Correlation between religion and education

Just about all the studies I could find regarding this subject show that there is a strong positive correlation between level of education and atheism/agnosticism, while there is a strong negative correlation between level of education and belief in a religion. I'm well aware that correlation does not in and of itself imply causation, but I still think a strong case can be made that becoming educated causes one to be less inclined to believe in a religion. The key to establishing causation is determining specific reasons why one thing cause another thing, so lets try and do just that.

Well, I can think of a number of reasons, one being that the more educated someone becomes, the less likely they are to blindly obey their parents and other authority figures without questioning them, and the more likely they are to try and find their own answers to questions, like those concerning the nature of the universe. I don't think anyone can deny that a major factor in why people choose religions is to follow along with the rest of the family, and education encourages independent thought in lieu of simply looking to one's parents when wondering what to do or how to think.

Another reason that's actually pretty ironic is that the more educated you become, the more exposure you get to other religions. At first it would seem that this would make you more likely to be religious, but in actuality it makes you more likely to come to the (entirely correct) conclusion that one religion is no more credible than another and they all should just be ignored.

Yet another possible reason why education causes one to lean towards atheism/agnosticism is that being educated can make you mature enough to deal with notion that it's entirely possible we completely cease to exist when we die. I happen to think an inability, or unwillingness, to believe in such a notion is one of, if not, the main reasons why many people turn to religion.

To be honest, I can't think of any reason that tells me the relationship between level of education and atheism/agnosticism is one of strong positive correlation but not causation. I'd like to hear if anybody else can think of one. I have a feeling bible thumpers will say that the more education you receive, the more likely you are to come in contact with god haters, but I'd respond by saying there must be reasons why places where education is dispensed are more likely to be populated by these so-called god haters, and I've already explained what I believe to be the reasons why this is the case.

One other thing I think illustrates the way becoming more educated makes you more likely to dismiss religion is the following saying, which I've seen in various forms and wordings but with the same message: The more you know, the more you realize you don't know. Educated people are just much more likely to accept that we have literally no way of knowing which, if any, religion is correct, yet religious people have so much hubris that they get insulted when you suggest this to them. At the risk of sounding condescending, I honestly think a lot of the religious people who are unwilling to recognize that there's nothing shameful or dishonorable with accepting that we don't know how we came to be on this planet would become more willing if they were more educated.

I think it's pretty simple.

If you are well educated, you will learn how logical arguments, evidence, etc works. You will realize that religion's argument is pitiful, and you won't believe in it.

The problem is, when you believe in religion so blindly, that it stops you from looking at the world logically, drawing connections based on logic.

Of course there is a middle path, when you are religious, and are able to understand everything you need to about the world.

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Originally Posted by THClord

I think it's pretty simple.

If you are well educated, you will learn how logical arguments, evidence, etc works. You will realize that religion's argument is pitiful, and you won't believe in it.

The problem is, when you believe in religion so blindly, that it stops you from looking at the world logically, drawing connections based on logic.

Of course there is a middle path, when you are religious, and are able to understand everything you need to about the world.

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Well... i think must be done a distinction between religion and spirituality... organized religion in fact lacks much of logic, and so ...

BUT, spirituality is another thing... as it takes a LOT of intelligence and wisdom for even concieve that there is things beyond our human logic and reason, and things beyond the material, physical world...

So, the middle path actually exists... but most people simply cant tread it... some for lack of knowledge and some for excess of trust in their own knowledge...

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If you are well educated, you will learn how logical arguments, evidence, etc works. You will realize that religion's argument is pitiful, and you won't believe in it.

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Religious people are not absent of these skills, you base your statements on stereotype yet I knew a few creationists who could run rings around atheistic evolutionists.

Many, MANY scientists are creationists, I have a number of muslim friends who are studying a vast aray of science related subjects and still hold their beliefs, if anything their education has reinforced their beliefs.

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You will realize that religion's argument is pitiful, and you won't believe in it

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I am no creationist yet the above statement is obsurd when you look at the complete lack of evidence for the alternative belief of evolution.

There are still institutions offering millions to someone who can actually prove evolution and relate it to and explain with it our existence.

I agree with THCLord and KevinFinnerty (why was he banned?). But darwinian evolution might not be the final answer... nor is intelligent design necessarily the final answer. Why does everyone hold true to only one of these two beliefs? Isn't it possible that there is something else that could have made us, and everything, the way we are today?

"BUT, spirituality is another thing... as it takes a LOT of intelligence and wisdom for even concieve that there is things beyond our human logic and reason, and things beyond the material, physical world..." - Coelho

Agreed, Coelho, in everything you said in that post.

I believe Spirituality and Religion are two very different things. Religion offers control and safety, while spirituality offers transcendental knowledge and universal consciousness and peace. But we all know that religion hasn't made peace. We are spiritual beings. Forget Jesus and the current way the Bible is looked at. Nobody can deny the fact that the bible has been edited many times to support certain agendas, so how can you trust it? It's control! The last thing they want you to do is realize it's crap, and that the whole understanding of the Bible has been wrong. I believe there's a much deeper meaning in the Bible. It's a story - it's history of what happened back then, nothing more. I believe it is a whole history of an extraterrestial visitation.

Evolution of human consciousness. It will be happening, and the Mayan calendar(s) have been very accurate in showing the evolution of human consciousness, and when it is going to happen.

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Originally Posted by mfqr

But darwinian evolution might not be the final answer... nor is intelligent design necessarily the final answer. Why does everyone hold true to only one of these two beliefs? Isn't it possible that there is something else that could have made us, and everything, the way we are today?

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Intelligent design is actually a bit of a misnomer. The current view of evolution as accepted by most scientists doesn't rule out an "intelligent designer." On the other hand, the "theory" of intelligent design is really just a ploy to make it appear that there is science behind the Bible, "ruling out" evolution.

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Originally Posted by Fallen_Icarus

I am no creationist yet the above statement is obsurd when you look at the complete lack of evidence for the alternative belief of evolution.

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Oh, evolution is now a 'belief'.

Updates notes...... :wtf: