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Is atheism linked to autism? Controversial study points to relationship between the two
Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 20th September 2011

Posted on 09/21/2011 9:18:18 PM PDT by Olog-hai

People with 'mild' forms of autism are more likely to be atheists, according to a controversial new study — and more likely to shun organized 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 behaviors 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. …

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Science; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: aspergers; atheism; autism
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1 posted on 09/21/2011 9:18:22 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

Ya and coffee leads to heroin use!


2 posted on 09/21/2011 9:19:28 PM PDT by big bad easter bunny
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To: Olog-hai

Paying for a “Study” like this leads to Idiocy.


3 posted on 09/21/2011 9:25:24 PM PDT by unkus (Silence Is Consent)
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To: big bad easter bunny
"Ya and coffee leads to heroin use!"

I've had a Seventh Day Adventist tell me that no one who avoids caffeine ever gets addicted to heroin which is pretty interesting since the same person later told me that Adventist kids who stray from Adventist teaching were prone to Meth addiction.

I guess it's like accounting, all in the pencil and therefore dependent on who is cooking the books.

4 posted on 09/21/2011 9:27:24 PM PDT by Rashputin (Obama is insane but kept medicated and on golf courses to hide it)
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To: Olog-hai
My son is a high functioning autistic person and he believes in God. Certainly he will never be a theologian but he has faith. Samples can be biased, was this sample limited to the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts?
5 posted on 09/21/2011 9:28:22 PM PDT by dog breath
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To: unkus

I know I feel less intelligent for clicking on this story.


6 posted on 09/21/2011 9:30:47 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: Olog-hai

“The study, which looked at posts on autism forums,...”
The lazy man’s way to scientific research.


7 posted on 09/21/2011 9:38:53 PM PDT by running_dog_lackey
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To: Olog-hai

People with Asperger’s are just slightly odd pricks. Sure, they’re more likely to be atheists, in their 20s and 30s.


8 posted on 09/21/2011 9:41:52 PM PDT by steve8714 (I got the moves like Jagger. Dean Jagger.)
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To: Olog-hai

Sounds like sloppy research to me.


9 posted on 09/21/2011 9:45:23 PM PDT by Shadow44
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To: EEGator

I know I feel less intelligent for clicking on this story.


LOL Same here. I bet you didn’t read much beyond the headline, either.


10 posted on 09/21/2011 9:46:31 PM PDT by unkus (Silence Is Consent)
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To: unkus

Nope.


11 posted on 09/21/2011 9:47:36 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: Olog-hai
Men with hunchbacks and unibrows are more likely to bet on horse racing.

I did a study at the OTB, and I swear its true.

12 posted on 09/21/2011 9:50:08 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Olog-hai
'a preference for logical beliefs'

That certainly does not describe atheists.

13 posted on 09/21/2011 10:05:24 PM PDT by Ethan Clive Osgoode (<<== Click here to learn about Evolution!)
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To: steve8714
People with Asperger’s are just slightly odd pricks.

Um.... no. Although you revealed yourself to be one though (p***).

14 posted on 09/22/2011 1:03:33 AM PDT by chargers fan
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To: Olog-hai

Ya know, it’s funny, but I don’t FEEL autistic.


15 posted on 09/22/2011 4:59:47 AM PDT by roxtar221 (It's only hubris if I fail)
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To: zot; Interesting Times

This should stir up the atheists.


16 posted on 09/22/2011 5:29:19 AM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: chargers fan

Nice, logical reply. My cousin’s son has been diagnosed with Asperger’s, and he’s just a slightly odd little prick. Here’s my question for you; when did that become a medical condition? When Federal money became available. It used to be that it was OK to be odd or mildly unpleasant; now it’s a Federally funded “syndrome”. Like ADD it’s a diagnosis in response to funding.


17 posted on 09/22/2011 7:22:58 AM PDT by steve8714 (I got the moves like Jagger. Dean Jagger.)
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To: chargers fan

Don’t get me wrong, I am not one who says there is no such thing as autism, but when we lump profound autism in with Asperger’s it irritates me.


18 posted on 09/22/2011 7:25:54 AM PDT by steve8714 (I got the moves like Jagger. Dean Jagger.)
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To: Olog-hai

Aspie. DXed in 1996 and I go to church.

Perhaps they surveyed some of those PC-worshiping, God and free thought hating fruits at WrongPlanet.


19 posted on 09/22/2011 7:53:03 AM PDT by NorthStarStateConservative (Springtime in America will arrive on January 21, 2013.)
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To: steve8714

Probably because I was diagnosed with it. Is it as bad as autism? No way. It is real though. There is a definite delay in social skills at least in my case until the teen years.

PS My folks got no money for it and decided to keep it out of any permanent records luckilly.


20 posted on 09/22/2011 8:56:37 AM PDT by chargers fan
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