Had to pass this one on, couldn't resist.

[ippy]

I am being my usual self and passing on this link without any bias on my part:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/athiests-religious-people-intelligence-smarter-study-imperial-college-london-a8183131.html

Regards to all, ippy

[Humph Warden Bennett]

I am being my usual self and passing on this link without any bias on my part:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/athiests-religious-people-intelligence-smarter-study-imperial-college-london-a8183131.html

Regards to all, ippy

We did this one last year. I have nothing further to add except well done Prof D for managing to inject some sense into what was an otherwise silly and partisan debate.

[floo]

Very intelligent people can be religious, but I suspect they compartmentalise their brain so logic doesn't impinge on their faith. I can think of one particular poster on this forum whom I would place in that category.

[jeremyp]

the researchers say that religious people's lower IQ test results may be a result of bad performance on tasks only where intuition and logic come into conflict.

It seems the article is saying that the entire difference may just be due to religious people trusting intuition too much.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

It seems the article is saying that the entire difference may just be due to religious people trusting intuition too much.

I've had a similar view that atheists put too much trust and emphasis on human psychological incompetence. How often have we heard evidence of psychological incompetence  E.g. The fact that when you look at a picture of two adjacent wineglasses some get fooled into thinking it's two faces so that puts the kybosh on religion..........and I suppose that's reinforced by the fact that when you look at a picture of two faces some people are fooled into thinking it's two wineglasses!......

Other simple illusions which can be presented to show that religion is an illusion are available..

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Very intelligent people can be religious, but I suspect they compartmentalise their brain so logic doesn't impinge on their faith. I can think of one particular poster on this forum whom I would place in that category.

Ah so now a logical, break-free, chain leading directly to atheism can be presented or cited.....Go ahead Floo.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I am being my usual self and passing on this link without any bias on my part:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/athiests-religious-people-intelligence-smarter-study-imperial-college-london-a8183131.html

Regards to all, ippy

So if it is true that atheists are more intelligent then does that mean that atheism makes you more intelligent? or as more of the population becomes atheist the lower the average atheist IQ will be?

[floo]

So if it is true that atheists are more intelligent then does that mean that atheism makes you more intelligent? or as more of the population becomes atheist the lower the average atheist IQ will be?

How can not believing in something, for which there is no verifiable evidence, lower the IQ?

[Stranger]

So if it is true that atheists are more intelligent then does that mean that atheism makes you more intelligent?

Or that more intelligent people are atheists.

or as more of the population becomes atheist the lower the average atheist IQ will be?

That would be inconsistent with it being the atheists that are more intelligent - that is unless you think, for some bizarre reason, that the presence of atheists reduces the IQ of theists...

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Or that more intelligent people are atheists.

OK in which case h the level of atheism in a population will remain broadly the same.
Do you think the statistics say, from census, bear that out?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Or that more intelligent people are atheists.

That would be inconsistent with it being the atheists that are more intelligent - that is unless you think, for some bizarre reason, that the presence of atheists reduces the IQ of theists...

No....what I was thinking was that the more people become atheists the greater the number of people with average or lower intelligence will be atheists thus reducing the average IQ of atheists.

If Atheism equals intelligence then the the average IQ level in atheism either increases as the number in a population becoming atheists increases because atheism increases your IQ level or it is impossible for people of average or lower intelligence to be atheist.

[Harrowby Hall]

No....what I was thinking was that the more people become atheists the greater the number of people with average or lower intelligence will be atheists thus reducing the average IQ of atheists.

It means that the standard deviation of atheist IQ will reduce as more people will be closer to the national mean IQ.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

It means that the standard deviation of atheist IQ will reduce as more people will be closer to the national mean IQ.

Yes.

[Stranger]

OK in which case h the level of atheism in a population will remain broadly the same.
Do you think the statistics say, from census, bear that out?

Okay, I should have said more intelligent people are more likely to be atheists. There is no strict rule and, in any case, the population is increasing.

No....what I was thinking was that the more people become atheists the greater the number of people with average or lower intelligence will be atheists thus reducing the average IQ of atheists.

