Analytic atheism: Valuing epistemic rationality strengthens the association between analytic thinking and religious disbelief. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ståhl, Tomas; van Prooijen, Jan-Willem
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 179(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Religious disbelief -- Religiosity -- Analytic atheism -- Analytic cognitive style -- Epistemic rationality -- Importance of rationality -- Moralized rationality; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.110914
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Analytic thinking has been put forth as one of the processes through which people may become atheists. According to this view, people who are more (vs. less) analytically inclined should be more likely to reject the existence of deities because they rely less on the various intuitive cognitive processes that support supernatural beliefs. Consistent with this "analytic atheism" hypothesis, studies have found a negative association between analytic thinking and religious belief. In the present article we expand on this literature and argue that analytic thinking should be more strongly associated with religious disbelief when coupled with motivation to be epistemically rational. Consistent with this hypothesis, we show that the association between analytic thinking and weaker religious faith (Study 1), as well as between analytic thinking and disbelief (vs. belief) in God, and related supernatural phenomena (Study 2–3) is stronger among people who ascribe more (vs. less) value to epistemic rationality. Highlights: Analytic thinking predicts disbelief in God in large U.S. and Swedish samples. This association is moderated by ascribed value to epistemic rationality. Individuals who strongly value epistemic rationality show a stronger association.