r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 9h ago

Psychology Lower cognitive ability is linked to stronger Christian nationalist views, even after accounting for education

https://www.psypost.org/lower-cognitive-ability-is-linked-to-stronger-christian-nationalist-views-even-after-accounting-for-education/
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u/ladeeedada 8h ago

You can't always reason with someone but they can feel emotions and fear is the easiest way to manipulate people. There's nothing like the fear of eternal hellfire to get ppl to do your bidding. And unfortunately most of the dumbest people you will meet are also the most confident in their beliefs since they lack the capacity to question them. 

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u/apple_kicks 7h ago

Cambridge Analytica was eye opening on how everyone has a few fear points that can be manipulated. People stop thinking when in panic mode and behave dangerously

US Christianity has monopolised the big ones from family and death

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u/SunGreene42 7h ago

"People are stupid. They can be made to believe any lie because either they want to believe it's true or because they are afraid it's true." -- Terry Goodkind

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u/NoConfusion9490 6h ago

Most of these people aren't the least bit afraid of going to hell. That's not even possible to them because they're "good" other people are "bad". I'd say the real allure is that anyone they disagree with is automatically wrong and destined for cosmic retribution.