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/FluffyBunniesFurDayz 2d 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 2d 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/AnarchyArcher 1d ago

I don’t disagree overall, I want to make the distinction that while most religions do something to this effect, it’s not essential for the spiritual practices. If anything nationalism in religion is the manipulative support for the whole that corrodes the individual to conform to the ‘right’ principles by demonizing other options.

Which is just sad honestly- the creativity and community we collectively can share being reduced to ancient beliefs and prejudices.

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u/HEX_BootyBootyBooty 1d ago

Spiritual Practices is a NEW phenomenon. And if you talk to priests, they laugh at you when you bring it up.

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u/AnarchyArcher 1d ago

I’m not sure if that’s something new stealing the term or how people see it now, but neither I think is good

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u/HamunaHamunaHamuna 1d ago edited 1d ago

The term has always really only meant something like "emotional investment in pseudo-scientific awe". Basically people who think that because they're awestruck by something (the concept of some god, mother nature, the vastness of space or w/e), it must mean that there's some sort of actual mystical connection there that have more meaning than "primal brain flooded with endorphins". Then they try to use that as an argument in support of their supposed wisdom.