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[[File:Africa pol 2003.jpg|thumbnail|right|230px|A study conducted by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life says that [[Africa]]ns are among the most religious people on Earth.<ref>[http://ffrf.org/outreach/item/13652-why-so-many-africans-are-religious Why so many Africans are religious: Leo Igwe]</ref>]]

[[File:Africa pol 2003.jpg|thumbnail|right|230px|A study conducted by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life says that [[Africa]]ns are among the most religious people on Earth.<ref name="ffrf.org">[http://ffrf.org/outreach/item/13652-why-so-many-africans-are-religious Why so many Africans are religious: Leo Igwe]</ref>]]

Individuals advocating irreligion in [[Africa]] have been dated to go back several millennia.<ref> M.B. Mat'e, The History of Freethinking in Ancient Egypt (1956), no. 3.</ref>  During the 1950s and 1960s, irreligion in Africa became more prevalent as the educated classes became influenced by [[communism]], [[socialism]] and anti-colonial movements gained influence on the continent (see also: [[Atheism and communism]]).  

Individuals advocating irreligion in [[Africa]] have been dated to go back several millennia.<ref name="M.B. Mat'e 1956">M.B. Mat'e, The History of Freethinking in Ancient Egypt (1956), no. 3.</ref>  During the 1950s and 1960s, irreligion in Africa became more prevalent as the educated classes became influenced by [[communism]], [[socialism]] and anti-colonial movements gained influence on the continent (see also: [[Atheism and communism]]).  

Atheists, however, remain a very small minority in Africa (see also: [[Atheist population]] and [[Global atheism]]). A study conducted by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life says that [[Africa]]ns are among the most religious people on Earth.<ref>[http://ffrf.org/outreach/item/13652-why-so-many-africans-are-religious Why so many Africans are religious: Leo Igwe]</ref> See also: [[Black atheism]] and [[Western atheism and race]]

Atheists, however, remain a very small minority in Africa (see also: [[Atheist population]] and [[Global atheism]]). A study conducted by the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life says that [[Africa]]ns are among the most religious people on Earth.<ref name="ffrf.org"/> See also: [[Black atheism]] and [[Western atheism and race]]

== African atheist IQ scores ==

== African atheist IQ scores ==

African IQ scores are a matter of controversy among social scientists.<ref name="NatureIQ">[http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v92/n4/full/6800418a.html Book Review: IQ and the Wealth of Nations], ''Nature''</ref><ref name="AfricanIQ">[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121155220.htm Controversial study of African IQ levels is 'deeply flawed'], Science Daily, January 21, 2010</ref>  

African IQ scores are a matter of controversy among social scientists.<ref name="NatureIQ">[http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v92/n4/full/6800418a.html Book Review: IQ and the Wealth of Nations], ''Nature''</ref><ref name="AfricanIQ">[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121155220.htm Controversial study of African IQ levels is 'deeply flawed'], Science Daily, January 21, 2010</ref>  

[[Socioeconomics|Socioeconomic]] factors can cause differences in regional intelligence levels (for example, wealth which can affect the quality of education, health care and nutrition). Although social scientists have disputes about the accuracy of IQ scores in a given region, regions do vary in terms of their IQ scores.<ref name="CountryIQ">[https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country WORLD RANKING OF COUNTRIES BY THEIR AVERAGE]</ref><ref name="NatureIQ">[http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v92/n4/full/6800418a.html Book Review: IQ and the Wealth of Nations], ''Nature''</ref><ref name="AfricanIQ">[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121155220.htm Controversial study of African IQ levels is 'deeply flawed'], Science Daily, January 21, 2010</ref> Ethnic groups facing discrimination as immigrants and their IQs temporarily dropping and then later rebounding when the discrimination is over, strongly suggests that IQ is significantly affected by one's environment and not due to any inherent and permanent genetic differences between races.<ref>[http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/05/charles-murray-still-convinced-whites-are-smarter-blacks Charles Murray Still Convinced That Whites Are Smarter Than Blacks] by Kevin Drum, ''Mother Jonees'', 2017</ref>

[[Socioeconomics|Socioeconomic]] factors can cause differences in regional intelligence levels (for example, wealth which can affect the quality of education, health care and nutrition). Although social scientists have disputes about the accuracy of IQ scores in a given region, regions do vary in terms of their IQ scores.<ref name="NatureIQ"/><ref name="AfricanIQ"/><ref name="CountryIQ">[https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country WORLD RANKING OF COUNTRIES BY THEIR AVERAGE]</ref> Ethnic groups facing discrimination as immigrants and their IQs temporarily dropping and then later rebounding when the discrimination is over, strongly suggests that IQ is significantly affected by one's environment and not due to any inherent and permanent genetic differences between races.<ref>[http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/05/charles-murray-still-convinced-whites-are-smarter-blacks Charles Murray Still Convinced That Whites Are Smarter Than Blacks] by Kevin Drum, ''Mother Jonees'', 2017</ref>

Given their small proportion of the African population and the antipathy of many Africans have against atheists, [[social science|social scientists]] have shown little interest in terms of studying and determining the IQs/intelligence of African atheists. This is not entirely surprising. In the United States (another religious region), Dr. Melanie Brewster gave a talk entitled ''Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism?'' and she indicated there is a general reluctance of psychologists to study the atheist population.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7Dlwaufyk Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism? - Dr. Melanie Brewster - Skepticon 7]</ref> See also: [[Views on atheists]]

