Gravitymaster 0 #1 September 22, 2011 Is atheism linked to autism? Controversial study points to relationship between the two. People with 'mild' forms of autism are more likely to be atheists, according to a controversial new study - and more likely to shun organised religion in general. The study, which looked at posts on autism forums, focused on people with high-functioning autism such as Asperger's. The study, from University of Boston, speculates that common autistic spectrum behaviours such as 'a preference for logical beliefs' and a distrust of metaphor and figures of speech, could be responsible. The study authors, Catherine Caldwell-Harris and Patrick MacNamara studied discussions by 192 different posters on an autism website. They also looked at a survey of 61 people with high-functioning autism, and graphed against results from the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) test. The results appeared to show that those with high AQ scores were 'more likely' to be atheists. In the group of high-functionining autistic individuals, 26 per cent were atheists, compared to 16 per cent of 'neurotypical' individuals. They said this is the first 'systematic study of the religious beliefs of autistic spectrum individuals who have normal or near-normal intelligence.' The paper, 'investigates the proposal that individual differences in belief will reflect cognitive processing styles, with high functioning autism being an extreme style that will predispose towards nonbelief.' Caroline Hattersley, Head of Information, Advice and Advocacy at The National Autistic Society said: 'Autism affects people from every sector of society and people with autism represent the full range of religious and non-religious beliefs. 'It is important that people with autism have the freedom to make their own choices about their beliefs and receive the support they need,' says Hattersley. Rajib Khan, writing on Discover Magazine's 'Gene Expression' blog wrote, 'I doubt this is going to surprise too many people. Additionally, we need to be careful about generalizing here. 'This doesn’t mean that a huge proportion of atheists are high functioning autistics (though there may be a larger proportion than the general population).' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2039690/Atheism-autism-Controversial-new-study-points-link-two.html#ixzz1YeaUHzRt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #2 September 22, 2011 Spirituality is not limited....Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #3 September 22, 2011 Actual paper if you care to read it. http://bu.academia.edu/CatherineCaldwellHarris/Papers/636085/Religious_Belief_Systems_of_Persons_with_High_Functioning_Autism I'm sure the two under grads that conducted this exploratory study will get more funding from fundies. Boston University does, after all, have a religious tie-in with the Methodist Church.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #4 September 22, 2011 Quote Actual paper if you care to read it. http://bu.academia.edu/CatherineCaldwellHarris/Papers/636085/Religious_Belief_Systems_of_Persons_with_High_Functioning_Autism I'm sure the two under grads that conducted this exploratory study will get more funding from fundies. Boston University does, after all, have a religious tie-in with the Methodist Church. I wonder what would happen if they gave autistics a bible while watching rain man... "You sinner...Charlie Babbit's a sinner..." Rainman(lyrics): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nt2HSVhGtkYour secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #5 September 22, 2011 QuoteAutism Linked to Atheism I think you meant to say, "Atheism linked to autism". Yes, there's a difference. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #6 September 22, 2011 QuoteQuoteAutism Linked to Atheism I think you meant to say, "Atheism linked to autism". Yes, there's a difference. As I said...give em a bible.Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
winsor 236 #7 September 22, 2011 QuoteQuoteQuoteAutism Linked to Atheism I think you meant to say, "Atheism linked to autism". Yes, there's a difference. As I said...give em a bible. Have them in various languages - to include the original. Your point? Neurotypicals are sheep. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #8 September 22, 2011 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteAutism Linked to Atheism I think you meant to say, "Atheism linked to autism". Yes, there's a difference. As I said...give em a bible. Have them in various languages - to include the original. Your point? Neurotypicals are sheep. I'll be sleeping warm tonight...Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,594 #9 September 22, 2011 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteAutism Linked to Atheism I think you meant to say, "Atheism linked to autism". Yes, there's a difference. As I said...give em a bible. Have them in various languages - to include the original. Your point? Neurotypicals are sheep. I'll be sleeping warm tonight... Because you're covered in wool? (I may have lost track of the analogy at some point.)Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #10 September 22, 2011 QuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteQuoteAutism Linked to Atheism I think you meant to say, "Atheism linked to autism". Yes, there's a difference. As I said...give em a bible. Have them in various languages - to include the original. Your point? Neurotypicals are sheep. I'll be sleeping warm tonight... Because you're covered in wool? (I may have lost track of the analogy at some point.) As if you were ever on track... