I don't myself necessarily more intelligent than believers, maybe just more informed and less easily influenced.

It’s been my “observation” that those who “think” they’re better than others tend to be somewhat overconfident people that nobody wants to hang around. There’s intelligence, and “emotional intelligence,” and without emotional intelligence—intelligence is just a number to some person who’s difficult to be around.

I think that they’re probably better read, and rely more on data rather than feelings, but they get stuck in ideologies too. It’s a human thing, and nobody’s immune to it. I think the trick is, introspection, challenging our beliefs, even our “data-based” beliefs, and paying attention when those who love us tell us that we’re not as great as we think we are. We’re human after all, and that’s the same for everybody. IQ is merely one aspect of that humanness.

I think logical might be a more accurate word. JAMES

I try not to verbalize feelings that are negative. I know who I am and don't denigrate or belittle others because they may not be as educated.

It would depend on the individual believer. I've met a few who were idiots, but I've met others who were extremely intelligent and for whom I have a great deal of respect.

I used to, but I've talked to too many atheists to feel that way at this point.

I don't want to be smug atheist guy. Just like I have friends that are not smug Christian, Muslim or Jewish.
Being smug isn't pleasant or nice.

Sometimes I do . I think it's just common sense and they don't have that or they just don't have an open mind maybe ? I am really not comfortable being around believers simply because we think so different.

Not necessarily intelligent, but definitely more able to grasp reality.

As in all things dealing with human traits, every person is different. There is a spectrum to be considered, not a black and white distinction.

That said, there is some truth in the generalization, just as there is in the generalization that conservatives are more prone to believe conspiracy theories, respond to fear inducing ideas, and be more religious, but it must be remembered that these are generalizations.

Not necessarily more intelligent, but definitely more volitional amd intellectually independent.

Yes all the time! But in reality we're probably more open minded and ask more questions and don't believe anything we hear.

Hang around here long enough, you'll be cured of that notion. ?

I feel that I have the same intelligent capacity that I have always had and half of my 78 years were spent in the Christian religions. I do see that I may have become wiser, because I have paid attention and applied myself to books and other study! I can see where I would have a restricted view point, if I had kept myself bound inside a religion! They just keep studying the same old things (over and over) that starts out in their scriptures! They memorize certain scripure verses to use to defend themselves with! They stress the parts that scare the hell out a person, instead of what it takes to improve your character by word and deed! People seem so conflicted between good and evil, they can't live a fully human life!

While this doesn't surprise me, and I do think there's some truth in it, I personally see the science of IQ and IQ tests as wishy-washy. My cousin is a psychologist, and she agrees. It's rooted in some truth, but it fails to address other factors that could be affecting the results. For example, autistic people can score low on an IQ test, but that's because of their condition affecting their ability to fill out the test, not their actual intelligence. There are also extreme cases, like savant syndrome, where someone could have absolutely no common sense or be severely handicapped in one area, but be a complete genius in others. Almost all cases of savant syndrome have some form of brain damage along with it (source; the book "We Are Our Brains" by Dutch physician Dick Swaab). Think of it like the blind people who have an incredibly acute sense of hearing. So while I do think there could be truth in that claim, I'm just far too agnostic to accept it as fact just yet, especially with IQ being so wishy-washy. I personally think intelligence is far too fluid and our knowledge on neuroscience and psychology is far too little for it to be accurately measured with a test like that, but only time will tell.

Yes, definitely!

Yes, lol.

Please tell me that a research report was not really necessary to arrive at this conclusion? JAMES

yes

Sometimes I do. But then I have to get over my cognitive dissonance when some believers have accomplished so many creative and useful things that I could never have done. I genuinely admire certain believers for their contributions to art, science and technology.

I don't think a clear distinction could be determined between the two. I consider myself just as intelligent now as I was before becoming an atheist, except now I embrace the scientific method and a natural understanding of the world. I know atheists who are smarter than believers, and christians who are smarter than some atheists, so I'm inclined to believe the door swings both ways on that one.

I have the zeal of the convert. Since I was awakened to the fact that there are no dieities out there, much less one who cares about our well-being I Have felt like I have the inside line to tthe real. I got BRIGHT POWER tattooed down the back of my arms, don'y care who thinks that implies they are dim.

Hi Rienndo, women live longer???? It’s women that kill men, that’s the reason for that (well that’s my opinion hehehe). James

Being more logical does seem to make you more intelligent. Even so, we all have our little quirks. We tend to exaggerate at some point or another. I recently took an online test where they said if you pass this you have an IQ of at least 134. I scored 97 out of 100 questions and they were all about history in our recent past within 200 years. What did this have to do with IQ? I thought it was just a need to know and paying attention.

Most morons in the world are religious people. I'm glad to not be one of them anymore. I have no problem knowing there is no such thing as god.