Probably not less intelligent, such a subjective word "intelligence."

I think it could be said that theist in general are more prone to suggestion of wild unsubstantiated ideas. Their "reality" filters broken by intense indoctrination of the local popular religion from their parents, family, friends, and anyone else they are likely to meet.

I have little doubt that if I was born to highly religious parents in rural bible belt south, I would not have made it to the atheist viewpoint very easily, if I did not get a 2ndary education in engineering and gained critical thinking skills, I could of easily be as religiously devout as the everyone else I was surrounded with day in and day out from a young age.

I would almost say many atheist were simply born lucky enough to not be fully indoctrinated from a young age by religion from all possible peers.

My hats off to the people here that were clever enough and open minded enough to be born with the odds stacked against them and still were able to see past the cloak of delusion religion does to keep their con perpetuated generation to generation.

 
 

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Odd this subject came up today.....

I'm currently reading "The Darkening Age" by Catherine Nixey ..... (its a breakdown of how the early chritian church basically trashed and destroyed the learning and accrued knowledge of the previous milenium ) .

I've just got to chapter 3 which adresses this very subject ..... it mentions a philosopher called Celsus who famously wrote against the fledgling christian faith. (Unfortunately his works have all been destroyed ..... by the christian churches as it happens .... but I'll let that slide.)

What we do have ,however , is a later work by a christian appologist Origen of Alexandria who reproduces large parts of Celsus' writings ( suposedly in order to defeat his attacks on christianity).

Anyway , I digress..... here are some selected quotes from Celsus... concerning the "recruitment" practices and targets of the early church...

"only foolish and low individuals, and persons devoid of perception, and slaves, and women, and children, of whom the teachers of the divine word wish to make converts.".

" Let no one come to us who has been instructed, or who is wise or prudent (for such qualifications are deemed evil by us); but if there be any ignorant, or unintelligent, or uninstructed, or foolish persons, let them come with confidence. By which words, acknowledging that such individuals are worthy of their God, they manifestly show that they desire and are able to gain over only the silly, and the mean, and the stupid, with women and children."...

"For why is it an evil to have been educated, and to have studied the best opinions, and to have both the reality and appearance of wisdom?

" in private houses workers in wool and leather, and fullers, and persons of the most uninstructed and rustic character, not venturing to utter a word in the presence of their elders and wiser masters; but when they get hold of the children privately, and certain women as ignorant as themselves, they pour forth wonderful statements, to the effect that they ought not to give heed to their father and to their teachers, but should obey them; that the former are foolish and stupid, and neither know nor can perform anything that is really good, .."

So basicaly the charge that christians are somewhat short on brain power is indeed an old one ... dating back to 177 AD.

see link:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/celsus2.html

It is sad that so many theist suspend logic and reason when it comes to religion, but apply them to the rest of their life.
Just because one is a theist doesn't mean they are dumber than an Atheist, or vice versa.

There is a large body of research in multiple countries spanning decades of research that demonstrates theism and religiosity decrease in any demographic in direct proportion as education increases. Some studies have shown negative correlation between religiosity and IQ, though of course this represents general trends and does not necessarily speak about all individuals.

I think often it is bias and ignorance rather than a limited intellect that causes theists to make woeful arguments. Though of course we have all no doubt encountered very intelligent and well educated theists in their own field of study who make the most asinine claims and arguments about their religious beliefs.

One need go no further than Francis Collins, head of the human genome project, he is a widely respected scientists at the very top of his field of study in genetics, yet claims to have seen a waterfall frozen into three parts when out walking alone, and fell to his knees as this was a "sign" of the trinity.

The mind boggles at anything so absurd, yet both his intelligence and education levels are probably well into the 90th percentile.

Another reason why most "religious" people APPEAR to be less educated is due to the fact that the pompous leaders like Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, William Lane Craig, etc., etc., etc. is because they are educated enough in the Bible to know those who are educated in secular universities, and more specifically in the physical sciences, will not fall for their bullshit.

Thus, religions, in order to stay alive, MUST go after those who are less educated. They also focus into brainwashing people in the ages of 4 to 14 when as a child, they are more susceptible to such brainwashing tactics employed by religions.

rmfr

I know some theists who are a heck of a lot smarter than myself. Being a theist does not make you dumb. But IMO religion does attract the stupid and ignorant.

In general, in terms of IQ, they are less intelligent, but it would be foolish to infer anything about the validity of a belief based purely on the intelligence of the people who hold it.