Comment by Micah Beckwith to a post on FB page for “Mouthwash” got to me. John Schmitz posted a chart & sd: East Chicago, S Bend, Indy all have avg BELOW 10% proficiency in English Language Arts and Math. All Democrat controlled cities. 1/8

Beckwith’s reply: When you flood our schools w/Leftist, woke ideological crap, this is result. Our kids can’t do Math & English to save their lives but they all know why it’s ok to choose the bathroom of your preferred gender & that BLM is a noble organization. 2/8

I have to say: 1) A lot of factors at play in stats John cited, but question: how do Demo mayors cause low scores? 2) Are ISTEP scores real measures of kids’ abilities? 3) But wait, here is an important aspect and it has to do w/intelligence and progressive views. 3/8

Meta-analysis of 63 studies: significant NEGATIVE ass’n betw intelligence & religiosity; & stronger 4 college students & gen’l pop’n than 4 younger than college age; & stronger 4 religious beliefs than religious behavior. 17 Pers Soc Psych Rev 325-54 (Nov 2013). 4/8

I’ll interpret 4 Micah: ppl who identify as fundamentalist/evangelical/strict religious aren’t as smart. 3 possible interpretations listed in Abstract. 1) Intelligent ppl less likely to conform thus > likely 2 resist religious dogma. 2) Intelligent ppl tend 2 adopt analytic... 5/8

(vs intuitive) thinking style, that undermines religious beliefs. 3) Several functions of religiosity, incl compensatory control, self-regulation, self-enhancement & secure attachment, R also conferred by intelligence. Intelligent ppl have < need 4 religious beliefs and practices.” 6/8

There’s a reason the dumbing down of America went foot-in-glove w/the emergence of right wing religion. They have symbiotic relationship. It’s no surprise Micah sees critical thought processes as “ideological crap.” 7/8

I suggest that the next time Micah is tooling around in his car talking to “god” that he listen very carefully. I spoke w/her this morning & she’s getting pretty pissed off at Micah & his ilk. Tonight on Civil Discourse Now we’ll talk religion, education & censorship. 7 pm. 8/8