People who don’t believe in God tend to be more intelligent – and this is a fact which has been shown by multiple studies.

But the debate over why atheists might be more intelligent goes back much further, to Greek and Roman times – and it’s not because one belief system is more ‘correct’.

A new scientific paper by Edward Dutton of the Ulster Institute for Social Research in the UK, and Dimitri Van der Linden of the Rotterdam University in the Netherlands suggests an answer.


The authors suggest that the reason could be explained if religion is considered an instinct – one which intelligence gives people the ability to overcome.

It means that non-religious people may be better problem solvers


That would explain recent survey data which supports the stance that intelligence seems to be negatively associated with being religious, the authors write.

https://www.graphiq.com/vlp/f3mB1ztlcqx

If religion is an evolved domain then it is an instinct, and intelligence – in rationally solving problems – can be understood as involving overcoming instinct and being intellectually curious and thus open to non-instinctive possibilities,’ Dutton writs.

Dutton argues that being intelligent helps people to rise above their instincts during stressful times – a useful skill.

‘If religion is indeed an evolved domain – an instinct – then it will become heightened at times of stress, when people are inclined to act instinctively, and there is clear evidence for this,’ says Dutton ‘It also means that intelligence allows us to able to pause and reason through the situation and the possible consequences of our actions.’

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/atheists-intelligent-overcome-instinct-religion-111146334.html


Seun lalasticala

interesting

The best, most relevant and revelatory explanations of man's true place in nature arise through a scientific understanding of the vast age of the cosmos, stellar AND biological evolution and common sense. All one needs to do is look up "List of Deities" on wikipedia to see countless thousands of deities, once worshiped fervently, but now cast on the dustbin of fables, myths and false hopes. Then go to the Clergy Project to see priests, imams, rabbis, preachers and other "Holy" men who have given up entirely with false prophets, idols, talismans and supernatural deities and accepted atheism into their lives! For a biting satirical and humorous look at religion, look up the "Flying Spaghetti Monster" on wikipedia. Then when you want to see what the most lucid and intelligent minds have to say about atheism and reality, please go to edge (dot) org for true enlightenment. If you know of anyone having doubts about religion and wants a poetic and inspiring introduction to rational thought and science, please have them read Dr. Carl Sagan's "Pale Blue Dot."

Bullshit!!

Atheists are very intelligent.

One group believes that space, time and matter came into existence from a singularity which exploded 13.8 billion years ago(into who knows where).

Another group believes that the universe has always been here, despite the fact that the one of the most foundational laws of science, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, proves otherwise. Under this group is a subgroup that believes that many universes exist. How anyone can believe that, given the definition of the word "universe", is a mystery.

Yet another ignorant group is proud and shameless enough to have the statement "I don't know" as their motto, while concluding that every other explanation that is against what they chose to believe is totally false. You now begin to wonder how they came to know that GOD does not exist, when, in fact, they know nothing, as their motto "I don't know" reveals.

All in all, atheists are very intelligent. Once you utter the statement "GOD does not exist", you're automatically intelligent.

BiafraBushBoy:
Bullshit!!

I agree that the bible and Quran are bullsheeet

Bro, what you said isn't new. Our Lord Jesus has already told us that. It's left to you to choose sides.

Luke 16 vs 8
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Nice one op

DoctorAlien:
Atheists are very intelligent.

One group believes that the space, time and matter came into existence from a singularity which exploded 13.8 billion years ago(into who knows where).

"exploded"

Your understanding of science and evolution is so flawed, I can only assume you were home schooled. Please take the time to read about science from scientists, because the fallacious tripe you've just regurgitated here (presumably from your pastor or fellow believers) is so wrong, I'm at a loss as to where to even start but I'll try a bit for the readers

Another group believes that the universe has always been here, despite the fact that the one of the most foundational laws of science, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, proves otherwise. Under this group is a subgroup that believes that many universes exist. How anyone can believe that given the definition of the word "universe" is a mystery.

