Are we smarter than average?

[bennyboy]

I think that's an oxymoron.  If they're that dumb, then the education system has failed, either in screening them out, or remedying their stupidity.

I disagree. One may know a lot of things, which is what schools teach, but one might not know how to integrate those facts, which is what intelligence is.

If you are talking about a university, then it's not a very good one.  In my experience, while there was some wrote memory, there was very much serious thinking, conventions, debates, cafe conversations with profs, etc.

[brewer]

Me, idiot savant. More former than latter.

[LadyForCamus]

To OP:

I'm certainly not, lol! I don't think to be atheist requires above average intelligence. But it does seem like very intelligent people also happen to be atheist. But not always.

There is my completely noncommittal answer for you. [emoji12]

[RozKek]

Think about it. Think about the people on this forum. Think about every atheist you've met in your life. How often is it that you've met one who couldn't be described as especially intelligent, in a certain hard to describe way? It's like a certain innocence is lacking there, a certain something that makes skeptics of all stripes very similar in their mindset as well as uniformly intelligent at some level.

Am I totally off base here? To be noted, this is clearly about a generalization, and maybe even a budding stereotype. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter, though. What do you think about atheists as people?  I think it's time we talked about that, it might lead to some interesting conversations.

Worldwide I'd say yes.

Look at the top 30 countries with high percentages of an atheist population then look at the most religious countries.

Then compare technological accomplishments, education, sexual equality, equality of sexuality, economy and so on and so on.  

On a more local level though I'd say no.  Generally I wouldn't judge any individual, or even small population of religious people to be less or more intelligent.

edit: brrr I changed my mind

[Whateverist]

All I can say is that I'm not smarter then the average theist.

You sound like this guy.  (Just substitute "you're all above average intelligence").

https://youtu.be/M5Flr-hQHcY

[Whateverist]

Maybe we shouldn't only focus on intelligence. I like atheists more as people, and I don't think it's just group thinking. I very rarely meet a theist who I like in that way as well, but when I do, granted, I don't care about their religious beliefs at all.

in·tel·li·gence
inˈteləjəns/
noun

1. 1. 
   the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills.
   "an eminent man of great intelligence"
   
   
   
   
   
2. 2. 
   generally liked more by excitable penguins.
   

[Thumpalumpacus]

I disagree. One may know a lot of things, which is what schools teach, but one might not know how to integrate those facts, which is what intelligence is.

If you are talking about a university, then it's not a very good one.  In my experience, while there was some wrote memory, there was very much serious thinking, conventions, debates, cafe conversations with profs, etc.

I was talking about what you were talking about, an "education system" -- which means schools at all levels. I stand by the distinction I drew. Possessing a large number of facts doesn't make one smart.

By the way, that's "rote" memory

[Edwardo Piet]

I think that's an oxymoron.  If they're that dumb, then the education system has failed, either in screening them out, or remedying their stupidity.

I disagree. One may know a lot of things, which is what schools teach, but one might not know how to integrate those facts, which is what intelligence is.

Agree 100%

[Mister Agenda]

Atheists in the USA run a little above the Bell Curve, but not enough to justify bragging, and atheism is unlikely to be the cause of the difference. Christians in China run a little above the curve too. I think it's likely that the reason in both cases is that it tends to take a little more independent thinking to buck the majority.

That said, I think the atheists of this forum run a little higher than the standard atheist curve. Some of the theists, too. If you can't produce a well-formed thought, you're going to have a harder time here, because dissecting a post is a popular sport here.

[paulpablo]

Just an additional point, I'd be willing to predict that atheists are above average in world wide intelligence but I think Jewish people will be more above the average than atheists.

But it's odd with Jews, as a group they're not necessarily classed as a purely religious group but a racial group.