(June 28, 2014 at 1:52 pm)Rampant.A.I. Wrote:(June 28, 2014 at 12:58 am)Esquilax Wrote: I don't think the one thing causes the other thing, but religions in general cultivates and values a set of behaviors in their adherents that results in intellectual incuriosity, whereas atheism can do the reverse. Does that mean religion makes you dumb and atheism makes you smart? No. But religion certainly doesn't help theists to properly harness their intelligence no matter where it falls on the spectrum. How could it? Religion trains you to accept a single set of answers to almost every question, to deny even the possibility of investigating other alternatives, and to link that narrow mindedness with strength and correctness.
It's hard to maintain a vital mind when you're restricted to just one possible conclusion.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/articl...-of-brain/
Quote:The results showed significantly greater hippocampal atrophy in individuals reporting ... no religious affiliation ...