Difference between revisions of "European atheism and intelligence"

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The researchers found that people with a Body Mass Index – a measure of body fat – of 20 or less could recall 56 per cent of words in a vocabulary test, while those who were obese, with a BMI of 30 or higher, could remember only 44 per cent.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1531487/The-greater-your-weight-the-lower-your-IQ-say-scientists.html The greater your weight, the lower your IQ, say scientists], By Nina Goswami,'' The Telegraph,'' 12:01AM BST 15 Oct 2006</ref>}}
 
The researchers found that people with a Body Mass Index – a measure of body fat – of 20 or less could recall 56 per cent of words in a vocabulary test, while those who were obese, with a BMI of 30 or higher, could remember only 44 per cent.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1531487/The-greater-your-weight-the-lower-your-IQ-say-scientists.html The greater your weight, the lower your IQ, say scientists], By Nina Goswami,'' The Telegraph,'' 12:01AM BST 15 Oct 2006</ref>}}
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== China, economic development and mitigation of obesity related brain impairment ==
 
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Atheistic China does have an obesity problem and increased Western dietary habits and increased prosperity has contributed to their growing obesity problem (see: [[China and obesity]]).
 
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=== Biblical Christianity and economic development ===
 
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In terms of economic development, biblical Christianity has historically had a positive affect on countries.<ref>
 
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*[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
 
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*[http://creation.com/christianity-as-progress  ''Christianity as progress: A review of The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success by Rodney Stark Random House, New York, 2005''] by Lael Weinberger
 
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*[http://creation.com/the-biblical-origins-of-science-review-of-stark-for-the-glory-of-god  The biblical origins of science: A review of For The Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-hunts and the End of Slavery by Rodney Stark] by Alex Williams</ref> 
 
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[[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." (See: [[Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism|Protestant work ethic and capitalism]]).<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>
 
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Factors such as greater wealth with its attendant better quality of education/health/nutrition help increase IQ scores.<ref>[http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/science-and-technology/intelligence-quotient-james-flynn Received wisdom: Average IQ is falling in Britain and beyond, explains Philip Hunter] by Philip Hunt, March 21, 2012, Published in April 2012 issue of Prospect Magazine</ref><ref>[http://noahpinionblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/iq-and-wealth-of-states.html IQ and the Wealth of Nations]</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8308726/Food-for-thought-diet-does-boost-your-intelligence.html Food for thought – diet does boost your intelligence] By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent, ''The Telegraph'', 2001</ref>
 
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In the latter part of the 20th century and through a portion of the 21st century, [[China]] has seen both increased economic development, a rapid growth of biblical Christianity within their nation, and a leap in intelligence scores.<ref>
 
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*[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><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31556802 Are human beings becoming smarter], BBC, March 2, 2015</ref>  See also: [[Growth of Christianity in China]]
 
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So although China is undoubtedly having obesity related brain impairment with their growing problem with obesity, the countervailing effects related to increased prosperity are mitigating the harmful effects of obesity on brain function as far as China's populace.
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 16:01, March 16, 2017

In 2014, the Pew Research Forum indicated that Europe will go from 11% of the world's population to 7% of the world's population by 2050.[1]

From a global perspective, Europe is more secular/atheistic than the rest of the world although it does have a considerable amount of religious immigrants who have higher birth rates (see: Secular Europe and Atheist population and Global atheism).

The current atheist population mostly resides in East Asia (particularly China) and in secular Europe/Australia among whites.[2] See: Asian atheism and Western atheism and race

According to a poll measuring religious identification in the European Union in 2012 by Eurobarometer, 16% identify as non-religious/agnostic and 7% of EU citizens identify as atheists.[3][4]

The 2010 eurobarometer poll found that on total average, of the EU27 population, 51% "believe in a God", 26% believe in "some sort of spirit or life force" and 20% had neither of these forms of belief.[5]

As briefly mentioned above, Europe is presently experiencing desecularization forces through: religious immigrants who have higher fertility rates than moderately religious and the sub-replacement level of fertility of the irreligious in many European countries. This trend is expected to continue and the secular population is projected to plateau by 2050, or as early as 2021 (see also: European desecularization in the 21st century and Growth of global desecularization).[6]

