Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists

Grandiagod · 10-17-2007, 01:22 PM

It's not discrimination Chardish, it's SCIENCE

http://www.halfsigma.com/2006/06/religious_peopl.html

Snowcrafta · 10-17-2007, 01:23 PM

i could have told you that without an article to support it

**Specforces** · 10-17-2007, 01:32 PM

correlation does not equal causation

Grandiagod · 10-17-2007, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Specforces

correlation does not equal causation

Specific correlation definitely makes a strong circumstantial case.

**Specforces** · 10-17-2007, 01:45 PM

I'm just putting a thorn in your ass buddy. Plus, it's not really talking about all religious people but more so followers of monotheistic Abrahamic traditions. Verbal IQ is also a completely different story...

**devonin** · 10-17-2007, 01:47 PM

Coincidence is a bitch.

Afrobean · 10-17-2007, 02:22 PM

I'm so glad people are actually doing tests like this... it doesn't imply causation, that's true, but I know that if I was religious, I'd be more likely to stop and take a look at things after hearing about something like this.

Also: something else on that page: http://www.halfsigma.com/2007/10/nobel-prize-win.html

Please don't ban me for posting that rofl

ps what the **** is this site rofl

10-17-2007, 02:25 PM

Interesting study. I ran some numbers using the same study and found that out of all the people in the so-called "most intelligent" bracket (WORDSUM(9-10)), 95% are white.

From a logical standpoint, if the argument supplied by the link is valid, then it is also a valid conclusion that white people are more intelligent than any other race. But, as others (like Spec) have said, correlation does not equal causation. If you want to make an argument like this, you need to provide a lot more causal data, including explanations for the existence of large numbers of intelligent religious people.

Also, I'm moving this to CT because I'm guessing you wanted an intelligent discussion about it, and it doesn't seem like the Bin is the place for it.

Afrobean · 10-17-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chardish

Also, I'm moving this to CT because I'm guessing you wanted an intelligent discussion about it, and it doesn't seem like the Bin is the place for it.

Gee... Thanks. Now I'm dissatisfied with the caliber of my post and I simply don't have it in me to put a CT level of effort into an additional post so I'll just use this one bitching about how you moved it.

ps "From a logical standpoint, if the argument supplied by the link is valid, then it is also a valid conclusion that white people are more intelligent than any other race." Did you read the link I posted? You might be interested to read what it has to say. And honestly, I would say that any good sample of "intelligent people" should be made up with more white people than black people. Think about the numbers... 95% might be a little high, but if they're only testing among Jewish/Christian believers, it should be mostly White, with some Hispanic and Black, with a little pinch of Asian thrown in for good measure.

Grandiagod · 10-17-2007, 02:38 PM

Truthfully it was just supposed to be a jab at you but if you want to discuss it seriously here goes.

Now this is my hypothesis, I am going to see if I can back it up later but here goes. The reason why most intelligent people are white is not because whites are smarter but that due to certain circumstances (White people are traditionally more wealthy, thus going to college is easier. Inner city schools that serve low income black communities are often underfunded and the teachers are not qualified.)

As for religious people not being as smart I wouldn't say religion makes you dumb, I would say that people who are raised to use God to explain everything have less of an interest in learning how exactly the world works. If you can use faith to explain everything you have less reason to question the way the universe's mechanisms grind. Also, while there are some intelligent religious people, obviously intelligence is favored in non-religious people as pointed out by that study. I would guess that the intelligent theists were simply indoctrinated as children and are unable or unwilling to shed the superstitions they were raised with.

10-17-2007, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrobean

ps "From a logical standpoint, if the argument supplied by the link is valid, then it is also a valid conclusion that white people are more intelligent than any other race." Did you read the link I posted? You might be interested to read what it has to say. And honestly, I would say that any good sample of "intelligent people" should be made up with more white people than black people. Think about the numbers... 95% might be a little high, but if they're only testing among Jewish/Christian believers, it should be mostly White, with some Hispanic and Black, with a little pinch of Asian thrown in for good measure.

Well, I was making an argument by counterpoint: the survey data is quite complex and isn't just testing people who believe in God.