Yet another ignorant group is proud and shameless enough to have the statement "I don't know" as their motto, while concluding that every other explanation that is against what they chose to believe is totally false. You now begin to wonder how they came to know that GOD does not exist, when, in fact, they know nothing, as their motto "I don't know" reveals.

All in all, atheists are very intelligent. Once you utter the statement "GOD does not exist", you're automatically intelligent.

here they are again, hiding under deism as expected

I'm not sure there's any benefit to arguing against deism

What happened before the Big Bang is an unknown for the foreseeable future. We can extrapolate and we can speculate but we can't know.

A more interesting question is: Is there any reason to believe a God has intervened in the universe since it began? The formation of the stars and planets is easily explainable by observed natural principles. The formation of an atmosphere is explainable by observed natural principles. The journey from simple organisms to humans is explainable by observed natural principles.

The broad details of how life initially probably came to be are known, though the specifics are not. Being generous we can say God was unnecessary for 9 billion years, spent a day or so creating the initial spark of life, then was unnecessary again for the next 5 billion years. That's a very small God.

As for the cosmos, the questions you posit is fundamentally flawed; because it assumes the universe was in fact 'created' or had a 'beginning'. The universe may have been created, it may have a beginning, or it may be eternal. It may be the only one, or it may be one of many or even infinite other universes. We can trace our own universe bag to the Big Bang, but what happens 'before' that (while ignoring how nonsensical it is to posit anything happening before the creation of temporal time itself) is anyone's guess; and it perplexes the smartest people alive. The best, most honest answer we currently have is "I don't know".

And any religion that claims to know, is lying to you.

My main argument against God is that there's not really space for him in the universe - it runs itself just fine without him.

There's also some arguments against God focussing on topics like: The "fine-tuning of the universe for life" is pretty ordinary when 99.99...9% of the known universe seems to be thoroughly inhospitable to life as we know it". But any argument along those lines has to assume particular motivations for God - that one lonely planet in a vast empty universe isn't his divine plan for his own unknown reasons.

One can disprove the validity of many religious claims easily. The broader general concept of "a Creator God" contains too many unknowns to be disproven.

Droldnallufepoh:
"exploded"

Your understanding of science and evolution is so flawed, I can only assume you were home schooled. Please take the time to read about science from scientists, because the fallacious tripe you've just regurgitated here (presumably from your pastor or fellow believers) is so wrong, I'm at a loss as to where to even start but I'll try a bit for the readers

Has the term changed? The singularity no longer exploded 13.8 billion years ago? Please tell me, what did the singularity do? What was contained in the singularity? It's funny seeing you claim that the formation of stars and planets are fully understood. Goes to show how knowledgeable you are. Let me mercifully give you a hint: read up the "meter size barrier".

here they are again, hiding under deism as expected

No, the basis of my arguments has always been known, and it is this: The Bible is always true.

DoctorAlien:
Has the term changed? The singularity no longer exploded 13.8 billion years ago? Please tell me, what did the singularity do? What was contained in the singularity? It's funny seeing you claim that the formation of stars and planets are fully understood. Goes to show how knowledgeable you are. Let me mercifully give you a hint: read up the "meter size barrier".

bros, stop doing this to yourself

there's no "explosion", like I said take the time to read about science from scientists

big bang was never an atheistic claim

No, the basis of my arguments has always been known, and it is this: The Bible is always true.

hard to argue against circular arguments

book of Mormon is always true, why aren't you a Mormon?

Eight "eye-witnesses" say they saw and handled the golden plates that Joseph Smith translated into the Book of Mormon. That history is far more recent than Jesus' four witnesses who you also know nothing about, so using that logic the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints wins on eye-witness numbers and proximity of time. I guess you'll convert to Mormonism now?

