Religion and IQ

I'll give my personnal input on the subject. Because from my point of view the answer does seem quite straightforward.I don't want to seem like I'm bragging or anything, but since it is the subject of the thread I can say that by most standards I am an intelligent person. I have no doubt I could be part of groups such as Mensa, since I did the preliminary tests and was well within the range of requirements. And I'm also religious, and in fact would probably qualify in the most religious groupings in most studies.Not only that, but I am a university student in a science related field (Math and Physics). And from my experience, it is socially simply much harder for a person in an intellectual circle to be religious. It is much easier to be atheist, because it is simply easier surfing the wave rather then going against the current. It is the 'popular' worldview to adopt in today's intellectual cultureMuch like (someone correct me if I'm wrong) communism for some periods in the past century. No doubt that then, studies would have shown that communists were more intelligent.It is simply a combination of multiple sociological effects such as peer-pressure, willingness to be accepted, etc. etc.

I live in Quebec, which is probably the most secular part of North America.But how long ago was that ? Were you in a science related field ? Which state/country ?I don't know how it happens in the US, I am strictly talking from personnal experience. From my point of view, without even taking a look at any arguments, any evidence, I feel that the atheist position is more respected then theism (an even more than christianity), and so it is naturally socially easier to be one.This comes in part from the fact that atheists are much more vocal (particularly the new atheists) than any theist counterparts.You can see the difference when the subject actually comes in a conversation. When you say your atheist, no one questions you, it seems only natural. But when you say you are christian, instantly the questions and objections come. (Again, this is in very secular culture in a scientific environment)

I think this is more a problem of memory then that it never happened.How can it not happen ? A person's relative dies, a worldwide catastrophy happens, someone watch a scary movie about demons last night, a popular scientist claims aliens exist, etc. etc.Talks about God, religion and someone's worldview can be sparked by almost anything at times.

Really ?Someone dies ---) life after death ?Catastrophy ----) problem of evil ?Scary demon movie ----) supernatural beings exist ?Alien life -----) Is earth/humans special or not ?Unless there is an unwritten rule about ''we don,t talk about personnal beliefs in the workplace'' I don't see how at least one discussion can't arise in a single year ...

You're kidding, right ? You do realize that natural catastrophe's are at the center stage of any discussion around the problem of evil ? And that pretty much all thinking person worth reading has touched that subject ? From Epicurus to Dawkins ?Unless they were all nutcases, or joking ... If you can't see why humans, or all biological systems, could be considered special if we knew nothing like it were present anywhere in the universe, then I can'gt help you. And yet some very intelligent and educated people work on these things all around the world, write books about them.I guess you were way ahead of your time in middle school.