Argument by blog: "Out of people who are intelligent, the majority are atheists/agnostics." If you run other tests on the same data, it would have you believe "Out of people who are intelligent, the majority are white." 95%, according to the data.

Also, I ran some more tests: people who believe in God without a doubt and people who believe in God, but have doubts, are more likely to have sex at least once per week than atheists or agnostics. Go us!

**MixMasterLar** · 10-17-2007, 03:22 PM

Quote:

As for religious people not being as smart I wouldn't say religion makes you dumb, I would say that people who are raised to use God to explain everything have less of an interest in learning how exactly the world works. If you can use faith to explain everything you have less reason to question the way the universe's mechanisms grind

Very true statment, but alot of famous people such as Isaac Newton were religious and still explained alot about how the world works.

But yeah your statment is pretty much true these days, I believe the reason people think Giudo is an atheist is that he gets upset at this fact in alot of threads.

Quote:

Also, I ran some more tests: people who believe in God without a doubt and people who believe in God, but have doubts, are more likely to have sex at least once per week than atheists or agnostics. Go us!

Were they married? otherwise that shows that people who believe in God without a doubt sim more rofl

fido123 · 10-17-2007, 05:59 PM

I can see this because I notice that so many Christians are incredibly ignorant. They (meaning the majority of...) just know what they've been taught from the Bible and simply stick to that and disregard everything else. It really gets me how so many people believe what they've grown up with. They grow up with a religion and don't even bother searching for any other possible answers and yet they feel like their religion is superior. Personally I have been searching a lot and think of myself as Agnostic until I am educated more. So I think the Old Testament is extremely plausible as it accurately portrays and lists events that have been proven to have existed...does this mean I'm leaning more to being Jewish because right now I'm not buying into the New Testament.

GuidoHunter · 10-17-2007, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fido123

I can see this because I notice that so many Christians are incredibly ignorant. They (meaning the majority of...) just know what they've been taught from the Bible and simply stick to that and disregard everything else.

Pot to kettle: "You are black."

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

fido123 · 10-17-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuidoHunter

Pot to kettle: "You are black."

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

When do I ever criticize peoples religions because I think my own is correct?

Engler · 10-17-2007, 08:07 PM

I happen to be Catholic, and while I do believe in God and afterlife (Hell, Purgatory, Heaven), I keep an open mind, and am personally infatuated with science and how the world works.

**MixMasterLar** · 10-17-2007, 08:38 PM

There is keeping an open mind, and then there's being wishy-washy

2nd group is easier to fing IMO, tho not as easy as "IM RIGHT ALWAYS FOOL"

GuidoHunter · 10-17-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fido123

When do I ever criticize peoples religions because I think my own is correct?

I dunno, maybe when you fail to read what people quote.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

fido123 · 10-17-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuidoHunter

I dunno, maybe when you fail to read what people quote.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com

...I still can't see it...I'm not Christian so by me saying that many Christians are pretty blind to things around them because they assume the Bible is the only true answer wouldn't apply to Pot to Kettle...

**devonin** · 10-17-2007, 09:39 PM

No fido, he's saying that for you to say "They are ignorant and only believe what they are told" is hypocritical because clearly, since you provided no support for this, you appear to him to also be -saying- "They are ignorant and only believe what they are told" -because- you are yourself ignorant and only believing what you've been told.

Whether his point is valid or not is up for debate, but I hope that clears up his intent.

10-17-2007, 01:22 PM	#1
Grandiagod FFR Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Feaefaw Age: 35 Posts: 6,122	Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists It's not discrimination Chardish, it's SCIENCE http://www.halfsigma.com/2006/06/religious_peopl.html __________________ He who angers you conquers you. ~Elizabeth Kenny

10-17-2007, 01:23 PM	#2
Snowcrafta V's beta-male entourage Join Date: May 2005 Location: Boise, ID Age: 36 Posts: 2,873	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists i could have told you that without an article to support it __________________

10-17-2007, 01:32 PM	#3
Specforces Yes Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 37 Posts: 5,028	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists correlation does not equal causation __________________ Check Out My Music

10-17-2007, 01:45 PM	#5
Specforces Yes Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 37 Posts: 5,028	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists I'm just putting a thorn in your ass buddy. Plus, it's not really talking about all religious people but more so followers of monotheistic Abrahamic traditions. Verbal IQ is also a completely different story... __________________ Check Out My Music

10-17-2007, 01:47 PM	#6
devonin Very Grave Indeed Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 40 Posts: 10,098	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists Coincidence is a bitch.

