith itself.

These studies can't be scientific because they can not accurately isolate the many variables at play here.

#11
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@Salixes
Apparently so.
Who is actually the fool here? According to the Bible, it is the one who says there is no God. Can an atheist say with certainty there is no God? Generally speaking, are atheists elitists in how they look upon Christians? Are they better, morally speaking? Can an atheist make sense of their worldview or do they live inconsistently with it, always borrowing from the Christian position in making sense of life?

Numerous, authoritative studies have revealed that those who are religious followers have lower IQs than atheists.

“It is well established that religiosity correlates inversely with intelligence,” (Richard Daws and Adam Hampshire, Imperial College London)

Some findings indicate that, on an international level, countries with more intelligent people tend to have more atheists.

Other reports suggest that religion is an instinct and people who can rise above instincts are more intelligent than those who rely on them.

Yet more telling studies have shown that because religious institutions shun followers from acquiring knowledge that may contradict their belief (for example, scientific studies), the chances of religious followers gaining a balanced knowledge base are stifled, therefore producing lower IQs.  

Although this can be the case it is not what the Bible teaches. Many of the sciences were in fact the result of the investigation into God's universe by Christian thinkers. 

Scripture tells the believer to worship God with their whole being. That includes the mind and intellect. 
#12
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@Salixes
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#13
Salixes
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@PGA2.0
Fact: The Bible is an unreliable, unverified source of information and is riddled with mistakes, anecdotal accounts It is by no means authoritative and is classified as a reference book. 

Fact: The morals as outlined in Biblical scripture are draconian, barbaric, primitive, corrupt and well behind the times by hundreds of years. 

Fact: Properly conducted independent research studies around the world have confirmed that the IQ of theists is lower because of restriction of education by religious institutions.

FACT: Not one science "was in fact the result of the investigation........"
I challenge you to name one science that is.

FACT: An atheist is quite entitled to say with certainty that there is no God due to the complete lack of evidence whatsoever of the presence of God or any other supernatural phenomena.

FACT: Theists have no right at all and are talking erroneously to claim that there is a God due to the complete lack of evidence whatsoever of the presence of God or any other supernatural phenomena.

FACT: Christian religious institutions encourage elitism to their followers by instilling the belief that they are special and that God has a blueprint for their individual life. Also, that the Christian religion is the "only" religion and that anyone not following such a doctrine is inferior and condemned to an afterlife of damnation.

FACT: Theists have lower IQs than atheists and has been proven so.

FACT: You have failed to back up any of your outrageous, arrogant and flippantly mocking claims.

FACT: Christians have been persecuted for centuries. And, for good reason.



#14
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@Salixes
Funny how you are judging us worthy of persecution and you don't even understand what we believe.

This sort of attitude you have is the real problem. In condemning others the way you are doing, you are only condemning yourself.




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#15
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@Mopac
What makes you assume that I don't understand what you believe?
The fact is I do and am well studied in Christian theology.

I have condemned nobody.

I have already stated the facts as to why Christians have been persecuted for centuries.

Perhaps you may like to consider taking your words back and think about the fact that you have just made erroneous claims against somebody else.

#16
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@Salixes
The Bible is an unreliable, unverified source of information and is riddled with mistakes, anecdotal accounts It is by no means authoritative and is classified as a reference book. 
And to your great frustration, millions continue to rely on it and use it as a moral authority. Dispute all your rage you're still just a rat in cage.

The morals as outlined in Biblical scripture are draconian, barbaric, primitive, corrupt and well behind the times by hundreds of years. 
And your morals will be called draconian, barbaric, primitive, corrupt and well behind the times by hundreds of years a hundred years from now. And that morality will be called draconian, barbaric, primitive, corrupt and well behind the times by hundreds of years a hundred years from that time. Do you see the silliness?

Properly conducted independent research studies around the world have confirmed that the IQ of theists is lower because of restriction of education by religious institutions.
Restriction of education does not affect IQ. Perhaps you don't know what I Q measures.

Not one science "was in fact the result of the investigation........"
I challenge you to name one science that is.
Do you mean field of science? If so then you'd be wrong.

An atheist is quite entitled to say with certainty that there is no God due to the complete lack of evidence whatsoever of the presence of God or any other supernatural phenomena.
That is a logical fallacy. But anyone is entitled to say anything. Before we found out the world was round, atheists insisted there was no evidence it was round and felt entitled to say with certainty that the Earth was flat.

Theists have no right at all and are talking erroneously to claim that there is a God due to the complete lack of evidence whatsoever of the presence of God or any other supernatural phenomena.
Yet to your huge frustration, millions continue to believe in God and find evidence satisfactory enough for them!

...the Christian religion is the "only" religion and that anyone not following such a doctrine is inferior and condemned to an afterlife of damnation.
So, pretty much exactly what you're doing with atheism.

Theists have lower IQs than atheists and has been proven so.
You mean in general? Because you aren't so bright.

You have failed to back up any of your outrageous, arrogant and flippantly mocking claims.
That sounds exactly like you.

Christians have been persecuted for centuries. And, for good reason.
There goes that not draconian, civilized, current, non-corrupt, and well ahead of the times by hundreds of years morality for you.