"Bible is always true", you want me to challenge the claim so you'll drown me in gitquestions and answersingenesis lol

I'm pretty sure the Quran is always true too according to a Muslim and he'll also go on mental gymnastics to tackle every objection no matter the dishonesty he has to employ along the way

the gospel of the flying spaghetti monster is always true too

Droldnallufepoh:


I agree that the bible and Quran are bullsheeet

k

Droldnallufepoh:
bros, stop doing this to yourself
there's no "explosion", like I said take the time to read about science from scientists
big bang was never an atheistic claim

Who is a scientist? Any one who claims that GOD does not exist?

Are you trying to distance yourself from the Big Bang Theory? Is the theory Christian, if it is not atheistic?

Keep deceiving yourself. One moment you claim everything about the universe is fully explained by a theory. The next, you shrink from such a theory if criticism is poured on it.

DoctorAlien:


Who is a scientist? Any one who claims that GOD does not exist?

nope, maybe I overrated your intelligence, you don't even know who a scientist is, why won't you assume big bang is an explosion?
it all seems clearer now that you're just regurgitating things you have no idea about

Are you trying to distance yourself from the Big Bang Theory? Is the theory Christian, if it is not atheistic?

the theory is not atheistic, its SCIENTIFIC but since you don't know what makes one a scientist how would you know a scientific claim?

atheists have been existing before the big bang was postulated

and it was first postulated by Georges Lemaître, a Belgian physicist and ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST even the pope at the time wanted to make it part of church doctrine as "proof of God"

what connects Big bang and atheism

maybe Roman Catholic is an "atheistic" organisation

its either atheistic or Christian lol idiotic level of false dichotomy fallacy

Keep deceiving yourself. One moment you claim everything about the universe is fully explained by a theory. The next, you shrink from such a theory if criticism is poured on it.

are you even knowledgeable enough to "pour criticism" on those? you

Atheism is a mental disorder

It has been proven and even associated with more suicide, nihilism, murderous intent and lower intelligence.

Read Here:

https://www.nairaland.com/3176513/atheist-murderers-past-present-murderous

https://www.nairaland.com/3499358/atheism-mental-illness-charles-darwin

felixomor:
Atheism is a mental disorder

It has been proven and even associated with more suicide, nihilism, murderous intent and lower intelligence.

Read Here:

https://www.nairaland.com/3176513/atheist-murderers-past-present-murderous

kinda hard taking that thread serious when he listed Hitler as atheist
but regardless of his personal beliefs, Hitler managed to get the German people to go along with his plans. A nation where the two most prominent religions were Christian sects (Lutherans and Catholics), fed for centuries upon anti-Semitic hatred by their churches. The problem wasn't just that Hitler was a whack-job, it's that the rest of the country was crazy enough to follow him; and they were that crazy because of religion, not in spite of it. the Catholic church celebrated Hitlers birthday every year till his death and then started distancing themselves from him, how convenient

If Hitler managed to abuse Christianity so easily for his own ends, that's still an indictment against Christianity. His followers were Christian, his soldiers were Christian, the Nazis running the concentration camps were Christian. Being Christian, believing in God and Jesus, didn't stop those pious men from killingh millions of innocents. No, indeed it can be argued that their religious beliefs are exactly what enabled them to do so. Religion is a terrible catalyst and enforcer of in-group-out-group thinking. It was so easy for them to label the Jews and Gypsies as 'others', and thus to distance themselves from their own horrible actions. That is one of the things that scares me the most about religion.

Remember, that the 9-11 hijackers were most assuredly the most pious believers on those planes.

https://www.nairaland.com/3499358/atheism-mental-illness-charles-darwin

haha Sciencewatch

DoctorAlien:


No, the basis of my arguments has always been known, and it is this: The Bible is always true.

* consciously and subconsciously, this is the mental platform, from which 98% of Christians on NL, discuss the concept of religious beliefs from.

* when the Roman Catholic Church, who originally concocted the Christian religion, is increasingly admitting to the intelligent and intellectual honesty, of Bible, been largely metaphorical.

*this position of Roman Catholic Church and other liberal Christian groups, didn't come on basis of "godly humility", but the compulsion of scientific evidence that incontrovertible.

