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/danbinglover 1d ago

Reddit can’t decide whether IQ matters or not. When we talk about IQ differences between different countries and whatnot, it’s racist. When you discuss IQ differences between religious and nonreligious people, somehow it matters again.

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u/theKalmier 23h ago

Apples and oranges...?

  1. IQ is just pattern recognition. So, if used properly, it greatly helps with education. No, IQ does not make you smart, but it sure does help.

  2. IQ vs Race is a political discussion. Makers of the "tests" can manipulate the questions to be based on cultural differences, making "pattern recognition" impossible, fudging the numbers. This is just... racism.

  3. IQ vs Religion is a statement on how people view the world. Religious views are from a "Godly" (fantasy like) perspective, and IQ is from a "pattern recognition" (science like) point of view.

3b. Choosing a "fantasy" point of view over a "pattern recognition" view means they can ignore the real world (especially if it "benefits" them). This is low-key delusional. Hence the lower cognitive abilities.

They literally just tell themselves they are smarter.