IQ scores for various Irreligious European countries

  • UK: National IQ is 100.[7]

Degree of irreligion for some of the most irreligious countries of Europe

Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.[8] Sweden's national IQ is 99.[7]

Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world and in secular Europe. The website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[9] Sweden also has the 3rd highest rate of belief in evolution as far as Western World nations.[10]

Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the Western World.[11] In addition, in 2005 Denmark was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[12]

Estonia is one of the least religious areas in the world. Merely 14% of the population declared religion an important part of their daily lives.[13]

From a historical perspective, the Czechs have been characterised as "tolerant and even indifferent towards religion".[14] According to the 2011 census, 34.2% of the Czech population declared they had no religion, 10.3% was Roman Catholic and 10.2% followed other forms of religion both denominational and nondenominational. Furthermore, 45.2% of the population did not answer the question about religion.[15] From 1991 to 2001 and further to 2011 the adherence to Roman Catholicism decreased from 39.0% to 26.8% and then subsequently to 10.3%.[16]

A Eurobarometer poll in 2010 reported that 37% of UK citizens "believed there is a God", 33% believe there is "some sort of spirit or life force" and 25% answered "I don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".[17] See also: British atheism

France was ranked the 8th most atheistic country in the world in 2005.[18] France has the 4th highest rate of belief in evolution in the Western World.[19]

Germany is one of the most atheistic countries in the world and the website adherents.com reports that 41-49% of Germans are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[20]

Finland was ranked the 7th most atheistic country in the world in 2005.[21] Finland has the 17th highest rate of belief in evolution in the Western World.[22]

In 2005, the Netherlands was ranked the 13th most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reports that in 2005 39 - 44%% of the Dutch were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[23] The Netherlands also has the 11th highest rate of belief in evolution as far as Western World nations.[24]

Recent intelligence trends in secular Europe/Australia and the religious United States

Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world.[25] In Sweden, phenotypic intelligence is now declining.[26]

See also: Intelligence trends in religious countries and secular countries

To a certain extent intelligence is heritable and the link between higher IQ individuals having fewer kids is known as dysgenic fertility.[27]

Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote about the sub-replacement level of fertility among atheistic populations: "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."[28] Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."[29] See also: Atheism and sexuality

Professor Eric Kaufmann's academic work and his book Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth? argue using a wealth of demographic data that due to the higher birth rates of religious conservatives (and the below replacement level of the irreligious) and religious immigration to the Western World, atheism/secularism will decline in the Western World as early as 2021 or by 2050.[30][31][32][33]

In his paper, The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ, Thomas Hally wrote:

“ In many areas phenotypic intelligence has been increasing (the Flynn Effect) while genotypic intelligence is decreasing due to the negative association between intelligence and that which is known as ³dysgenic fertility´. Gains of as much as 7.5 IQ points in phenotypic intelligence are much greater than the 0.43 IQ points per generation in the world-wide genotypic IQ that had been estimated for the period 1950-2000. The situation in the industrially developed world appears to follow the lead of the United States and a handful of other developed nations in so far as the phenotypic IQ has been increasing at a greater rate as a result of environmental improvements.

In Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain and Australia phenotypic intelligence has stabilized and now is declining.[34]

”
In godless Denmark, phenotypic intelligence is now declining.[35]

In 2012, it was reported that Norway was the eighth most godless country on earth.[36]

Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[37] In 2012, it was reported to be the 4rth most godless place on earth.[38] Sweden also has the 3rd highest rate of belief in evolution as far as Western World nations.[39] See also: Sexual immorality and Sweden

Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the Western World.[40] In addition, in 2005 Denmark was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[41]

According to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and an article on Belief.net, Britain (which was the fountainhead of Darwinism) has become one of the most godless places on earth.[42] In 2012, Great Britain was reported to be the sixth most godless country on earth.[43]

Post World War II, Australia has become a highly secularized country.[44]

Atheism, obesity, secular countries and falling rates of intelligence

In May 2014, the British paper The Mirror reported that according to the British medical journal Lancet, British girls are the most overweight girls in Western Europe.[45] In Britain, which is a country less religious than many countries, phenotypic intelligence is now declining.[46][47] See: Intelligence trends in secular countries

See also: Atheism and obesity and Atheism, obesity, secular countries and falling rates of intelligence

Obesity is a significant problem in many atheistic/irreligious countries such as the countries in secular Europe (see: Secular Europe and obesity and China and obesity).