* now, if most Christians on this NL, remain glued to the idea, that the bible is literarily true, how can one possibly engage such folks in rational, logical and intelligent discussion?

itsJude:


People who don’t believe in God tend to be more intelligent – and this is a fact which has been shown by multiple studies.

But the debate over why atheists might be more intelligent goes back much further, to Greek and Roman times – and it’s not because one belief system is more ‘correct’.

A new scientific paper by Edward Dutton of the Ulster Institute for Social Research in the UK, and Dimitri Van der Linden of the Rotterdam University in the Netherlands suggests an answer.


The authors suggest that the reason could be explained if religion is considered an instinct – one which intelligence gives people the ability to overcome.

It means that non-religious people may be better problem solvers


That would explain recent survey data which supports the stance that intelligence seems to be negatively associated with being religious, the authors write.

https://www.graphiq.com/vlp/f3mB1ztlcqx

If religion is an evolved domain then it is an instinct, and intelligence – in rationally solving problems – can be understood as involving overcoming instinct and being intellectually curious and thus open to non-instinctive possibilities,’ Dutton writs.

Dutton argues that being intelligent helps people to rise above their instincts during stressful times – a useful skill.

‘If religion is indeed an evolved domain – an instinct – then it will become heightened at times of stress, when people are inclined to act instinctively, and there is clear evidence for this,’ says Dutton ‘It also means that intelligence allows us to able to pause and reason through the situation and the possible consequences of our actions.’

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/atheists-intelligent-overcome-instinct-religion-111146334.html


Seun lalasticala

The nauseating ignorance of the researcher . Why should this "research" be taken seriously when it was conducted out of ignorance . They don't know that

1. Atheists can be religious

2. Atheism is the belief there is no God not the rejection of religion

3. Deists acknowledge the existence of God and they are not religious

4. Atheists are the most under-achievers in the history of mankind

5. Only just 3 percent of members of MENSA (High IQ society) are atheists while the rest believe in God (90 percent ) and are agnostics (7 percent ) .

Even the atheists we have on Nairaland can prove the research wrong . When you have atheists like akintom , hopefullanlord , JackBizzle , Deicide , benzics , the OP and other puny minds who call themselves atheists , you can only laugh at the ludicrousness of the research .

DoctorAlien:
Atheists are very intelligent.

One group believes that space, time and matter came into existence from a singularity which exploded 13.8 billion years ago(into who knows where).

Another group believes that the universe has always been here, despite the fact that the one of the most foundational laws of science, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, proves otherwise. Under this group is a subgroup that believes that many universes exist. How anyone can believe that, given the definition of the word "universe", is a mystery.

Yet another ignorant group is proud and shameless enough to have the statement "I don't know" as their motto, while concluding that every other explanation that is against what they chose to believe is totally false. You now begin to wonder how they came to know that GOD does not exist, when, in fact, they know nothing, as their motto "I don't know" reveals.

All in all, atheists are very intelligent. Once you utter the statement "GOD does not exist", you're automatically intelligent.

Dean and Sean were walking down a street and saw a dead man lying there, they just stood and looked at the lying corpse, then came someone who asked them "how did this man die"?..

Dean answered "I don't know, I just saw the corpse here", then Sean interrupted "no, I think I know, he was involved in a cult clash, he was open fired on and the cultists who killed him were all wearing red clothes, they drove him in their Grey SUV and dropped his body here, then they drove off"...


Now Between Sean and Dean, who is shameless and the idiot?

Droldnallufepoh:

nope, maybe I overrated your intelligence, you don't even know who a scientist is, why won't you assume big bang is an explosion?
it all seems clearer now that you're just regurgitating things you have no idea about

the theory is not atheistic, its SCIENTIFIC but since you don't know what makes one a scientist how would you know a scientific claim?

atheists have been existing before the big bang was postulated

and it was first postulated by Georges Lemaître, a Belgian physicist and ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST even the pope at the time wanted to make it part of church doctrine as "proof of God"

what connects Big bang and atheism

maybe Roman Catholic is an "atheistic" organisation

Who cares who postulated the BB theory? It is not in consonance with the revealed truth in the Bible. Therefore it is not Christian. Of course there are only two groups of people: Christians and GOD-haters.

