People with higher IQs are less likely to believe in God

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

There's just a smudge on your scouter covering the decimal.
*wipes off smudge* it really says 9.000

Mental kaio-ken attack!!!! Now what does the scouter say?

[Straughn]

Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Absence.

That reminds me of something i watched on History Channel today about "the newly discovered dark energy"
...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 143934.htm

[Monehp]

[...]
I think it's right. I was trained in the art of mental kaio-ken.

If you can follow what I just said, you need to get laid.

Kaio-whatever! Who cares?! I'm still going to crush you! I don't care what you've learned!

[...]
There's just a smudge on your scouter covering the decimal.
*wipes off smudge* it really says 9.000

Oh hey, you're right!

...

Well this is disappointing...



Well then, er, I guess here is my rationale around religion:

It is somewhat primitive, but has played, and will play for some while yet, an important role as concerning humanity. Religion is like fire, it is that first important step in the right direction concerning social and cultural progress. It may not be easily controlled, and even then used for evil ends, all the while letting off unsightly smoke; but it allowed man to step into the metaphorical darkness, to take the first steps towards, and realization of, humanity.

And like fire, it is to be replaced by something better crafted. That can illuminate further, be used safely, and with none of that smoke business. Call it modern philosophy; electricity.

Religion has played its role in getting us to the next step, and it will still be forever around and a wonder to behold, but it becomes obsolete except perhaps in times of necessity. Even so, we should always thank it for what it has done for progress, and again like fire, equally what it has done against it.

Mental kaio-ken attack!!!! Now what does the scouter say?

....

The same. P:

[Ryadn]

WHAT?! OVER 9000?! There's no way that can be right!

I think it's right. I was trained in the art of mental kaio-ken.

If you can follow what I just said, you need to get laid.

I read that as "If you can follow what I just said, you get laid" and tried desperately to understand what you were talking about.

[Monehp]

WHAT?! OVER 9000?! There's no way that can be right!

I think it's right. I was trained in the art of mental kaio-ken.

If you can follow what I just said, you need to get laid.

I read that as "If you can follow what I just said, you get laid" and tried desperately to understand what you were talking about.

Because I find you deserving, and my sympathy at your lack of knowing, I give you a set of links to investigate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ImuoLpwTag
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=over+9000

Now you too can get laid! =D

[Straughn]

Funniest quote in the article:

"Linking religious belief and intelligence in this way could reflect a dangerous trend, developing a simplistic characterisation of religion as primitive..."

That's the idea.

character of religion = primitive
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 22-23.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 34_24.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 4_25a.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 4_25b.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 4_25c.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 27-29.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 34_29.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 01_06.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 01_07.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 01_11.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 1_12a.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 01p03.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 02_07.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/th ... 01p07.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/th ... 03p20.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 08-09.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/job/go ... 10-14.html
...
timeframe of religion's basis = primitive
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 04-06.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 02_19.html
...
social, technological, psychological imperative of religion = primitive
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 06_11.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/genesi ... 06_07.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/judges ... 1_19a.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/judges ... 1_19b.html
http://www.thebricktestament.com/judges ... 1_19c.html

ergo .... quack quack, waddle waddle.

[Cameroi]

appearently people with lower iq's are more likely to confuse god with fanatacism, might be more like it.

or one system of belief with all possible avenues of doing so.

[Risottia]

People with higher IQs are less likely to believe in God, according to a new study.
...
But the conclusions - in a paper for the academic journal Intelligence - have been branded "simplistic" by critics.

I'd say.
I personally know many intelligent people who believe in some kind of deity. The only difference with stupid religious people is that, being intelligent, they don't pretend that their belief is rational.

[Lucky Bicycle Works]

Well then, er, I guess here is my rationale around religion:

It is somewhat primitive, but has played, and will play for some while yet, an important role as concerning humanity. Religion is like fire, it is that first important step in the right direction concerning social and cultural progress. It may not be easily controlled, and even then used for evil ends, all the while letting off unsightly smoke; but it allowed man to step into the metaphorical darkness, to take the first steps towards, and realization of, humanity.

And like fire, it is to be replaced by something better crafted. That can illuminate further, be used safely, and with none of that smoke business. Call it modern philosophy; electricity.

