IQ & Atheism

[Joseph Tracy]

On Feb 26, 2010, at 3:44 PM, David Morris wrote:

> http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=402381
>
> Intelligence is a predictor of religious scepticism, a professor  
> has argued.
>
> Belief in God is much lower among academics than among the general
> population because scholars have higher IQs, a controversial academic
> claimed this week.

I'm not so sure academia is quite the fountainhead of intelligence as  
it would like to think.  Many of the world's great minds and most  
creative artists were autodidacts who cannot legitimately be claimed  
by academia and were often at odds with it. What the fuck is an IQ  
anyway? Is intelligence really measurable on a linear scale? Also  
many great intellects have believed in some version of God. Any of us  
could make a long and really impressive list of  either autodidacts  
or religious/believing intellectuals and Professor Lynn would not  
appear even in the same league.

I do agree that skepticism is a critical function for the  
independence of mind required for original thought. But though I am a  
religious sceptic( with a religious history) I don't see religious  
skepticism as the key correlative to intelligence.  As an active  
Quaker I am in a religious society where religious skepticism  is  
common and there is even a branch of atheist Friends. Almost all of  
the members have advanced degrees and many are professors or ex  
professors.  I have had occasion to get to know many members of a  
local synagogue which has a similar social profile with perhaps more  
artists and business people.

To my thinking the qualities of fearful subservience, literalism and  
acceptance of miraculous legends, and unquestioning loyalty to a  
particular affiliation are aspects of human nature as easily found in  
politics, science, ethnic pride, and academia as in religion.
I'm not saying the percentages are the same, just that there is a  
hell of a lot of this stuff going around and it isn't particular to  
religious folk.

That said, the religious component to large-scale historic violence  
and suppression of intellectual diversity is overwhelming and not to  
be taken lightly. The millions murdered, the libraries in Egypt and  
Persia destroyed by Islamic and Christian zealots.  Intellectuals and  
academics who have cooperated in such violence is all too common also.