Because the Bible is always true.

DoctorAlien:


Who cares who postulated the BB theory? It is not in consonance with the revealed truth in the Bible. Therefore it is not Christian. Of course there are only two groups of people: Christians and GOD-haters.

Because the Bible is always true.

Are you this daft or pretending to be?

DoctorAlien:
Atheists are very intelligent.

One group believes that space, time and matter came into existence from a singularity which exploded 13.8 billion years ago(into who knows where).

Another group believes that the universe has always been here, despite the fact that the one of the most foundational laws of science, the 2nd law of thermodynamics, proves otherwise. Under this group is a subgroup that believes that many universes exist. How anyone can believe that, given the definition of the word "universe", is a mystery.

Yet another ignorant group is proud and shameless enough to have the statement "I don't know" as their motto, while concluding that every other explanation that is against what they chose to believe is totally false. You now begin to wonder how they came to know that GOD does not exist, when, in fact, they know nothing, as their motto "I don't know" reveals.

All in all, atheists are very intelligent. Once you utter the statement "GOD does not exist", you're automatically intelligent.

Its called Illusory superiority . They only think they are intelligent but in reality they are not .

itsJude:


People who don’t believe in God tend to be more intelligent – and this is a fact which has been shown by multiple studies.

But the debate over why atheists might be more intelligent goes back much further, to Greek and Roman times – and it’s not because one belief system is more ‘correct’.

A new scientific paper by Edward Dutton of the Ulster Institute for Social Research in the UK, and Dimitri Van der Linden of the Rotterdam University in the Netherlands suggests an answer.


The authors suggest that the reason could be explained if religion is considered an instinct – one which intelligence gives people the ability to overcome.

It means that non-religious people may be better problem solvers


That would explain recent survey data which supports the stance that intelligence seems to be negatively associated with being religious, the authors write.

https://www.graphiq.com/vlp/f3mB1ztlcqx

If religion is an evolved domain then it is an instinct, and intelligence – in rationally solving problems – can be understood as involving overcoming instinct and being intellectually curious and thus open to non-instinctive possibilities,’ Dutton writs.

Dutton argues that being intelligent helps people to rise above their instincts during stressful times – a useful skill.

‘If religion is indeed an evolved domain – an instinct – then it will become heightened at times of stress, when people are inclined to act instinctively, and there is clear evidence for this,’ says Dutton ‘It also means that intelligence allows us to able to pause and reason through the situation and the possible consequences of our actions.’

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/atheists-intelligent-overcome-instinct-religion-111146334.html


Seun lalasticala

This is Grammar. Now let's say Religion overcomes the Instinct of Rigidity, Moribund conditions and all forms of Unreasonableness

Droldnallufepoh:

kinda hard taking that thread serious when he listed Hitler as atheist
but regardless of his personal beliefs, Hitler managed to get the German people to go along with his plans. A nation where the two most prominent religions were Christian sects (Lutherans and Catholics), fed for centuries upon anti-Semitic hatred by their churches. The problem wasn't just that Hitler was a whack-job, it's that the rest of the country was crazy enough to follow him; and they were that crazy because of religion, not in spite of it. the Catholic church celebrated Hitlers birthday every year till his death and then started distancing themselves from him, how convenient

If Hitler managed to abuse Christianity so easily for his own ends, that's still an indictment against Christianity. His followers were Christian, his soldiers were Christian, the Nazis running the concentration camps were Christian. Being Christian, believing in God and Jesus, didn't stop those pious men from killingh millions of innocents. No, indeed it can be argued that their religious beliefs are exactly what enabled them to do so. Religion is a terrible catalyst and enforcer of in-group-out-group thinking. It was so easy for them to label the Jews and Gypsies as 'others', and thus to distance themselves from their own horrible actions. That is one of the things that scares me the most about religion.