Religion has played its role in getting us to the next step, and it will still be forever around and a wonder to behold, but it becomes obsolete except perhaps in times of necessity. Even so, we should always thank it for what it has done for progress, and again like fire, equally what it has done against it.

That was a joy to read.

It is in accordance with my own interpretation of pre-history and history. Though I am no scholar of it, I have always had the strong impression that religion arises out of knowledge and philosophy and creative thinking. In its replication it takes on elements of propaganda, it is twisted to suit the interests of those who profess it and whose power depends on it. But at origin, it is knowledge.

Particularly in cultures whose learning is oral (non-literate cultures, and even those where literacy belongs only to a small elite) the persistence of knowledge depends on structuring knowledge into a memorable and meaningful story. Telling of a great natural disaster, or of a historical mistake, or of the dangers of badly-prepared food must be made personal, it must involve the listener ... or else it fades with each retelling and is lost.

As the vast archive of useful knowledge grows in our libraries, written down so that it is available without the time-consuming and unreliable method of "asking the wise elders" ... as knowledge is immortalized, so to speak ... religion persists ONLY in what is a personally meaningful story. No longer necessary to transmit useful information from one generation to the next, that role falling to the written word in societies with high literacy rates, religion becomes purely a matter of personal choice. Of the stories which are retold, because the hearers enjoy the telling.

And of course it has a dark side. The bright side is clear enough to see: the congregation as a social activity, the society of one's fellow-believers where friendships start on a basis of trust because of shared 'moral precepts.' The courage to be altruistic, by the religious doctrine (common to many religions I think) that intentions are more important than actual consequences of action.

But the dark side is that in a society growing more rational, with social structures steadily made more decent and fair: many people need a release, a justification to hate and to persecute each other. Some find that justification in religion, and particularly in religions based in an old book which dictates old and lower standards of decency and fairness as right by decree, as matters of faith.

I may be straying a bit from what began as agreement to (and applause of) your post.

Without the libraries of monasteries, far more written knowledge would have been lost to mildew or to looters. The Enlightenment would never have happened, without the 'intellectual elite' supported by Christian theocracy. Confucius, the Buddha, Muhammed, would never have had the time to write or the fine words to spread their belief, without an intellectual (and in some cases, power) elite from which they wrote or taught.

As you said, religion is a stage in human knowledge. It is not finished yet.

The awesome power of a religion based on 'arcane knowledge' which is real knowledge (our scientific libraries) is nothing short of terrifying. An intellectual elite which rules the world using The Word of Science, which cannot be questioned other than by initiates, would dwarf all previous religions for oppressive power and for the breaking of human spirits.

We must not allow that to happen. Science must be inclusive, it must be welcoming. It must be for all of us, lest it become the much stronger basis of a far more domineering religion than has ever come before.

I'm just going to stop now. I think I'm raving.

[Benbob]

I Beleve it Though

[Lucky Bicycle Works]

:unsure: I Beleve it Though

Welcome, my first convert.

[Buffett and Colbert]

:unsure: I Beleve it Though

Welcome, my first convert.

No! Not another religion!

The Powere of Reppy Compeleth thee!

[Lucky Bicycle Works]

:unsure: I Beleve it Though

Welcome, my first convert.

No! Not another religion!

The Powere of Reppy Compeleth thee!

And I comply. I go now unto the Promised Forum.

[Dakini]

Well all I can say is, Me and my entire fsmily all have IQ's above 130 (mine being 145) and we all believe in God. And we all graduated college with degrees so there is really no direct corellation. Not with me anyway.

What IQ test were you administered?

The kind that come up in banners proclaiming "Paris Hilton has an IQ of 115. Are you smarter? Click here to take the test!".


In addition, I would like to point out that any test for which you can study and improve your score is probably not a good measure of intelligence. Even ignoring cultural biases of some IQ tests.

[Dumb Ideologies]

You know, I see a different angle here.

What is the main distinguishing characteristic of those with a high IQ, as compared to the general population?

Not being more clever, but an unusual ability to mentally rearrange polygons.

Could it be the case that while they sleep and dream of merry rotating polygons, Satan sneaks in and rearranges them so they spell out "there is no God" in all caps?

