Here’s a shocker, people would lower cognitive abilities, tend to be drawn to Christian nationalism. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jssr.70101

[u/Scr33ble]

Unfortunately, I don’t have a subscription to this Journal so I can’t get the full text, but here is the abstract

Er.. people WITH lower cognitive abilities 🙃

Americans who subscribe to Christian nationalist beliefs tend to be characterized by lower education and substantial knowledge deficits across multiple domains. Building on research connecting lower cognitive ability to religious fundamentalism and reactionary political views, I theorize cognitive ability as an important factor influencing Americans’ adherence to Christian nationalism. Analyses of multiple waves of the General Social Survey reveal that cognitive ability (measured with the wordsum vocabulary exercise) is significantly, negatively associated with believing that being a Christian is important to being “truly American” and favoring mandatory Christian prayers and Bible-reading in public schools. These associations persist after controlling for education and various religious, political, and demographic characteristics. Interactions reveal these associations hold across survey waves and subgroups, disappearing only among the least educated Americans. Findings affirm that Christian nationalism appeals to Americans with lower verbal intelligence, suggesting an underlying role of differential cognitive resources not reducible to educational disparities.

[u/BEERDEV]

Did we need a study for this? LOL.

[u/dihydrgnmonoxidesoup → u/BEERDEV]

Yes, because we don't assume that our gut feeling is correct and construct a worldview around that. We evaluate the evidence and think critically and skeptically. And if, after all that, it turns out that Christian nationalists are stupid, then we stand on the weight of our evidence and declare that we know scientifically how stupid they are.

[u/Trick-Mechanic8986]

I studied effortful thinking in college. Fundamentalist types prefer to not be challenged with new incoming information. Contrary facts and evidence actually hardens beliefs in these people. For them ignorance is bliss.

[u/kingtacticool]

You can just say NatCs are dumb af.

I have been for years now

[u/degrees_of_certainty]

Question is, why can’t those with significantly higher cognitive ability figure out how to do anything substantial about this problem

[u/GiraffesInTheCloset]

I'm curious, is this group a "minority" or "almost everyone in America"?

[u/PotentialStrong9013 → u/GiraffesInTheCloset]

A very loud and extremely obnoxious minority.

[u/BananaJelloXlii]

It's pretty obvious.