Are Atheists Smarter?
Science and Faith Science and faith have been on opposite sides of the boxing ring for the past century. Happy holidays unacceptable. Religion has become one of those things that people don't like talking over the dinner table. To add fuel to the fire, some recent studies suggest a negative correlation between religiosity and general intelligence. Calm down, it's much more complicated than that. So what's the psychology behind this? Why don't we take a look? Let's jump in. The Study A study in 2011 used a service to test the correlation between a person's religiosity and general intelligence. The service included items like "I look to God for strength, support, and guidance," and the individual being tested would rate this statement on a four-point scale. In addition, participants were also measured on their general intelligence through tests including verbal fluency and speed of cognitive processing. Using a sample size of over 2,000 Americans