I've just wasted a little time looking at IQ and atheism. I'd love to say atheists were more intelligent. It would be such a simple explanation, and emotionally satisfying too. But, studies concerning atheism and IQ are less than definitive. It appears that there is a slight, but very slight edge in favor of atheism. I've also discovered that the religious may have a slight mental health advantage.
Drat! How unsatisfying. I tend to score highly on IQ tests (anywhere from 130 to 160). It would be so much fun to say hey, I'm atheist because I'm intelligent. But, IQ doesn't seem to add directly to my happiness or income and I've met too many very bright but very religious people to believe it.
And the spread in my IQ scores suggests test biases rather than absolute truth in IQ scores anyway. The more logical word problems, vocab, and three dimensional shape problems on a test, the better I do. The more problems that require me to add numbers in my head the worse I do. Time constraints aren't my friend either. So if my score varies up to 30 points, what does IQ really measure? Not as much as we think it does.
I don't think IQ is the difference between atheists and theists. I don't have any studies to back it up, but I think rationality over the emotionally compelling response is what makes atheists. It's what makes me an atheist.
I do really well with the tests that require avoiding emotionally satisfying, but wrong answers. It isn't an IQ test, but the Multi-state Bar Exam is all about emotionally wrong, but legally right answers and I was really, really, good at that. And yes, I do know what the emotionally correct answer is, I just know how to go on to the correct answer despite the emotional pain.
That, I think is the real atheism versus theism divide: do you go with the emotionally satisfying, or must you look at things rationally to the bitter end?
Drat! How unsatisfying. I tend to score highly on IQ tests (anywhere from 130 to 160). It would be so much fun to say hey, I'm atheist because I'm intelligent. But, IQ doesn't seem to add directly to my happiness or income and I've met too many very bright but very religious people to believe it.
And the spread in my IQ scores suggests test biases rather than absolute truth in IQ scores anyway. The more logical word problems, vocab, and three dimensional shape problems on a test, the better I do. The more problems that require me to add numbers in my head the worse I do. Time constraints aren't my friend either. So if my score varies up to 30 points, what does IQ really measure? Not as much as we think it does.
I don't think IQ is the difference between atheists and theists. I don't have any studies to back it up, but I think rationality over the emotionally compelling response is what makes atheists. It's what makes me an atheist.
I do really well with the tests that require avoiding emotionally satisfying, but wrong answers. It isn't an IQ test, but the Multi-state Bar Exam is all about emotionally wrong, but legally right answers and I was really, really, good at that. And yes, I do know what the emotionally correct answer is, I just know how to go on to the correct answer despite the emotional pain.
That, I think is the real atheism versus theism divide: do you go with the emotionally satisfying, or must you look at things rationally to the bitter end?
If there is a god, I want to believe that there is a god. If there is not a god, I want to believe that there is no god.
