Religious People are Less Intelligent
I had to chuckle when I read the above headline in an Internet article the other day. The “intellectuals” are at it again…telling those of us with faith that we just aren’t as smart as they are, and if we just a little brighter we would “know” that God is right there with the Easter Bunny, Santa, and Bigfoot in terms of believability.
I thought this story was a terrific counter point to my blog from yesterday regarding the “mysterious priest” who helped a teenage girl involved in a terrible traffic accident in Missouri. In that blog, In yesterday’s blog, I opened up with a comment someone posted regarding the girl’s story.The comment was, “For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.”
According to a study conducted by Miron Zuckerman, of the University of Rochester, 53 out of 63 studies show that there is “a reliable negative relation between intelligence and religiosity” According to the study, “Even in extreme old age, intelligent people are less likely to believe, the researchers found and the reasons why people with high IQs shun religion may not be as simple as previously thought. Previous studies have tended to assume that intelligent people simply ‘know better,’ the researchers write. But, the reasons may be more complex.”
The study further added that,” intelligent people are more likely to be married and more likely to be successful in life and this may mean they need religion less.”
Part of Zuckerman’s research came from a 1916 study which found that 58% of randomly selected scientists in the United States expressed a disbelief in, or a doubt regarding God’s existence. In the most eminent scientists, that number of non-believers rose to nearly 70%. There you have it…if God’s existence cannot be proven by scientists from 1916, then He simply does not exist!
In Zuckerman’s study it was found that, “Intelligent people may simply be able to provide themselves with the psychological benefits offered by religion - such as self-regulation and self-enhancement, because they are more likely to be successful, and have stable lives.”
One researcher further explained, “People possessing the functions that religion provides are likely to adopt atheism, people lacking these very functions (e.g., the poor, the helpless) are likely to adopt theism.”
Seriously, is this not the most arrogant load of crap you have ever heard? I am reminded of the following quote from Arthur Schopenhauer, “Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world.”
I can offer no proof that God exists other than my life experiences. During those times in my life when I was far away from God in my thoughts and in my actions, I felt estranged from “something”. To me, that “something” is God. If others think that I need God as a crutch in order to endure this life…I am content with that. The fact of the matter is that I love having God as my crutch. I can think of no better place than at His side.
Conversely, those times in my life when I felt immersed in my faith in God, I felt at peace. If scientists say that is delusional thinking…am all right with that too! If my faith brings me peace, who is to say that is wrong? If having faith means I am less intelligent than those without faith, we will all just have to wait and see…won’t we? In the end, one of us will be right and one of us will be wrong…and that leads to my final quote.
“I would rather live my life as if there is a god and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.” Albert Camus
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