Studies have shown that Religious people tend to have low intelligence. Why is this true?
464185
You just have to browse this site to draw that conclusion. Just compare the responses given by theists compared to atheists. Nothing retards intellectual development as much as religious indoctrination.
1083261
They have been brained washed from birth just like people from many other religions.  I think it takes a certian amount of IQ to step back and see these things for what they really are.  They are a growing number of people however that can keep there faith but at the same time remain open minded about other posssibilities.  OH yea the bible quoteing thing ......... thats really annoying
734322
It is not only one factor that actually determines how intelligente you are. Consider genetics, nurture, environment, motivation. There are other more complicated factors such as the diet of a mother during pregnancy, thus affecting brain development. Intelligence is a complicated topic and science has not find the perfect way to make kids smart people; but we know few of the factors that contribute to create this gift of nature.
74621
the following Wikipedia article links some studies.  Personally, I think that such a relation likely exists, but not due so much to greater intelligence of those without religion, but because a) academic institutions can be hostile toawrd people of faith, 2) non-religious people are more likely to seek divine purpose and meaning in academic pursuits, while religious people seek meaning from religious pursuits, and 3) intelligent/educated people are going to place more faith on the powers of human intellect than those who do not have such values.
477442
No. It's just the more religious a person is the she/he hides from his/her self. People don't like to admit to themselves that they're petty, mean-spirited, backstabbing jerks. Therefore, they throw themselves into religion, using their relationship with "God" as a substitute for basic human goodness.\nThere are a few who transcend that and are truly good and spiritual, but the vast majority of Bible-thumpers aren't either.
168890
1. they are less intelligent.\n2. they are physically more able.\n3. they are "heathens"\n4. the list goes on and on and on.....
412382
I'm sure that there are hundreds of studies with conflicting results, but it's impossible to compare the intelligence of someone who is alive, versus someone who is dead. Also, IQ is an indicator of intelligence, but it's not 100% accurate - if you take the test multiple times, you'll get slightly different scores.\n\nHowever, you could easily prove that the perception of society's intelligence is dropping. With modern communication, you can write/say/do something stupid, and it's immediately available for the world to see.
902338
It is in the human's nature to fear what they don't understand. It is lack of exposure to differences and an ignorant attitude that create fear. Religions can foster this ignorance, yes.
1052767
Ha! Logic, reasoning, science and critical thinking skills are tools of the devil to lure the weak-minded! Blind faith is the only intelligent solution! Besides, I know what God is like because he is described in a book written thousands of years ago, and he has spoken to me, and has ordered me to molest children and do a strip tease before his majesty.
540917
no, only a few people are smart. Most of us did not discover anything new, though of anything new. We just learn whatever ppl thought up and most of us couldn't even follow the ideas becoz we are not able to think logically.
1133646
Simple people are afraid of what they don't know and don't understand. Isn't it so much easier to go to church and swallow down all that brainwashing that they feed them? \nOf course it is - it doesn't require thinking with their own heads, it doesn't require reading and learning and researching and making mistakes and developing themselves...\nThey just get taught a pretty story and told it is the only truth. What an ideal world, isn't it?! Too bad it's ot that simple. \n\nPeople have been deceived and brainwashed through centuries and millenia. We can't expect them to suddenly start thinking. Organised forms of religion have caused much too much damage by burning everyone who dared to ponder another side of truth...
397672
I think some people seek a higher purpose or reason for living. Others just think religion is stupid.\n\nPeople with more education tend to be less religious. Is there a relationship with intelligence? Who knows?\n\nMy guess is "hard wired", but upbringing is part of it.
37017
Highly educated people have a higher rate of atheism.
1167051
intelligence and prayer
419024
I think the reason is that people are trying to show how smart they are about religion and they are also trying to convert other people any way they can.
763153
Belief often makes people ignorant. In fact, one of the many contradictions in the Bible say that it's better not to be intelligent, because knowledge corrupts(or something like that). But in other passages, it says that God given intelligence should be used for good(or something like that). This is why they say ignorance is bliss I guess, cuz if all were stupid, then no one will be the wiser. Christians really do believe what they believe and so they will often be tested. It sounds stupid to others that don't see their point of views exactly. This is why George W Bush is still president, and why ppl still root for the republican party even though they see it and the president falling out of grace.
743524
It's been proven time and time again that the higher the IQ and education, the less the tolerance for religion.\n\nOh and "impossible" pious fraud may be something christians indulge in on a daily basis, but it's still fraud. Yeah "BS" is right...