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMMwG7RrFQ This thread sickens me...Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,594 #11 September 22, 2011 Quote I wonder what would happen if they gave autistics a bible while watching rain man... "You sinner...Charlie Babbit's a sinner..." . . . This thread sickens me... From Rain Man jokes to high horse in 3 posts. Is that a record? I think that might be a record. Outstanding work!Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #12 September 22, 2011 Quote Quote I wonder what would happen if they gave autistics a bible while watching rain man... "You sinner...Charlie Babbit's a sinner..." . . . This thread sickens me... From Rain Man jokes to high horse in 3 posts. Is that a record? I think that might be a record. Outstanding work! As I said...as if you were ever on track... But thanks! Glad you can finally appreciate my genius... Oh yea...forgot this: again... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nt2HSVhGtk Get it?Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,594 #13 September 22, 2011 QuoteOh yea...forgot this: again... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nt2HSVhGtk Well shit, now it all makes sense.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #14 September 22, 2011 Quote Quote Oh yea...forgot this: again... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nt2HSVhGtk Well shit, now it all makes sense. Really...did you listen to it all?Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,594 #15 September 22, 2011 Quote Quote Quote Oh yea...forgot this: again... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nt2HSVhGtk Well shit, now it all makes sense. Really...did you listen to it all? Are you under the impression that anyone listens to any of the youtube links you post?Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coreece 190 #16 September 22, 2011 Quote Quote Quote Quote Oh yea...forgot this: again... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nt2HSVhGtk Well shit, now it all makes sense. Really...did you listen to it all? Are you under the impression that anyone listens to any of the youtube links you post? I know so...It's my job. $$$Your secrets are the true reflection of who you really are... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #17 September 22, 2011 Quote Are you under the impression that anyone listens to any of the youtube links you post? Well, jakee, are you under the impression that anyone listens to anything YOU post? But OTOH, keep it coming. Your entertainment value is high. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #18 September 22, 2011 Quote Quote Autism Linked to Atheism I think you meant to say, "Atheism linked to autism". Yes, there's a difference. Yes, that was my first thought....are we talking about Autism -> Atheism, or Atheism -> Autism ??? Ya gotta give credit to the researchers, though. They found a way to squeeze money out of somebody for this questionable project.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakee 1,594 #19 September 22, 2011 QuoteQuoteAre you under the impression that anyone listens to any of the youtube links you post? Well, jakee, are you under the impression that anyone listens to anything YOU post? Well there's you for a start - almost to the point of obsession.Do you want to have an ideagasm? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shotgun 1 #20 September 22, 2011 I think there are a lot of (non-autistic) people who don't necessarily believe in God/religion literally, who see God as somewhat of a metaphor, but who wouldn't go so far as to call themselves atheists (for whatever reason, perhaps because it's still a bad word in our society). But, because people with high-functioning autism tend to take language quite literally, they're not likely to say, "Yes, I believe in God," while thinking of God metaphorically. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,147 #21 September 22, 2011 QuoteI think there are a lot of (non-autistic) people who don't necessarily believe in God/religion literally, who see God as somewhat of a metaphor, but who wouldn't go so far as to call themselves atheists (for whatever reason, perhaps because it's still a bad word in our society). But, because people with high-functioning autism tend to take language quite literally, they're not likely to say, "Yes, I believe in God," while thinking of God metaphorically. Doesn't surprise me either. I had an Asperger's student in my class 3 years ago, very smart but quite unable to process any illogical rubbish the same way "neurotypicals" can.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,111 #22 September 22, 2011 Hmm. I just heard Bachmann say it was linked to vaccines. I think Kallend should get on this train and claim there's a link between autism and gun ownership. MNealTX could counter with "Obama causes autism." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chutem 0 #23 September 22, 2011 QuoteHmm. I just heard Bachmann say it was linked to vaccines. I think Kallend should get on this train and claim there's a link between autism and gun ownership. MNealTX could counter with "Obama causes autism." Let's not forget the "vaccines cause Atheism" angle here. James Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #24 September 22, 2011 Quote I had an Asperger's student in my class 3 years ago, I think it's not unlikely that engineering or physics professors have Asperger's students in their class just about every term. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #25 September 22, 2011 Correlation does not infer causation.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