In the journal article Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications, psychologists McCullough and Willoughby theorize that many of the positive links of religiousness with health and social behavior may be caused by religion's beneficial influences on self-control/self-regulation.[48][49] Furthermore, a 2012 Queen's University study published in Psychological Science found that religion replenishes self-control.[50][51] Also, numerous studies indicate that those who engage in regular spiritual practices have lower mortality rates.[52][53]

According to the Gallup Inc., "Very religious Americans are more likely to practice healthy behaviors than those who are moderately religious or nonreligious."[54]

For more information, please see: Atheism and obesity

Medical science studies indicate that excess weight impairs brain function (see also: Health effects of obesity and Obesity and its negative impact on intelligence)[55]

According to the World Health Organization:

“ Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Its prevalence has tripled in many countries of the WHO European Region since the 1980s, and the numbers of those affected continue to rise at an alarming rate.[56] ”

To a certain extent intelligence is heritable and the link between higher IQ individuals having fewer kids is known as dysgenic fertility.[57]

In his paper, The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ, Thomas Hally wrote:

“ In many areas phenotypic intelligence has been increasing (the Flynn Effect) while genotypic intelligence is decreasing due to the negative association between intelligence and that which is known as ³dysgenic fertility´. Gains of as much as 7.5 IQ points in phenotypic intelligence are much greater than the 0.43 IQ points per generation in the world-wide genotypic IQ that had been estimated for the period 1950-2000. The situation in the industrially developed world appears to follow the lead of the United States and a handful of other developed nations in so far as the phenotypic IQ has been increasing at a greater rate as a result of environmental improvements.

In Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain and Australia phenotypic intelligence has stabilized and now is declining.[58]

”
In godless Denmark, phenotypic intelligence is now declining.[59]

In 2012, it was reported that Norway was the eighth most godless country on earth.[60]

Sweden is one of the most atheistic countries in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 46 - 85% of Swedes were agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[61] In 2012, it was reported to be the 4rth most godless place on earth.[62] Sweden also has the 3rd highest rate of belief in evolution as far as Western World nations.[63] See also: Sexual immorality and Sweden

Denmark has the highest rate of belief in evolution in the Western World.[64] In addition, in 2005 Denmark was ranked the third most atheistic country in the world and the website adherents.com reported that in 2005 43 - 80% of Danes are agnostics/atheists/non-believers in God.[65]

According to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and an article on Belief.net, Britain (which was the fountainhead of Darwinism) has become one of the most godless places on earth.[66] In 2012, Great Britain was reported to be the sixth most godless country on earth.[67]

Post World War II, Australia has become a highly secularized country.[68]

Obesity and its negative impact on intelligence

See also: Obesity and its negative impact on intelligence

On October 15, 2006, The Telegraph reported in an article entitled The greater your weight, the lower your IQ, say scientists:

“ It is bad for your blood pressure, knocks years off your life and is a strain on your heart. Now scientists have discovered that gaining weight lowers your intelligence.

The findings follow last week's government figures that show Britain as the "fat man" of Europe, with nearly a quarter of adults and more than 14 per cent of children under 16 classified as obese.

The new five-year study of more than 2,200 adults claims to have found a link between obesity and the decline in a person's cognitive function. The research, conducted by French scientists, which is published in this month's Neurology journal, involved men and women aged between 32 and 62 taking four mental ability tests that were then repeated five years later.

The researchers found that people with a Body Mass Index – a measure of body fat – of 20 or less could recall 56 per cent of words in a vocabulary test, while those who were obese, with a BMI of 30 or higher, could remember only 44 per cent.[69]

”

