Smiles
June 21st, 2008, 23:00
Sawatdee member Gumblebee listed a couple of links in another thread ( http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/fo ... tml#147439 (http://www.sawatdee-gay-thailand.com/forum/more-evidence-gays-are-born-gay-t15171-15.html#147439) ), one of which I idly clicked on and (foolishly) read to the very bitter end.
It was a long hard slog, but at the end I realized ~ among other things ~ that I had just read an almost perfect example of how threads tend to go on this Board as well as most others: that is to say, depending somewhat on the topic (inherently controversial topics go here quickly and inevitably. Pure informational topics often do not) the downward spiral into another area far away from the original topic is inexorable . . . and one characteristic of the travel downwards is that the level of emotion generated is almost always in the opposite direction, and greatly intensified as the debate continues.
When I clicked on Gumblebee's link it took me to an academic 'journal' site based in the UK. The topic of discussion was a paper presented by a Mr Richard Lynn (Ms Rebecca Underwood reporting) wherein some study of his found solid evidence (her view) that there was a distinct level of correlation between having an high IQ and being an Atheist. Part of the article can be found quoted below, and the full article (which is by itself, rather short) can be read by clicking the link.
But the most fascinating part of all this is the responses by the general public . . . and you can read them all (if you have the interest or stamina) by scrolling down to the bottom of the article found under 'READERS COMMENTS'. The responses started off reasonably on topic ('religion' played some part in the original article, so that's fair game) and continued apace, but getting further and further afield into debates on Evolution, intelligent design, the bible etc etc etc. It ended up on June 18 (after starting on June 12) with a religious rant, typically throwing biblical quotes hither and yon and predicting that all doubters will find themselves (soon!!) in .... you get the picture. And all because of a small study on vaguely interesting subject.
I thought it interesting, and perhaps you will as well . . . in light of how topics on this message board (and most) often morph into areas unforeseen, and unintended.
I did find one interesting link amongst the readers comments to a very special site called 'GodTube' ( www.godtube.com (http://www.godtube.com) ) which in fact tends to confirm Mr Lynn's conclusions :blackeye: ( I especially enjoyed Rev. Bill Keller begging for some Oprah Time ... oops , I meant his offer to 'debate' Oprah on her show: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?v ... 79418e81a2 (http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d132e2ecd079418e81a2) )
High IQ turns academics into atheists
12 June 2008
By Rebecca Attwood
Intelligence is a predictor of religious scepticism, a professor has argued. Rebecca Attwood reports.
Belief in God is much lower among academics than among the general population because scholars have higher IQs, a controversial academic claimed this week.
In a forthcoming paper for the journal Intelligence, Richard Lynn, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Ulster, will argue that there is a strong correlation between high IQ and lack of religious belief and that average intelligence predicts atheism rates across 137 countries . . .
(AND AT THE END OF THE LONG ARTICLE):
. . . David Hardman, principal lecturer in learning development at London Metropolitan University, said: "It is very difficult to conduct true experiments that would explicate a causal relationship between IQ and religious belief. Nonetheless, there is evidence from other domains that higher levels of intelligence are associated with a greater ability - or perhaps willingness - to question and overturn strongly felt intuitions."
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/s ... 402381&c=2 (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=402381&c=2)
The final 'Readers Comment' by Mr BadSyntax (edited for length):
BadSyntax 18 June, 2008
тАЬJudge not, that ye be not judgedтАЭ (Matthew 7:1)
тАЬJudge not, and ye shall not be judged, condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgivenтАЭ (Luke 6:37)
Ya know, I absolutely *hate* religious people for many reasons. I went to bible school as a kid, and on my own learned of all the atrocities that people of *all* major religions have perpetuated throughout history in the name of the god they believe in. I really don't care what you believe, as long as you do it in the privacy of your home. Organized religion is the worst thing humanity has ever created, and has sure killed more.
Oh sure, you bible thumpers will say crap like "I'm lost" or "I'm going to hell", blah blah blah, but you have ZERO proof, and I say this one quote:
"If everybody can't be right, and MILLIONS of people believe YOUR god is total bullcrap and their god is the true god, how can ANY religion, in any way, be factual?" . . . "
(and on and on and on ....)
