Religiosity

A well-established finding in psychology is [blank] religiosity and intelligence are negatively correlated. This means that, on average, people who are more religious tend to score lower [blank] intelligence tests, and vice versa. However, this does not mean that being religious makes you less intelligent, or that being intelligent makes you less religious. Correlation [blank] not imply causation, and there are many factors that could influence this relationship. One possible explanation is [blank] people who rely more on intuition than on analytical thinking might be more likely to hold religious beliefs. However, this does not mean that religious people are irrational or that non-religious people are rational. [blank] are many types and dimensions of religiosity, and some of them might have positive effects on cognitive and mental health. For instance, one form of religiosity that has been shown to protect against cognitive decline in older adults is church attendance. Going to church regularly might provide social and communal support, as well as cognitive stimulation, that could enhance brain function and prevent dementia.