“I did not say that high IQ made one into a atheist perforce.
I said there was a strong correlation between high IQ and being a scientist, and a strong correlation between high IQ and being an atheist.
High IQ being the “hidden” variable.
Berlinski said there was a strong correlation between being an atheist and being a scientist.
Not me. ”
You merely implied the correlative link between intelligence and atheism. I don’t recall focusing on the correlation between atheism and science, so Berlinski’s comments are somewhat superfluous here.
However, these kinds of presumed correlations exist in a vaccuum of their own making. All kinds of non-normative ideas and personality types have correlations with higer IQs, including, if I’m not much mistaken, psychopaths (or perhaps more accurately sociopaths). This also presumes IQ is a reliable indicator of intellect. If this were true, Marilyn Vos Savant would be considered the most brilliant person on earth. I’m sure she’s a nice lady but I’m not prepared to suggest we offer her that particular crown.
My point is that such correlations are self-serving and offer little to the discussion. The point stands, I believe.
