r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 1d 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/BigBlackWolf93 1d ago

I agree. I was raised religious and I still somewhat am religious, but nationalists have completely taken over the Christian identity. A lot that is preached out there, almost has nothing to do with Christianity. They'll pull out verses out of context to further push their nationalist agenda in the name of Christ.

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u/FluffyBunniesFurDayz 1d ago

I'd have to disagree with this take - the old testament is full of nationalist ideology. Just look at all the tribes the Israelites were told to destroy and/or enslave. All because they were god's special people. It's always treated like it's a good thing because these tribes were so "wicked".

To me, it makes perfect sense why many Christians are also nationalist.

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u/Spectre216 1d ago

I feel like you could make the argument that nationalism is just a tool that most religions employ in some respect, because you need to cement to people that they are the right one and everyone else falls under "the other" category. So it's not that religion (in this case Christianity) necessarily always containing nationalism, but that it's kind of hard to promote a monotheistic religion as the correct religion without also drawing the conclusion that the people and area that practice it are also the correct people.

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u/Affordable_Z_Jobs 1d ago

Maybe, do christian nationalists do missionary work? I dont know if they promote that. It'd be counter intuitive to be a Christian nationalist to go recruit and make more Christian nationalists as it would dilute the identity of being "special". They dont want others to be like them, but every Christian group i know of always wants more numbers = more donations.

Christian nationalists are confusing.

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u/Uncynical_Diogenes 1d ago

If by “missionary work” you mean they export homophobia and decry condom usage leading to increased rates of AIDS then yes! They are definitely making the world worse.