IQ & Atheism

[Paul Mackin]

Anyone but me read 36 Arguments for the Existence of God by Rebecca 
Goldstein?


Though it's kind of a cutoff, unresolved, novel, Goldstein is a fine writer.

She, or rather her protagonist, rejects all 36, including Thomas Aquinas' 
five.

P.



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From: "Joseph Tracy" <brook7 at sover.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 12:32 PM
To: "pynchon -l" <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Subject: Re: IQ & Atheism

>
> 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.
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