are believers stupider than atheists?

I read an interesting article by Kimberly Winston called “Are Atheists Smarter Than Believers? Not Exactly”. There’s a new study out after a century of research suggesting that the smarter you are, the less likely you are to believe in God.

Here’s an interesting and insightful paragraph:

“The study also concludes that more intelligent people are less likely to believe in God because they are more likely to challenge established norms and dogma. They are also more likely to have analytical thinking styles, which other studies have shown undermine religious belief.”

It says that there are advantages to religious belief, such as self-esteem, feeling in control, and attachment.

I claim that the intellect has the right and even the responsibility to challenge belief, and that belief must be humble enough to allow that which is false about itself to fall away.

Belief’s greatest defense is fear. But once intelligence makes it past this formidable front, then it can do its deconstructive and constructive work.

Don’t think naively. But think! Think without fear.