This would explain why in America the elitist democrats, who think they're all clever and shit, forcibly abort and eat fetuses and generally pursue the program of Satan, while the Republicans, ordinary, humble people who are more likely to have religious belief, bravely fight 24 hours a day for justice and truthiness?

[Samatolian City-States]

... more members of the "intellectual elite" considered themselves atheists ...

Perhaps this all has something to do with the fact that they consider themselves to be "intellectually elite"?

[Hyperactive Snowsleds]

There's just a smudge on your scouter covering the decimal.
*wipes off smudge* it really says 9.000

Mental kaio-ken attack!!!! Now what does the scouter say?

He says that IQ is an approximation, in Base 10. Impartial is not an option.

[Lucky Bicycle Works]

There's just a smudge on your scouter covering the decimal.
*wipes off smudge* it really says 9.000

Mental kaio-ken attack!!!! Now what does the scouter say?

He says that IQ is an approximation, in Base 10. Impartial is not an option.

You really are a most entertaining spammer.

But you have other talents, I am sure.

Return to the subject. Or I will, with brutal abruptness.

[Samatolian City-States]

Mental kaio-ken attack!!!! Now what does the scouter say?

He says that IQ is an approximation, in Base 10. Impartial is not an option.

You really are a most entertaining spammer.

But you have other talents, I am sure.

Return to the subject. Or I will, with brutal abruptness.

I'm pretty sure the subject involved scouters. Did it not?

[Hyperactive Snowsleds]

Mental kaio-ken attack!!!! Now what does the scouter say?

He says that IQ is an approximation, in Base 10. Impartial is not an option.

You really are a most entertaining spammer.

But you have other talents, I am sure.

Return to the subject. Or I will, with brutal abruptness.

Tell me then, why contribute?

Higher IQs simply try to disprove the existence of god due to scientific contradictions.

[Lucky Bicycle Works]

He says that IQ is an approximation, in Base 10. Impartial is not an option.

You really are a most entertaining spammer.

But you have other talents, I am sure.

Return to the subject. Or I will, with brutal abruptness.

I'm pretty sure the subject involved scouters. Did it not?

What is a "scouter" ?

[Fnordgasm 5]

Tell me then, why contribute?

Higher IQs simply try to disprove the existence of god due to scientific contradictions.

Not so. We also try it with biblical and logical contradictions.

[Lucky Bicycle Works]

*snipamid*
He says that IQ is an approximation, in Base 10. Impartial is not an option.

You really are a most entertaining spammer.

But you have other talents, I am sure.

Return to the subject. Or I will, with brutal abruptness.

Tell me then, why contribute?

Higher IQs simply try to disprove the existence of god due to scientific contradictions.

Not at all. The highest of IQ's, if motivated to prove theIQselves, would rise to the greater challenge: to prove the existence of god (or any other hypothetical) without resort to the work of other minds.

Science is the collective work of minds. Refute that, mathematician, or return to the subject.

[Hyperactive Snowsleds]

The "scouter" is a dazed character that leads a scout team.
Here's the obscure meme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtpyeLxVkI

IQ (mathematics and a lot of research-) usually, it doesn't rely on the normal distribution, but this was off a website. The normal distribution would signify the mean value (100) to be the most common.

50% of IQ scores fall between 90 and 110

70% of IQ scores fall between 85 and 115

95% of IQ scores fall between 70 and 130

99.5% of IQ scores fall between 60 and 140

Over 140 - Genius or near genius
120 - 140 - Very superior intelligence
110 - 119 - Superior intelligence
90 - 109 - Normal or average intelligence
80 - 89 - Dullness
70 - 79 - Borderline deficiency
Under 70 - Definite feeble-mindedness

The standards are set above. My IQ is 158. However, with these lack of sample data, I cannot construct a very valid distribution, so you'll have to settle for that.
Like I said, they try to prove God and the Bible incorrect due to its scientific flaws.

[Lucky Bicycle Works]

Tell me then, why contribute?

Higher IQs simply try to disprove the existence of god due to scientific contradictions.

Not so. We also try it with biblical and logical contradictions.

Biblical doesn't count, and logical depends on commonly agreed precepts.

But good to see you around Fnord. Get in the mosh!