Religion = lack of intelligence?

I don't think that it is because people are necessarily smarter that they do not buy into religion. I think it's more along the lines of people with the "higher IQ" tend to be more arrogant and think they know everything. Because they think they know everything they don't want to believe that they DON'T know what will happen to them in the afterlife and don't like the fact that they have no control over their lives.

I really like your posting. I think that you said a lot of logical things. I, too, think that many people who believe in God do it with logic. I think logic says a lot for intelligence as well. And, you're definitely right about quoting what Jesus Himself has said. I think your points in point 2 are valid as well. People do sometimes think of a belief in God as a crutch. I do not. For me, I think it's intelligent to always rely on God and trust in Him. That way, most likely, I won't "hit rock bottom" because I'll always have God with me.

I think this is an excellent topic. I do think it is easier to believe if when you are a child (or at least that was true for me)and those with a lower IQ probably do have an easier time believing because they are less likely to question what they are told. On the other hand though, there definitly is a logical side to being a believer. There are definitly things that have happened to me that I can't explain and I know that God was looking out for me during those times. Thanks for such a great discussion!

One more observation - while I'm sure the studies are fairly accurate I just have to say one thing. The most brilliant man I know in person - a friend of mine from Highschool is a really strong Christian. I'm talking homeschooling, very conservative, tie-wearing Christian boy who was a virgin when he got married kind of Christian. (not such a goody-two-shoes that you couldn't talk to him or anything though *grin* He was a GREAT guy) Anyway, he got a perfect score on his ACT's (as in perfect - not one wrong answer) and missed only two questions on his SAT's. His JUNIOR year of high school. Yeah. He was REALLY smart. *laughing*

I too am a logical faith type of person - when you examine the science between so many of the Scriptural arguements you'll see that science, archeology, geology, etc SUPPORT the things that we see in the Bible. Have you ever read any of the books by Lee Stroble? Case for Christ was his first. Later he wrote Case for Faith and Case for Creation. VERY interesting. He was actually an investigative journalist that set out to disprove Christs ressurection based on historical and logical evidences and the book is the result of that three year journey - after which he converted to Christianity. Becuase of his MIND and the evidences he saw put before him in logical and intellectual ways. A must read for any intellectual doubter. :-)

People at higher levels of intelligence do tend to overthink or analize things that have control in their lives. They want to theorize why things occur in their lives and want a tangible answer for them. They want to prove why they should have faith because in their education that is what they have learned. For every cause there is an effect. They is no proof for faith and that makes someone of a higher intelligence less likely to believe that it is true. Uneducated or less intelligent people believe in what they feel because that is what they know and not what they have learned. We have all come here with a soul and educated or not most of us dont need to read a book to know there is something more powerful then what is here on earth.

I totally agree with your post, although I'm not sure about "IQ" I always thought it was level of education. At any rate, I agree that many are looking for a Santa claus God, and we are no longer encouraged in intelligent search for God. I teach Christian history and we addressed this a bit in class when we discussed theological liberalism, a movement in 19th Century Christianity. As a result of the enlightenment's focus on science over religion, many Christians came to believe that faith was to be "experienced" instead of looked at intellectually. As a result, well, today's religious thought is the result. Much of Christianity's music, worship styles, decisions are now experiential. It would be interesting to go back in time and run the same IQ/education level=religious belief test. In the past, Christians were the highly intelligent, academic leaders and scholars. Hmmm...very interesting!

I really appreciate the effort you put on posing this discussion and I agree with what you said. First off, I believe there are so many so-call religious people who barely know about their religion. Sometimes, they got into their religion because of some impluse or they just wanted to take advantage of it. Some of them really just ask for help from their "God". I, as a Christian, I was brought up in a atheistic family. My mom became a buddhist, basically, what I am trying to say is that I know quit a lot of religions. I then wanted to explore the religion of Christianity. I wanted to have some faith in something. Previous, I only prefered to use my own strenght. I found out that adding supplementary force to my strenght is much effective to accomplish goals. I am smart and do not fall into any traps that are dumb. If any of you think religion equals lack of intelligence, I can you that is wrong. And you'd better understand it, haha.

Remember that a lot of religions were started by people who definitely weren't people of low intelligence. What I think's happened is that the dogma has replaced the intellectual component. It's become Rent A God. Say the slogans, win a prize. Naturally, that connects with the less intelligent, who think it's "religion", not a sales pitch. If you have a look at the history of religions, you get a very different picture. The stories, including the apocryphal ones, relate to people who had something to say. Some of the most unusual people of all time. Suggest you read: 1. Gospel of Thomas. Very short, but it makes the point that Jesus was a teacher and a genuine thinker, not a press release. 2. Tao Teh Ching D.C. Lau translation, Penguin Classics, (many other translations are pretty awful) 3. Analects of Confucius. 4. Any history of the life of Mahomet. 5. Buddhist history regarding the life of Buddha. Taoism wasn't even originally a religion at all. Nor was Confucianism. The big three, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam, have had some turbulent histories and a lot of politics afflicting how they were taught and practised at any particular time. Judaism has never been practised in a simple environment, even within the religion, let alone in historical terms. To this day the Orthodox and non-Orthodox dichotomy rages on. I don't think "religion" as it was intended is to blame for "religion" as it is.

