Religious people are less intelligent than atheists, study finds

Religious people are less intelligent than atheists, study finds


Rob Waugh 3 hours ago
Yahoo! News
Religious people are less intelligent than non-believers, according to a new review of 63 scientific studies stretching back over decades.

A team led by Miron Zuckerman of the University of Rochester found “a reliable negative relation between intelligence and religiosity” in 53 out of 63 studies

Even in extreme old age, intelligent people are less likely to believe, the researchers found - and the reasons why people with high IQs shun religion may not be as simple as previously thought.



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Previous studies have tended to assume that intelligent people simply “know better”, the researchers write - but the reasons may be more complex.
Famous atheist Richard Dawkins (ZUMA / Rex Features)


For instance, intelligent people are more likely to be married, and more likely to be successful in life - and this may mean they “need” religion less.

The studies used in Zuckerman's paper included a life-long analysis of the beliefs of a group of 1,500 gifted children - those with IQs over 135 - in a study which began in 1921 and continues today.


[link to news.yahoo.com]