Are intelligent people less likely to believe in God?
According to a study reported in the London Telegraph, they are. Your reaction to that statement was probably similar to mine — rolling eyes. “Here we go again.” But isn’t it true though? Frankly, I don’t find it surprising at all. That, in fact, has been the case as long as man has existed. Remember the Tower of Babel? The people built the tower “so that [they could] make a name for [themselves] and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:1-9).
How about Nadab & Abihu, sons of Aaron, who were so smart they knew more about offering fire before the Lord than the Lord himself (Leviticus 10:1-2).
Naaman. Remember him? He knew enough to know that dipping seven times in the Jordan River was just silliness when it came to curing leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-14).
New Testament folks who were so smart they didn’t need God? I think of Herod. There were a lot of Herods, but this is the one who was the grandson of the Herod who tried to kill Jesus. This Herod proclaimed himself to be a god, and “an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:19-23).
I did read the article linked above, but I haven’t read the report itself, so I’m not exactly sure what conclusions the researcher was drawing, but it does seem clear on its face that as they become more intelligent, people as a whole feel less of a need for God. Just because He doesn’t exist for them though, doesn’t mean He doesn’t exist. The fact remains that there will come a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess the name of Jesus (Philippians 2:10-11). Smart, dumb, it doesn’t matter — we’re all part of “every”.
See you there.
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Posted on June 16th, 2008 by Bob Mathews
Filed under: Growth, Society
You should read Can a Smart Person Believe in God?
by Michael Guillen. It’s a great short read but with some very important points.
http://www.cathedralgifts.com/cansmpebeing.html
Thanks for the recommendation Mark; I’ll check it out.
I have seen situations like this often – it seems that often times people allow a gift that God has given them to get in the way of their belief or walk with God.
It seems to be a constant struggle for man to become “independent” from God. I even see it creeping in my own life when I am not paying attention – if I am trying too hard to store up money – in order to insulate myself from problems (i.e. not need to trust in God)
There is a tricky balance of doing the best with what we have and realizing that we will always need to depend on God.
Exactly right, Bob, and I think knowledge is one gift from God that satan can be especially subtle with. What often seems totally counterintuitive for man makes perfect sense when considered in light of God’s perfect wisdom — and vice versa.
I have known both well-educated, intelligent people who did believe, and some who did not. The same with less educated, less intellectually blessed. I personally believe it is more a function of personal pride (“I am the greatest!”) than of intelligence. It takes a person whose personality will allow them to humble themselves and to realize that there is a God who is in all and over all. That is the person who will believe and follow God.
Quite right, Peggy; thanks for the comment.