Cheers ...
(Edited to change 'swog' to 'slog'. :clown: )
It was a long hard slog, but at the end I realized ~ among other things ~ that I had just read an almost perfect example of how threads tend to go on this Board as well as most others: that is to say, depending somewhat on the topic (inherently controversial topics go here quickly and inevitably. Pure informational topics often do not) the downward spiral into another area far away from the original topic is inexorable . . . and one characteristic of the travel downwards is that the level of emotion generated is almost always in the opposite direction, and greatly intensified as the debate continues.
When I clicked on Gumblebee's link it took me to an academic 'journal' site based in the UK. The topic of discussion was a paper presented by a Mr Richard Lynn (Ms Rebecca Underwood reporting) wherein some study of his found solid evidence (her view) that there was a distinct level of correlation between having an high IQ and being an Atheist. Part of the article can be found quoted below, and the full article (which is by itself, rather short) can be read by clicking the link.
But the most fascinating part of all this is the responses by the general public . . . and you can read them all (if you have the interest or stamina) by scrolling down to the bottom of the article found under 'READERS COMMENTS'. The responses started off reasonably on topic ('religion' played some part in the original article, so that's fair game) and continued apace, but getting further and further afield into debates on Evolution, intelligent design, the bible etc etc etc. It ended up on June 18 (after starting on June 12) with a religious rant, typically throwing biblical quotes hither and yon and predicting that all doubters will find themselves (soon!!) in .... you get the picture. And all because of a small study on vaguely interesting subject.
I thought it interesting, and perhaps you will as well . . . in light of how topics on this message board (and most) often morph into areas unforeseen, and unintended.
I did find one interesting link amongst the readers comments to a very special site called 'GodTube' ( www.godtube.com (http://www.godtube.com) ) which in fact tends to confirm Mr Lynn's conclusions :blackeye: ( I especially enjoyed Rev. Bill Keller begging for some Oprah Time ... oops , I meant his offer to 'debate' Oprah on her show: http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?v ... 79418e81a2 (http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=d132e2ecd079418e81a2) )
High IQ turns academics into atheists
12 June 2008
By Rebecca Attwood
Intelligence is a predictor of religious scepticism, a professor has argued. Rebecca Attwood reports.
Belief in God is much lower among academics than among the general population because scholars have higher IQs, a controversial academic claimed this week.
In a forthcoming paper for the journal Intelligence, Richard Lynn, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Ulster, will argue that there is a strong correlation between high IQ and lack of religious belief and that average intelligence predicts atheism rates across 137 countries . . .
(AND AT THE END OF THE LONG ARTICLE):
. . . David Hardman, principal lecturer in learning development at London Metropolitan University, said: "It is very difficult to conduct true experiments that would explicate a causal relationship between IQ and religious belief. Nonetheless, there is evidence from other domains that higher levels of intelligence are associated with a greater ability - or perhaps willingness - to question and overturn strongly felt intuitions."
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/s ... 402381&c=2 (http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=402381&c=2)
The final 'Readers Comment' by Mr BadSyntax (edited for length):
BadSyntax 18 June, 2008
тАЬJudge not, that ye be not judgedтАЭ (Matthew 7:1)
тАЬJudge not, and ye shall not be judged, condemn not and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgivenтАЭ (Luke 6:37)
Ya know, I absolutely *hate* religious people for many reasons. I went to bible school as a kid, and on my own learned of all the atrocities that people of *all* major religions have perpetuated throughout history in the name of the god they believe in. I really don't care what you believe, as long as you do it in the privacy of your home. Organized religion is the worst thing humanity has ever created, and has sure killed more.
Oh sure, you bible thumpers will say crap like "I'm lost" or "I'm going to hell", blah blah blah, but you have ZERO proof, and I say this one quote:
"If everybody can't be right, and MILLIONS of people believe YOUR god is total bullcrap and their god is the true god, how can ANY religion, in any way, be factual?" . . . "
(and on and on and on ....)
Cheers ...
(Edited to change 'swog' to 'slog'. :clown: )