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 10 projections for the global population in 2050 By Rakesh Kochhar, Pew Research Forum, February 3, 2014
  2. ↑ A surprising map of where the world’s atheists live, By Max Fisher and Caitlin Dewey, Washington Post, May 23, 2013
  3. ↑ Cultur de Europa
  4. ↑ Discrimination in the EU in 2012" (PDF), Special Eurobarometer, 383 (European Union: European Commission), p. 233, 2012, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-12-02, retrieved 14 August 2013 The question asked was "Do you consider yourself to be...?" With a card showing: Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Other Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist, and Non-believer/Agnostic. Space was given for Other (SPONTANEOUS) and DK. Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu did not reach the 1% threshold.
  5. ↑ "Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, page 204" (PDF). Fieldwork: Jan-Feb 2010.
  6. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 WORLD RANKING OF COUNTRIES BY THEIR AVERAGE
  8. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  9. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  10. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  11. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  12. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  13. ↑ Estonians least religious in the world. EU Observer (11 February 2009). Retrieved on 9 January 2014.
  14. ↑ Richard Felix Staar, Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, Issue 269, p. 90
  15. ↑ Richard Felix Staar, Communist regimes in Eastern Europe, Issue 269, p. 90
  16. ↑ Population by denomination and sex: as measured by 1921, 1930, 1950, 1991 and 2001 censuses (Czech and English). Czech Statistical Office. Retrieved on 2010-03-09.
  17. ↑ Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology, p. 204". Fieldwork: Jan-Feb 2010.
  18. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  19. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  20. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  21. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  22. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  23. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  24. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  25. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  26. ↑ The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ by Thomas Hally
  27. ↑ How the world's IQ is in decline July 31, 2010
  28. ↑ Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
  29. ↑ Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
  30. ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
  31. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
  32. ↑ Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
  33. ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  34. ↑ The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ by Thomas Hally
  35. ↑ The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ by Thomas Hally
  36. ↑ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth? by Hemant Mehta, May 14, 2012
  37. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  38. ↑ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth? by Hemant Mehta, May 14, 2012
  39. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  40. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  41. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  42. ↑ HAS GODLESSNESS TRULY ‘DOOMED’ GREAT BRITAIN? by Hallowell”Billy Hallowell
  43. ↑ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth? by Hemant Mehta, May 14, 2012
  44. ↑ Buttrose, Larry. Buttrose, Larry. Sport, grog and godliness, The Australian. Retrieved on 11 September 2009
  45. ↑ British girls are FATTEST in western Europe claims alarming new research by The Lancet, Mirror, Ben Burrows, May 29, 2014 10:52
  46. ↑ The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ by Thomas Hally
  47. ↑ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth? by Hemant Mehta, May 14, 2012
  48. ↑ Religion, Self-Regulation, and Self-Control: Associations, Explanations, and Implications
  49. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19210054
  50. ↑ Religion Replenishes Self-Control, Psychological Science, June 2012 vol. 23 no. 6 635-642, Kevin Rounding, Albert Lee, Jill A. Jacobson and Li-Jun Ji at Queen’s University
  51. ↑ Study finds religion helps us gain self-control
  52. ↑ Religious involvement and mortality: a meta-analytic review. McCullough ME, Hoyt WT, Larson DB, Koenig HG, Thoresen C., Health Psychol. 2000 May;19(3):211-22.
  53. ↑ The role of spirituality in health care, roc (Bayl Univ Med Cent). 2001 October; 14(4): 352–357.
  54. ↑ http://www.gallup.com/poll/145379/Religious-Americans-Lead-Healthier-Lives.aspx
  55. ↑
  56. ↑ World Health Organization - Obesity in Europe
  57. ↑ How the world's IQ is in decline July 31, 2010
  58. ↑ The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ by Thomas Hally
  59. ↑ The Rise and Fall of the World's IQ by Thomas Hally
  60. ↑ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth? by Hemant Mehta, May 14, 2012
  61. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  62. ↑ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth? by Hemant Mehta, May 14, 2012
  63. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  64. ↑ Photo: Evolution Less Accepted in U.S. Than Other Western Countries, Study Finds
  65. ↑ Top 50 Countries With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics(Zuckerman, 2005)
  66. ↑ HAS GODLESSNESS TRULY ‘DOOMED’ GREAT BRITAIN? by Hallowell”Billy Hallowell
  67. ↑ What’s the Most Godless Place on Earth? by Hemant Mehta, May 14, 2012
  68. ↑ Buttrose, Larry. Buttrose, Larry. Sport, grog and godliness, The Australian. Retrieved on 11 September 2009
  69. ↑ The greater your weight, the lower your IQ, say scientists, By Nina Goswami, The Telegraph, 12:01AM BST 15 Oct 2006
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