You're absolutely right, Vlad (assuming all else remains equal). I misread your post - apologies.

If Atheism equals intelligence...

I don't think anybody is suggesting and equality. We are talking about statistics.

The conclusion seems to be (as has been pointed out) that religious people tend to go with intuition, when there is a conflict with logic.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Okay, I should have said more intelligent people are more likely to be atheists. There is no strict rule and, in any case, the population is increasing.

You're absolutely right, Vlad (assuming all else remains equal). I misread your post - apologies.

I don't think anybody is suggesting and equality. We are talking about statistics.

The conclusion seems to be (as has been pointed out) that religious people tend to go with intuition, when there is a conflict with logic.

Another issue with this is the definition of atheist.
If it is ''merely the lack of belief in God or gods'' then technically, Apes, primates, amoeba and carrots are atheist.

[floo]

Another issue with this is the definition of atheist.
If it is ''merely the lack of belief in God or gods'' then technically, Apes, primates, amoeba and carrots are atheist.

And your evidence for that statement is?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Very intelligent people can be religious, but I suspect they compartmentalise their brain so logic doesn't impinge on their faith. I can think of one particular poster on this forum whom I would place in that category.

How does logic impinge on faith?

[Walt Zingmatilder]

And your evidence for that statement is?

They lack belief in God. If youre using a dating agency make sure you fill in more than the religion section.

[floo]

They lack belief in God. If youre using a dating agency make sure you fill in more than the religion section.

You don't know that for a fact, you don't know how their minds work. I am married and have no need of a dating agency, what the heck has that to do with the topic? You make things up as you go along, how sad!

[Walt Zingmatilder]

You don't know that for a fact, you don't know how their minds work. I am married and have no need of a dating agency, what the heck has that to do with the topic? You make things up as you go along, how sad!

Neuroscientists who work on the brain should find analysing a carrot a cinch Floo. As far as I know amoeba don't have minds because isn't it a given that minds are really brains? If so then they lack a belief in gods. Since atheism is merely the lack of belief in Gods then a brick is an atheist.

Are you saying that Carrots might be protestant? Would this be because they are orange?

[floo]

Neuroscientists who work on the brain should find analysing a carrot a cinch Floo. As far as I know amoeba don't have minds because isn't it a given that minds are really brains? If so then they lack a belief in gods. Since atheism is merely the lack of belief in Gods then a brick is an atheist.

Are you saying that Carrots might be protestant? Would this be because they are orange?

Never mind dear, just take some more water with it.

[BeRational]

Neuroscientists who work on the brain should find analysing a carrot a cinch Floo. As far as I know amoeba don't have minds because isn't it a given that minds are really brains? If so then they lack a belief in gods. Since atheism is merely the lack of belief in Gods then a brick is an atheist.

Are you saying that Carrots might be protestant? Would this be because they are orange?

I think you need the capacity to evaluate a proposition.

But, as you say, atheism is the default position.

[ippy]

Neuroscientists who work on the brain should find analysing a carrot a cinch Floo. As far as I know amoeba don't have minds because isn't it a given that minds are really brains? If so then they lack a belief in gods. Since atheism is merely the lack of belief in Gods then a brick is an atheist.

Are you saying that Carrots might be protestant? Would this be because they are orange?

Don't worry too much Vlad, it's not an area that'll be a bother to you.

Regards ippy

[Walt Zingmatilder]

I think you need the capacity to evaluate a proposition.

But, as you say, atheism is the default position.

If as you say atheism is an evaluation of a proposition, and a carrot cannot evaluate a proposition then explain how a carrot can be atheist or demonstrate that atheism is the default position.

[Stranger]

If as you say atheism is an evaluation of a proposition, and a carrot cannot evaluate a proposition then explain how a carrot can be atheist or demonstrate that atheism is the default position.

This isn't a difficult concept, Vlad. Atheism is the lack of belief (or disbelief) in god(s) but to apply it to something that lacks the ability to form that sort of belief is redundant and rather silly.

Which is probably why Oxford Dictionaries defines atheist as "A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or gods." [my emphasis]