Remember, that the 9-11 hijackers were most assuredly the most pious believers on those planes.


haha Sciencewatch

All these
Doesnt change the fact on ground

Atheism = more suicide, more serial killing, more nihilism, more mass murdering.

benzics:


Dean and Sean were walking down a street and saw a dead man lying there, they just stood and looked at the lying corpse, then came someone who asked them "how did this man die"?..

Dean answered "I don't know, I just saw the corpse here", then Sean interrupted "no, I think I know, he was involved in a cult clash, he was open fired on and the cultists who killed him were all wearing red clothes, they drove him in their Grey SUV and dropped his body here, then they drove off"...


Now Between Sean and Dean, who is the idiot?

Dean would have appeared totally unserious if he replied "you are totally wrong." For what it's worth, Dean appeared reasonable because he stopped at "I don't know", and didn't go further to say "you don't know too".

Now, what if it had been known to Dean that Sean always speaks the truth?

DoctorAlien:


Who cares who postulated the BB theory?

you!!!

weren't you the one that said it's an "atheistic claim"

It is not in consonance with the revealed truth in the Bible. Therefore it is not Christian. Of course there are only two groups of people: Christians and GOD-haters.

tell that to "god hater" like Kingebukasblog that thinks the literal Adam and Eve are allegory under the guidance of the holy spirit, also you can also tell "god haters" like the pope of Catholic church in 1920s who wanted to make big bang part of the church doctrine as "proof of god"

like I said, you really have a massive lot to learn

Because the Bible is always true.

so you're still making this nonsensical claim hoping someone who isn't used to such tactic would fall for it so that you can drown such a person in gotquestions and answersingenesis

gospel of the flying spaghetti monster is always true

Quran is always true to a Muslim

KingEbukasBlog:



The nauseating ignorance of the researcher . Why should this "research" be taken seriously when it was conducted out of ignorance . They don't know that

1. Atheists can be religious

2. Atheism is the belief there is no God not the rejection of religion

3. Deists acknowledge the existence of God and they are not religious

4. Atheists are the most under-achievers in the history of mankind

5. Only just 3 percent of members of MENSA (High IQ society) are atheists while the rest believe in God (90 percent ) and are agnostics (7 percent ) .

Even the atheists we have on Nairaland can prove the research wrong . When you have atheists like akintom , hopefullanlord , JackBizzle , Deicide , benzics , the OP and other puny minds who call themselves atheists , you can only laugh at the ludicrousness of the research .

Nice one
Once again
Another lecture for a new Richard Dawkins - Wannabe
LOL

felixomor:

All these
Doesnt change the fact on ground

Atheism = more suicide, more serial killing, more nihilism, more mass murdering.

oh its you

okay, if it helps your fart smell good

DoctorAlien:


Dean would have appeared totally unserious if he replied "you are totally wrong." For what it's worth, Dean appeared reasonable because he stopped at "I don't know", and didn't go further to say "you don't know too".

Now, what if it had been known to Dean that Sean always speaks the truth?

lol, come on, you can do more than that.

It's very obvious that Dean and Sean met the corpse lying there AT THE SAME TIME! And everything Sean said were just CLEARLY speculations! Damn!

Droldnallufepoh:

oh its you

okay, if it helps your fart smell good

U r welcome mr "landlord"

Now to the post.

It's not true that atheists are more intelligent, intelligence doesn't stem from disbeliefs or beliefs, nice research though, but we've got intelligent people from all sides and their intelligence isn't as a result of what they believe..

benzics:
Are you this daft or pretending to be?

he's just being dishonest and acting like the typical apologist

benzics:
lol, come on, you can do more than that.

It's very obvious that Dean and Sean met the corpse lying there AT THE SAME TIME! And everything Sean said were just CLEARLY speculations! Damn!

What if Sean goes about with an electronic device on his right ear through which he receives update on the truth about everything that happens from someone who monitors and knows everything, and so always says the truth, such that all the statements he(Sean) has made in the past has been tested and proven to be true? Would Dean be right to say "you don't know too"?