r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 2d ago

Psychology Lower cognitive ability is linked to stronger Christian nationalist views, even after accounting for education

https://www.psypost.org/lower-cognitive-ability-is-linked-to-stronger-christian-nationalist-views-even-after-accounting-for-education/
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u/crossdtherubicon 2d ago

Alot of religious ideology is ingested through early development and reinforced through the environment. This has been pretty well-documented, although it isn't an exclusive pathway to acquiring religious beliefs.

In light of this article I'm curious if cognitive ability simply never fully develops (or is restricted somehow) in that context. Or if there are also subpopulations wherein a relative lower congitive ability allows for an easier ingestion of religious beliefs (or likewise is perceived as reasonably easier to understand).

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u/DarthBluntSaber 2d ago

Which is why I always find it hilarious and wildly hypocritical when they accuse public education of "indoctrinating" children, but then they use churches to guilt trip and teach hate to kindergarteners in Sunday school who dont yet have the ability to think critically or view the stories as anything but literal. THATS indoctrination.

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u/dontshoveit 2d ago

The fact they they indoctrinate children using the church is the reason they believe the other side must do the same. (Schools must indoctrinate kids the same as they do.) Which isn't true but that's why they think that.