Religious people are less intelligent than atheists, study finds

Previous studies have tended to assume that intelligent people simply “know better, the researchers write - but the reasons may be more complex.For instance, intelligent
people are more likely to be married, and more likely to be successful in life  and this may mean they need” religion less.
The studies used in Zuckerman's paper included a life-long analysis of the beliefs of a group of 1,500 gifted children  those with IQs over 135  in a study which began in 1921 and continues today.
Even at 75 to 91 years of age, the children from Lewis Terman’s study scored lower for religiosity than the general population - contrary to the widely held belief that people turn to God as they age. The researchers noted that data was lacking about religious attitudes in old age and sayAdditional research is needed to resolve this issue.As early as 1958, Michael Argyle concluded Although intelligent children grasp religious concepts earlier, they are also the first to doubt the truth of religion, and intelligent students are much less likely to accept orthodox beliefs and rather less likely to have pro-religious attitudes.
A 1916 study quoted in Zuckermans paper Leuba found that, 58% of randomly selected scientists in the United States expressed disbelief in, or doubt regarding the existence of God; this proportion rose to nearly 70% for the most eminent scientists.