You intrigue me and made me think about this matter which I have often ignore. I don't want to argue or anything, but I don't agree that in believing in the existence of God one has to be intelligent or not. What matters is your faith. Ofcourse when we believe, there should be some logical explanations to that, but did it occur to you that the most logical and brighter person often don't trust God either? The simple, or the less intelligent as you implied, only look unto God when faced by trials, unlike the intellectuals who hold unto his faith no matter what. I think, based on my observation, it is the opposite in my country. Mostly, those who are simple minded trusted the Living God in good and bad times. But that doesn't mean that they are more faithful. It is not your belief or religion that counts, it is ypour relationship with Jesus Christ. And since we are on that subject, I want to know if you do have a relationship with Jesus Christ right now? Are you sure of your salvation? I think that's what matters most, not what we believe in.

1 Corinthians 1:19 I will destroy the wisdom of the wise And the intelligence of the intelligent, I will frustrate. Pays not to be too smart. My husband has an intelligent mind, but when it comes to GOD, he says he himself is our supplier. I tell him that that gift was given to him, its not from himself. Might as will talk to myself. A certain man in our fellowship, very will educated, but all thinky, thinky. And religious to top it off. I don't look at myself as religious, but as I believer in CHRIST JESUS. 20 years ago I would have said I was religious because thats all it was for me at that time, religiocity. But JESUS came and set this captive free. HALLELUJAH !!!

Christ, God, Mary, The Bible, and Jesus Christ are all real. Having faith in Religion has helped me through so much. What studies? Believing we come from monkeys lowers IQ levels. Let God Into Your Life.

I like this post. It poses interesting questions. Personally I think religion or belief and IQ are seperate issues. I have several friends with a high IQ who belief in several different religions. Most people who belief that is just my guess belief because they have been taught to belief in the god or gods of their parents. Maybe with a higher IQ you tend to qustion more why you belief and how you should practice your religion. The bottom line is in my humble opinion that belief has to nothing with the IQ but all with the heart.

I think in my opinion and personal beliefs, religion is really a question of faith, no matter which side of religion are you in. If you have faith in your God/god, no matter how intelligent or dumb you are, you'll still believe in him. Dont you think why you have your own religion is'nt it because of faith and your beliefs. I myself experience questioning my faith but there alot of things that can,t be explain in our world and one of them is God.

I actually think the lower ones IQ, the more they are liable to believe anything someone tells them. I am not saying that god is fake when I make a statement like that, I am merely pointing out the fact that instead of taking the time to actually look for fact, people will just believe whatever a large number of other people do.

What is the measure of intelligence? Many people who seem to know I mean who are intelligent do not understand the Holy Bible. Why? Because they presume themselves to be intelligent and wise that they reverse the truth as much as they can but of course they always fail. The Holy Bible has been existing very long time ago and if those people are really wiser than God, the Bible should have been no more. I don't believe that those who believe in God and the Christian religion is of lesser intelligence than those who are boasting to be more intelligent but could not understand simple truth, the Holy Bible.

I think these studies are an attempt to discredit Christianity. There has been an attack on the Church lately to try and discourage people from belonging, and I think this is just another example of it. Satan's work is alive in the world. Many of the members of my church are intelligent people. Some are not. What does it matter to God? It is what is in their heart that truly matters to Him.

in the early generations of moslem, many of devoted moslem became well-known scientist, ibnu sina (or known as aveciena) was known for his influence in medical world. al-khawarijmi for algoritma. many of the early moslem scientists get their knowledge by understanding the holy Koran and hadith.they even more advance than those who live in europe (reinessance didn't even begin).at that time logic and faith completed each others

i have a few questions for you. number 1 is if you think this then why do you talk about your church dodgeball team and have religion under things you enjoy? it really doesnt make much sense to me. i don't think that lack of intelligence has much to do with believing in God. I know some pretty smart people with high IQ's that believe in God and my IQ aint the greatest but it's average and i believe in God. yes God does have the answers to all your questions but when they say questioning God that refers to what He tells you to do through the Bible and not to question His reasonings for these things. I do believe that people just use God as a thing for relief from their problems and don't do right when things are just fine. i believe no matter what intelligence you are as long as you do what God tells you to do and follow His wishes for your life then you are living the right life. it may be true that people with lower IQ's tend to follow God on their own terms rather than on a regular basis. but i know people that have low IQ's that follow God every step of their lives. also hard time religious people may be leading a seperate life outside of church. and only make you think they are following God every step of their life. these people are the ones that quote scripture and go to every church service and go to all the church happenings and help out with them. they try so hard to make people believe they are Christians that when they get home they take off their mask and show their true faces.

hmmmm the same could be said for Being rich, the richer you are, the least likley you need God! Yes you are right, most people treat God as a K Mart! Wal Mart... Faith - Religion = not the same...