likely to turn to religion than high school graduates.^4 ,^5 You are also
less likely to believe in God if you have a high IQ. Only one in six
people with an IQ above 140 (uber-smart) report deriving satisfaction
from religion.^6
When Nietzsche proclaimed God is dead, it wasn’t a victory cry but
a lamentation on the loss of moral compass. As we survive and prosper
at greater rates worldwide, what is the glue that holds us together as a
human family? What helps us live a better life? How do we learn more,
discover more opportunities, find answers to the questions that
fascinate and plague us?
Good to Know
Knowledge—we have been fascinated with it since antiquity. Know
thyself, admonished the oracle of Delphi. In the Age of Enlightenment,
questioning myths became not only okay, but noble—the foundation of
liberty, tolerance, progress. Science and philosophy flourished.
Religious dogma was challenged with the simple slogan “Dare to
know.”
More than anything else, we want to know. We want to be sure our
spouse still loves us. That our child is safe. Anybody with kids knows
the universe collapses to your child, and nothing more, when he or she
is ailing. When the kid wakes up with a fever or breaks out in hives, we
must know, “Will my universe, my kid, be okay?” The logical part of
the brain, the cerebrum, is able to (mostly) calm the reptilian fear
brain with facts.
Google answers every question. Our pagan ancestors lived mostly
with mysteries. God heard your prayers but didn’t answer many of
them. If God did speak to you, it meant you were hearing voices, a red
flag in any psychological assessment. Most religious people feel
watched over, but still don’t (always) know what to do. Unlike our
ancestors, we are able to find safety in facts. Our questions are
answered immediately, our rest assured. How to detect carbon
monoxide? Here are five ways. Google even highlights the top answer
—here’s what you need to know, in big type, in case you’re freaking out
right now.