10-17-2007, 02:22 PM	#7
Afrobean Admiral in the Red Army Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the moon Age: 36 Posts: 13,262	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists I'm so glad people are actually doing tests like this... it doesn't imply causation, that's true, but I know that if I was religious, I'd be more likely to stop and take a look at things after hearing about something like this. Also: something else on that page: http://www.halfsigma.com/2007/10/nobel-prize-win.html Please don't ban me for posting that rofl ps what the **** is this site rofl __________________

10-17-2007, 02:25 PM	#8
User6773 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists Interesting study. I ran some numbers using the same study and found that out of all the people in the so-called "most intelligent" bracket (WORDSUM(9-10)), 95% are white. From a logical standpoint, if the argument supplied by the link is valid, then it is also a valid conclusion that white people are more intelligent than any other race. But, as others (like Spec) have said, correlation does not equal causation. If you want to make an argument like this, you need to provide a lot more causal data, including explanations for the existence of large numbers of intelligent religious people. Also, I'm moving this to CT because I'm guessing you wanted an intelligent discussion about it, and it doesn't seem like the Bin is the place for it.

10-17-2007, 02:38 PM	#10
Grandiagod FFR Player Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Feaefaw Age: 35 Posts: 6,122	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists Truthfully it was just supposed to be a jab at you but if you want to discuss it seriously here goes. Now this is my hypothesis, I am going to see if I can back it up later but here goes. The reason why most intelligent people are white is not because whites are smarter but that due to certain circumstances (White people are traditionally more wealthy, thus going to college is easier. Inner city schools that serve low income black communities are often underfunded and the teachers are not qualified.) As for religious people not being as smart I wouldn't say religion makes you dumb, I would say that people who are raised to use God to explain everything have less of an interest in learning how exactly the world works. If you can use faith to explain everything you have less reason to question the way the universe's mechanisms grind. Also, while there are some intelligent religious people, obviously intelligence is favored in non-religious people as pointed out by that study. I would guess that the intelligent theists were simply indoctrinated as children and are unable or unwilling to shed the superstitions they were raised with. __________________ He who angers you conquers you. ~Elizabeth Kenny

10-17-2007, 05:59 PM	#13
fido123 FFR Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 32 Posts: 4,245	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists I can see this because I notice that so many Christians are incredibly ignorant. They (meaning the majority of...) just know what they've been taught from the Bible and simply stick to that and disregard everything else. It really gets me how so many people believe what they've grown up with. They grow up with a religion and don't even bother searching for any other possible answers and yet they feel like their religion is superior. Personally I have been searching a lot and think of myself as Agnostic until I am educated more. So I think the Old Testament is extremely plausible as it accurately portrays and lists events that have been proven to have existed...does this mean I'm leaning more to being Jewish because right now I'm not buying into the New Testament.

10-17-2007, 08:07 PM	#16
Engler FFR Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CNY Age: 31 Posts: 2,339	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists I happen to be Catholic, and while I do believe in God and afterlife (Hell, Purgatory, Heaven), I keep an open mind, and am personally infatuated with science and how the world works. __________________

10-17-2007, 08:38 PM	#17
MixMasterLar Beach Bum Extraordinaire Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Emerald Coast Posts: 5,214	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists There is keeping an open mind, and then there's being wishy-washy 2nd group is easier to fing IMO, tho not as easy as "IM RIGHT ALWAYS FOOL" __________________ Facebook / Youtube / Twitter .

10-17-2007, 09:39 PM	#20
devonin Very Grave Indeed Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 40 Posts: 10,098	Re: Religious people aren't as smart as Atheists No fido, he's saying that for you to say "They are ignorant and only believe what they are told" is hypocritical because clearly, since you provided no support for this, you appear to him to also be -saying- "They are ignorant and only believe what they are told" -because- you are yourself ignorant and only believing what you've been told. Whether his point is valid or not is up for debate, but I hope that clears up his intent.

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