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Is Religiosity an Indicator of Low Intelligence?

August 10, 2013

A meta-analysis that considered 63 studies reveals an interesting relationship between intelligence and religiosity. In simple terms, smarter individuals tend to be less religious. This trend is particularly strong among college students and the general population. It also appears that intelligence is more associated with what one believes rather than how one practices their faith.

Interpretation of the results

There are three thoughts on why this might be the case:


My Views on the Matter:

I don't think that being religious automatically makes one unintelligent. Like any subject, one can err and act in an illogical or irrational manner. For many, religion serves as a sort of lifeline to cling to, offering hope that there may be more to life. There are naturally significant cultural differences, and the extent to which one is pressured into religion varies. If one has been subjected to brainwashing from a young age, it's generally more difficult to place greater trust in science.

Scientific Articles and Studies:

The Relation Between Intelligence and Religiosity: A Meta-Analysis and Some Proposed Explanations:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1088868313497266

Closing Words

Although the study suggests that decreased intelligence may play a role in religiosity, there are certainly other factors that need to be considered.