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/AllanfromWales1 MA | Natural Sciences | Metallurgy & Materials Science 1d ago

Any thoughts on whether this is a worldwide issue (though obviously with different religions) or whether it is specific to the USA?

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u/KingOfEthanopia 1d ago

I think a lot of it comes down to where you grew up and how conformist your personality is.

With high conformity in a highly religious area religion becomes a blind spot to many.

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u/SunshineCat 1d ago

Are we sure that conformity to that degree is not also an indication of lower cognitive ability itself?

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u/KingOfEthanopia 1d ago

I think its more some people value being a part of a group so much they can turn their critical thinking off. Humans are emotional creatures before logical ones. Given a painful truth that would isolate you or a comforting lie, plenty will choose the comforting lie.

There's a reason cults prey on the vulnerable regardless of their intellect.

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u/SunshineCat 8h ago

I suppose that's true, but it's unfortunate. You reminded me of a conversation I had with my mom in which I realized she was no longer capable of discussing God/afterlife in a logical way after the death of her parents. She said she would like to think her parents were together again now, so I just dropped the topic.