Given their small proportion of the African population and the antipathy of many Africans have against atheists, [[social science|social scientists]] have shown little interest in terms of studying and determining the IQs/intelligence of African atheists. This is not entirely surprising. In the United States (another religious region), Dr. Melanie Brewster gave a talk entitled ''Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism?'' and she indicated there is a general reluctance of psychologists to study the atheist population.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7Dlwaufyk Why is Psychology Silent When it Comes to Atheism? - Dr. Melanie Brewster - Skepticon 7]</ref> See also: [[Views on atheists]]

An atheist posted to atheist [[Sam Harris]]' discussion board: "This idea started when I googled “atheist art”. You see I was expecting to find art. Instead, what you get is a whole bunch of knockoffs of famous religious art that has been disfigured and mutilated. This made me slightly ashamed."<ref>[https://www.samharris.org/forum/viewthread/58689/ Atheist post at Sam Harris' discussion board]</ref>

An atheist posted to atheist [[Sam Harris]]' discussion board: "This idea started when I googled “atheist art”. You see I was expecting to find art. Instead, what you get is a whole bunch of knockoffs of famous religious art that has been disfigured and mutilated. This made me slightly ashamed."<ref>[https://www.samharris.org/forum/viewthread/58689/ Atheist post at Sam Harris' discussion board]</ref>

As noted above, individuals advocating irreligion in [[Africa]] have been dated to go back several millennia.<ref> M.B. Mat'e, The History of Freethinking in Ancient Egypt (1956), no. 3.</ref> Although, there are artistic and musical achievements when it comes to African Christian art and African Christian music (for example African art museums displaying African Christian art), there has been a lack of significant African achievements when it comes to African atheist art and African atheist music.

As noted above, individuals advocating irreligion in [[Africa]] have been dated to go back several millennia.<ref name="M.B. Mat'e 1956"/> Although, there are artistic and musical achievements when it comes to African Christian art and African Christian music (for example African art museums displaying African Christian art), there has been a lack of significant African achievements when it comes to African atheist art and African atheist music.

Africa has many beautiful church buildings. Wikipedia, which again is a online encyclopedia found by an atheist and agnostic, has a church architecture article which features an entire section on [[Ethiopia]]n church architecture.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Church_architecture&oldid=770772508 Wikipedia - Church architecture]</ref> However, there is not a single notable example of African atheist architecture (see also: [[Atheism and architecture]]).

Africa has many beautiful church buildings. Wikipedia, which again is a online encyclopedia found by an atheist and agnostic, has a church architecture article which features an entire section on [[Ethiopia]]n church architecture.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Church_architecture&oldid=770772508 Wikipedia - Church architecture]</ref> However, there is not a single notable example of African atheist architecture (see also: [[Atheism and architecture]]).

''See also:'' [[Protestant cultural legacies]] and [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]] and [[Atheism and sloth]]

''See also:'' [[Protestant cultural legacies]] and [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]] and [[Atheism and sloth]]

[[File:Niall Ferguson.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|

[[File:Niall Ferguson.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|

The atheist and [[Harvard University]] historian [[Niall Ferguson]] declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> ]]

The atheist and [[Harvard University]] historian [[Niall Ferguson]] declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref name="blog.tifwe.org">[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref> ]]

African IQ scores are expected to rise due to improving living conditions.<ref>[https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121155220.htm Controversial study of African IQ levels is 'deeply flawed'], Science Daily, January 21, 2010</ref>  

African IQ scores are expected to rise due to improving living conditions.<ref name="AfricanIQ"/>  

In the 20th century Christianity grew very rapidly in Africa and it continues to grow rapidly today. In 2011, ''USA Today'' published a article entitled ''Study: Christianity grows exponentially in Africa''<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-20/christianity-growth-africa-europe/52125920/1 Study: Christianity grows exponentially in Africa] , USA Today, 2011</ref> Historically, the growth of Protestant Christianity in an area causes improved economic and social conditions (see: [[Protestant cultural legacies]] and [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]]).  

In the 20th century Christianity grew very rapidly in Africa and it continues to grow rapidly today. In 2011, ''USA Today'' published an article entitled ''Study: Christianity grows exponentially in Africa''<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-12-20/christianity-growth-africa-europe/52125920/1 Study: Christianity grows exponentially in Africa] , USA Today, 2011</ref> Historically, the growth of Protestant Christianity in an area causes improved economic and social conditions (see: [[Protestant cultural legacies]] and [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism]]).  

The atheist and [[Harvard University]] historian [[Niall Ferguson]] declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>

The atheist and [[Harvard University]] historian [[Niall Ferguson]] declared: "Through a mixture of hard work and thrift the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] societies of the North and West Atlantic achieved the most rapid economic growth in history."<ref name="blog.tifwe.org"/>

The World Economic Forum reported:

The World Economic Forum reported:

[[Category:Atheism]]

[[Category:Atheism]]

[[Category:Psychology]]

[[Category:Psychology]]

[[Category: Sociology]]

[[Category:Sociology]]