Placing women and children in lion pits to be mauled to death was good. How advanced that morality is!

All you have to do with these fakes is scratch the self-righteous halo a bit and the scaly red shows through.

I guess not everything from hundreds of years ago would this moral sage call "behind the times".

Hypocrite much?




#17
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@Salixes
I don't believe for a second you understand Orthodox Christianity. Whatever form of Christianity you claim to know, it is alien to our ways.
#18
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@Salixes
Christians are persecuted out of ignorance.


Nothing justifies this



#19
Dynasty
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@Salixes
The morals as outlined in Biblical scripture are draconian, barbaric, primitive, corrupt and well behind the times by hundreds of years.
Meanwhile, you haven't provided evidence for that claim.


Theists have lower IQs than atheists and has been proven so.


Christians have been persecuted for centuries. And, for good reason.
What's the good reason?


Properly conducted independent research studies around the world have confirmed that the IQ of theists is lower because of restriction of education by religious institutions.
Restriction of education does not really affect IQ. Also, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160289616000027
#20
Dr.Franklin
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iq tests really mean nothing, yeah they determine whether someone is book smart or not, this has nothing to do with religion
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#21
Salixes
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@Dr.Franklin
You are quite right.
In fact my point is that IQ has very little to do with religion.
#22
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@Salixes
Fact: The Bible is an unreliable, unverified source of information and is riddled with mistakes, anecdotal accounts It is by no means authoritative and is classified as a reference book.
Again, for every contention, there is a reasonable and logical answer. Anyone can assert anything without supplying a reference. 

Fact: The morals as outlined in Biblical scripture are draconian, barbaric, primitive, corrupt and well behind the times by hundreds of years.
The Bible deals with an ANE culture so the morality back then is indeed somewhat different in many ways from today. The Ten Commandments, however, are universal as Jesus summed them up with two; love God and love your neighbour. 

Fact: Properly conducted independent research studies around the world have confirmed that the IQ of theists is lower because of restriction of education by religious institutions.

FACT: Not one science "was in fact the result of the investigation........"
I challenge you to name one science that is.

FACT: An atheist is quite entitled to say with certainty that there is no God due to the complete lack of evidence whatsoever of the presence of God or any other supernatural phenomena.

FACT: Theists have no right at all and are talking erroneously to claim that there is a God due to the complete lack of evidence whatsoever of the presence of God or any other supernatural phenomena.

FACT: Christian religious institutions encourage elitism to their followers by instilling the belief that they are special and that God has a blueprint for their individual life. Also, that the Christian religion is the "only" religion and that anyone not following such a doctrine is inferior and condemned to an afterlife of damnation.

FACT: Theists have lower IQs than atheists and has been proven so.

FACT: You have failed to back up any of your outrageous, arrogant and flippantly mocking claims.

FACT: Christians have been persecuted for centuries. And, for good reason.


Fact: Not one of these facts are referenced or linked, just asserted. 
#23
ethang5
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@PGA2.0
Fact: Not one of these facts are referenced or linked, just asserted.
That is what Salixes does. Assert. He doesn't debate, doesn't support, doesn't defend. His only care is to insult Christianity, no matter how silly the insult.

He's made ten threads in the last 3 days. 10. Has he debated in any one of them? No, he responds to each rebut with another round of unsupported assertions against Christianity while his thread topic languishes.

But can any poster respond to ten threads in 3 days, with multiple people responding? And it's ten now, but already today he's added 2 more.

He's aware of this PGA, and doesn't care. Like the compulsive who keeps washes his hands 30 times a day, he can't stop, and cares nothing about the responses he gets as long as they allow another opportunity to take another poke at Christianity.

Compulsion is insidious.
#24
Alec
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@Salixes
Do you have any evidence to back up your claim?
#25
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@ethang5
Fact: Not one of these facts are referenced or linked, just asserted.
That is what Salixes does. Assert. He doesn't debate, doesn't support, doesn't defend. His only care is to insult Christianity, no matter how silly the insult.

He's made ten threads in the last 3 days. 10. Has he debated in any one of them? No, he responds to each rebut with another round of unsupported assertions against Christianity while his thread topic languishes.

But can any poster respond to ten threads in 3 days, with multiple people responding? And it's ten now, but already today he's added 2 more.

He's aware of this PGA, and doesn't care. Like the compulsive who keeps washes his hands 30 times a day, he can't stop, and cares nothing about the responses he gets as long as they allow another opportunity to take another poke at Christianity.

Compulsion is insidious.

Thanks for the heads up. Sounds like a discussion is futile.
#26
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@PGA2.0
As futile as it was with Willows. Yeah, that's him. Lol.
#27
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@ethang5
As futile as it was with Willows. Yeah, that's him. Lol.
I did not know that.

#28
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@PGA2.0
15 threads in 3 days and counting. Who else could it be?
#29
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@ethang5
15 threads in 3 days and counting. Who else could it be?
Yes, fifteen threads in three days is a lot to handle. It would be for me a full-time job to conscientiously answer my critics with this many threads. 

#30
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@Salixes
if that's the point your making then sure, religion is pretty seperate from intelligence