Intelligence, Religion, and Spirituality

[Personal Choice]

Religiosity has had both positive and negative effects on social issues. Highly religious individuals tend to engage in less risky behavior, especially in the college-aged population, and religion is seen to serve a protective role against mental illness such as depression, anxiety, and suicide. However, individuals higher in religiosity seem to be more prejudice against gay marriages and different cultural beliefs, and are also, in general, less open to novel experiences. The mixed findings suggest religiosity is both a protector and defector to many religious issues. If religiosity continues to decrease due to intelligence, then it is up to society to find a replacement for the protective role of religion. Spirituality is seen to provide support against mental illness, as well as, does not often fabricate prejudice and is related to openness. Intelligence can be observed as a potential protector from certain risky behavior. Similarly, spirituality may be beneficial to improving humans relationship with the extra-human environment. Since, in the past, religion has mediated the relationship of humans to the environment, now spirituality may be an asset to improving this fleeting relationship by emphasizing a greater connection to the other.

Is increased intelligence beneficial or detrimental to how we affect and relate to nature?

-Zach Swanson

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