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/Unable-Log-4870 4h ago

There are a few beliefs (that’s I’m aware of) that I hold without evidence, even in the face of contrary evidence.

Primarily, the belief that we are better than this.

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u/JohnLockeJaw 3h ago

Not entirely true. All of science and mathematics are based on beliefs of a different name: axioms and principles.

This isn't actually a problem per se, because the most basic axiom is that good axioms should be self-consistent and minimal. Religion sadly makes no such attempt at self-correction.

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u/Unable-Log-4870 2h ago

That’s not what I was talking about.

Started more clearly:

Primarily, the belief that we are better than this to let the stupidest and meanest of us drive the rest of us into authoritarianism because even the best of us are too sheepish to fight back. That’s what I think we are better than.

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u/JohnLockeJaw 2h ago

Ope good call, I read your comment too quickly.

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u/MJOLNIRdragoon 2h ago

Eh, an axiom is a basic assertion used to define a system. Not really equivalent to beliefs in the context we're talking about here. An axiom can't be false. And principles are based off of evidence.

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u/JohnLockeJaw 1h ago

Your confidence scares me.

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u/MattinglyBaseball 2h ago

I think the more appropriate belief is that “we can be better than this.” History has shown that we are not and have not been better than this. People are largely a product of their environment and easy to manipulate, especially when they are young, and manipulative people are everywhere. The only way towards “we are better than this” is to fight back against the manipulators who teach beliefs instead of provable, evidence based facts.