A study from the University of Rochester which looks at 63 scientific studies from 1928 to 2012 suggests atheists are smarter than those of faith.
The paper, led by Professor Miron Zuckerman, states 53 of those studies found "a reliable negative relation between intelligence and religiosity".
The systematic meta-analysis of the studies said significant negative correlations between intelligence and religion were shown in 35 studies.
Speaking to Arstechnica.com, Professor Zuckerman said: "Our conclusion is not new.
"If you count the number of studies which find a positive correlation against those that find a negative correlation, you can draw the same conclusion because most studies find a negative correlation."The analysis came to its findings after looking at 63 studies between 1928 and 2012
Results of the meta-analysis established a reliable negative relation between intelligence and religiosity
The study
The study, called The Relation Between Intelligence and Religiosity: A Meta-Analysis and Some Proposed Explanations, was published in an academic journal.
It defines intelligence as the "ability to reason, plan, solve problems, think abstractly, comprehend complex ideas, learn quickly and learn from experience".
It claims the strongest explanation for the trend is intelligent people do not accept beliefs not subject to imperial tests or evidence.
The study said: "Results of the meta-analysis established a reliable negative relation between intelligence and religiosity.
"It was also shown that this relation is weaker in precollege populations relative to college and non-college populations.
"Additional analyses demonstrated that the relation is more negative when religiosity measures assessed religious beliefs as opposed to religious behaviours."
The research added that gender and education make no difference to the link between religion and intelligence, but age does.
The study said the link between religion and intelligence was strongest in people who had were too young to go to university.
It claims this is because before university religious beliefs may largely be adopted to appease the person's family.
*Article first appeared on http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/422348/Atheists-are-more-intelligent...