Comments on Epiphenom: The bright, the dim, and the in-between

Sorry I didn't have more time to interact here...

2010-07-31T02:06:26.472+01:00

Sorry I didn't have more time to interact here.

Bobo, I agree with you. We measured just variance on a scale of fundamentalism.

Many scoring low on that scale did believe in a higher power-- we had very few atheists in the sample.

BobO: you're quite right. This study was looki...

2010-07-29T22:03:25.102+01:00

BobO: you're quite right. This study was looking at a particular form of religion, rather than religion in its broadest sense.

I don't really see "religion" being ...

2010-07-29T20:13:12.419+01:00

I don't really see "religion" being measured against intelligence here. You're taking a very specific brand of religion (fundamentalism) and showing that its adherents aren't very bright. No surprise there.
What if this same group was asked: "Do you believe in a higher power?" I don't think the differences would be as stark, yet you would still be measuring "religion."

"Superstition is a phenomena, religious or...

2010-07-29T18:47:07.405+01:00
"Superstition is a phenomena, religious or spiritual thinking it's a different phenomena."

Superstition observes phenomena and relates it to the minds preconceived ideas and imaginative intelligence so as to freeze that which is orthodox, popular and useful in maintaining the orthodoxy.

"Science tell us that universe was created. But can´t explain the reason of universe creation event."

Science tells us that what we now experience as human came forth will have its periodicity and will return to what it was.

Science, the process of observing, noting outcomes and seeking to understand those processes require seeking outside that which is orthodox and tended as fixed.

Popular superstition seeks to dictate and frowns on seeking outside the confines of the currently popular norm. It will accept ever larger cathedrals, ever more condemning practitioners and teachers of exclusion and ever more compliant cathedral fillers.

Superstition is compliance to limitation.

But some conservative apologists are very bright -...

2010-07-26T01:22:24.126+01:00
But some conservative apologists are very bright -- fantastic memories, great rhetoric skills and the ability to tie fallacies together in inscrutable ways.

They don't have a general god. But I think you are right for the majority. It is those folks I am puzzled about, I guess.

More clued up religious people tend to think of Go...

2010-07-25T22:48:46.303+01:00
More clued up religious people tend to think of God in general, non-specific terms - and to be more accepting of the idea that other beliefs about god are equally valid.

I love that they teased out both types of mental s...

2010-07-25T11:33:01.399+01:00
I love that they teased out both types of mental skills and types of religiousity. This "types of religiousity" is very curious to me. We know there are forms which tolerate high intelligence. Do these folks develop strong abilities to sequester their rational skills? Is it a skill to compartmentalize our lives.

Bryan, glad you popped by! Do you have any data on...

2010-07-22T15:37:35.434+01:00
Bryan, glad you popped by! Do you have any data on the different ECTs split out? It seems to me that the last one may be functionally different from the other two. Would be interesting to see if there were any indications of a stronger effect on this one.

As I get time, I can reply to comments below Here...

2010-07-22T13:49:26.491+01:00
As I get time, I can reply to comments below

Here's a link to my article-- free access for fair use/academic purposes (sixth one down)

http://facultyprofile.csuohio.edu/csufacultyprofile/publications.cfm?FacultyID=B_PESTA

A serious study can´t include all spiritualists in...

2010-07-22T09:30:00.862+01:00
A serious study can´t include all spiritualists in the same group.

There are many religions and many ways of thinking about spirituality.

As an example: can we, honestly, deny Teresa of Calcutta intelligence?

More import than Teresa of Calcutta ideas, was her life example coherence with them.

For Teresa of Calcutta phenomena, science doesn't have an explanation. Why does a strong and intelligent human like her was happy working for the poorest and not for her self? Does natural selection explain this? She was insane?

Science tell us that universe was created. But can´t explain the reason of universe creation event.

Exclude any Intelligent Creator, an universe existence first cause, seams me like an illusionist argument, and not a scientific valid argument. Can nothing create something? It's an high IQ evidence think like that?

Scientists have no obligation of explain the reason why universe exists, but the fact is that universe exists.

If man´s insignificant work is intelligent (if compared with universe complexity that´s the man physical origin), it's insanity to think that is an Intelligent first cause for creation?

To explain spiritualists thinking, and create credible statistics evolving them, in first science must know what and why they think. And classify them in categories.

Superstition is a phenomena, religious or spiritual thinking it's a different phenomena.

JA Le Fevre - excellent perspective! Religiosity i...

2010-07-22T09:17:22.202+01:00
JA Le Fevre - excellent perspective! Religiosity is associated (in the US) with traits such as dutifulness (ie. 'hard working') and social conformism. So it could indeed be that dim people are more likely to make it do college if they are also religious.

Reference... darn, I knew I forgot something! Now ...

2010-07-22T09:12:04.107+01:00
Reference... darn, I knew I forgot something! Now added to the bottom of the post.

Brian, Can you shoot me an e-mail with either a l...

2010-07-22T06:49:59.726+01:00
Brian,

Can you shoot me an e-mail with either a link to the paper or some information about your research.

I'm interested in the link between schizophrenia, which involves impaired information processing, and religiosity. Interested in your research.

Okiezombies at gmail dot com.
(yes, that's the informal one for blogger correspondence. I should probably get something more professional sounding). :-)

I forgot about this blog. Thanks for covering the ...

2010-07-22T03:46:38.833+01:00
I forgot about this blog. Thanks for covering the work-- I can answer any criticisms or questions you may have.

Bryan Pesta

What is the reference for this study?

2010-07-22T01:54:22.000+01:00
What is the reference for this study?

Let me throw another twist into the mix: Why is i...

2010-07-22T00:24:47.109+01:00
Let me throw another twist into the mix: Why is it that of all the ‘not so bright’ folks out there, only the ones with a religious background made it into college? Any really smart kid can make it into college, but of the marginal ones, why are the religious over represented?