"Religious people tend to be smarter"

[bennyboy]

An interesting thing with science, is that it doesn't matter 99% of the time.  We're a very specialized culture.  Ben Carson believes all sorts of nonsense, and he was a Brain Surgeon.  

I believe in evolution.  What does that do for me?  It has no practical value.  That piece of "smartness" is more or less worthless.

Actually, it helps you on a day-to day basis. When you understand how evolution works, you understand why you need to complete your prescription of antibiotics even though you feel healthy with twelve pills still in the bottle. Ever hear that phrase, "the relapse is always worse"? There's a reason for it, and that reason is evolution.

And evolution is not the subject of belief.  As a fact, it is only subject to acceptance or rejection.

You don't really need to understand evolution to do this.  You just have to obey your doctor's directions.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Actually, it helps you on a day-to day basis. When you understand how evolution works, you understand why you need to complete your prescription of antibiotics even though you feel healthy with twelve pills still in the bottle. Ever hear that phrase, "the relapse is always worse"? There's a reason for it, and that reason is evolution.

And evolution is not the subject of belief.  As a fact, it is only subject to acceptance or rejection.

You don't really need to understand evolution to do this.  You just have to obey your doctor's directions.

Oh, please, you really expect me to listen to an educated person?!

[GUBU]

I wonder if the subconscious of religious people knows that they benefit from their belief, and so they don't put a lot thought into it.

They say that intelligent people are more easily hypnotized, because they have a superior power of imagination.  I find it quite easy to find that intelligent people can easily be religious, because the world view of an intelligent person is more complex, and therefore more full of mystery, than that of a stupid person.  This means more chance for superstition, not less-- as easily revealed by my Beagle's apparent lack of belief in God.

Cheese, he believes in.  God, not so much.

Problem with that kind of idea is that the god meme is one that precludes imagination and deep thinking. When you fall back on god to explain things you currently don't understand you are utilising neither intelligence nor imagination.

[bennyboy]

They say that intelligent people are more easily hypnotized, because they have a superior power of imagination.  I find it quite easy to find that intelligent people can easily be religious, because the world view of an intelligent person is more complex, and therefore more full of mystery, than that of a stupid person.  This means more chance for superstition, not less-- as easily revealed by my Beagle's apparent lack of belief in God.

Cheese, he believes in.  God, not so much.

Problem with that kind of idea is that the god meme is one that precludes imagination and deep thinking. When you fall back on god to explain things you currently don't understand you are utilising neither intelligence nor imagination.

I dunno, dude.  I've read the Bible, and it's pretty damn imaginative.  So are the interpretations of many Christians that allow them to enjoy all their favorite activities while still pretending they are actually good Christians. What's lazier, really: accepting observable reality, or denying most of it and sticking to a fairy tale instead, despite being literally immersed in a culture capable of providing evidence against your position with 5 seconds of typing?

[GUBU]

What's lazier, really: accepting observable reality, or denying most of it and sticking to a fairy tale instead, despite being literally immersed in a culture capable of providing evidence against your position with 5 seconds of typing?

Fairy tale, definitely. You're just simply accepting without demur what somebody else is telling you, no investigation, no study, no discovery involved.

[downbeatplumb]

Depends on how one would define smartness, I guess.

The definition of being smart is agreeing with me on every point.

[bennyboy]

Depends on how one would define smartness, I guess.

The definition of being smart is agreeing with me on every point.

I categorically disagree with that statement.

[downbeatplumb]

The definition of being smart is agreeing with me on every point.

I categorically disagree with that statement.

That's coz you stoopid.

[Aractus]

So I read this on a site a while back and was wondering if there is any validity to it.

It's perfectly plausible.

I've given my answer in my thread.

[Whateverist]

Where in the thread?