Interesting....

[Casey]

http://www.disinfo.com/2010/02/liberalism-atheism-male-sexual-exclusivity-linked-to-iq/

 

[masta247]

Quite on point but then being an atheist doesn't make anyone's IQ higher. It just says that people with higher IQ are more keen to become atheists and that's probably true.
Also, there are studies proving that people with higher IQ don't smoke as often, don't drink as often and don't go on dates as often.

 

[Casey]

Quite on point but then being an atheist doesn't make anyone's IQ higher. It just says that people with higher IQ are more keen to become atheists and that's probably true.
Also, there are studies proving that people with higher IQ don't smoke as often, don't drink as often and don't go on dates as often.

Yeah I never stated that being an atheist would make you smarter.....but if you're more intelligent you are more likely to veer towards atheism. This goes hand in hand with the nature of the intelligent - to constantly question and strive to understand and soak up knowledge.

 

[Flipmo]

It points out the difference in IQ is not too immense; so it shouldn't be an excuse to stereotype or whatever. It's sad that they had to point that out though, people would probably look at this study and claim some sort of social Darwinist superiority.

Personally, I always felt that the IQ system is a bit too vague and not fully accurate. Research has discovered that individual IQ is not constant; but varies with age, health and other factors. Not to mention, someone may be horrible at logical mathematics, but a musical genius. It's quite relative. So, I always felt IQ Test should be taken with a grain of salt.

What I liked about the study is how they relate things like Liberalism and Atheism to evolution. It's an interesting way of looking at society through the ages in general, and makes you wonder what kind of social/political concepts will be around 100-200 years from now.

 

[masta247]

Yeah I just thought that the article was wrote in a way making people think that these things are all firmly tied with intelligence.

Also, I think this happens not because intelligent people constantly question everything. People who are stupid tend to question everything probably as often but they can't comprehend the results. It's a personality trait.
I remember reading a great book about "brain mathematics" (not sure about its English title). The difference is in how brain operates in your subconsciousness. With intelligent people it operates on more accurate data (knowledge) using more accurate formulas (intelligence) allowing to generate more accurate impulses. That's why there are different outcomes from decisions made by smart people and stupid people - their brains tell them different things. Obviously people who don't really understand our world will be more keen to become religious. That's because our brains always tend to select an option that could save us from the worst possible outcome (sort of like in game theory) and that's why it's better for them to pick being religious and protect themselves from hell or whatever. They are usually either "too religious" or not truly religious because they can't really understand religion in a healthy way either.
Also, people who are smarter tend to subconsciously put statistics (like chances of something to happen) more often in consideration.

 

[_carmi]

i think IQ tests are such a biased way to measure intelligence.

obviously questioning and seeking further knowledge are signs of intelligence. but one might be extremely intelligent and stick to a religion because that religion answers his questions.

 

[masta247]

obviously questioning and seeking further knowledge are signs of intelligence

Seeking further knowledge - sure.
Personally all the people that question everything and drill a subject I know are those who are the most stupid and can't comprehend basic information.
I think we also have some examples on this board

 

[_carmi]

^i concur.

 

[Casey]

Seeking further knowledge - sure.
Personally all the people that question everything and drill a subject I know are those who are the most stupid and can't comprehend basic information.
I think we also have some examples on this board

You're confusing questioning things due to a lack of understanding which questioning the "status quo" and not just accepting what you are told as being the truth, which is the context that I (and the article) meant.

 

[Jokerman]

This goes for vegans too. On average, they are smarter, funnier, more attractive to women, and immortal.

 

[Flipmo]

Yes, but can they burp the whole alphabet? Think about it.

 

[Bender]

theoretics.

 

[ill-matic]

just a thought;

i dont see why it's difficult for some people to be open to the idea that there may possibly be something that is beyond our comprehension.

I don't necessarily believe in God as prescribed by the bible.. but I am open to the idea that there is something out there - and that, just because it can't be proven by our modern methods of science, doesn't retract from the possibility of it existing.

The arrogance displayed by humans in their "we know everything there is to know about everything" mentality pisses me off. get over yourselves and accept the idea that MAYBE, just maybe, there is something which we don't see (yet).

 

[masta247]

not againnnnn


nnnnnnnoooooooooooo!!! *end lord vader voice*

 

[Casey]

just because it can't be proven by our modern methods of science, doesn't retract from the possibility of it existing.

...accept the idea that MAYBE, just maybe, there is something which we don't see (yet).

There are many things that we don't see and don't yet understand and can't yet prove, but they all will be proven and understood in the future. They are still scientific things that intelligent human brains will be able to comprehend.

That has nothing to do with a disbelief in some mystical, all-knowing "creator" which becomes a more and more laughable concept with each new scientific discovery.

 

[Tha_Wood]

who gives a fuck about what people believe in. some people consider people who believe in god morons, those same people probbaly think not believing in god is moronic. does it really matter if somebody chooses to believe in god and others dont?

 

[S O F I]

Not agaaaaaaaain.

 

[ArtsyGirl]

the data should not be used to stereotype or make assumptions about people, experts say.

I think highly intelligent people (you know who I mean, big word types) are more likely to not believe in God because its a simplistic explanation:

1 First God made heaven & earth 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. 6 And God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." 7 And God made the firmament and separated the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament. And it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. 9 And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

They get bored. I think its investigating how something works, finding answers, questioning then deciding on an opinion. Although this is a generalisation, there are religious scientists.

 

[Casey]

does it really matter if somebody chooses to believe in god and others dont?

considering the vast majority of problems, wars, suffering, denial of human rights, etc are caused by religion, I would say yes. It does matter.

 

[Prize Gotti]

obviously questioning and seeking further knowledge are signs of intelligence. but one might be extremely intelligent and stick to a religion because that religion answers his questions.

Someones IQ reflects the persons ability to think logically and rationally. There is no logic or rationality in the belief of mythical beings.