Positive Links among Obedience Pressure, Religiosity, and Measures of Cognitive Accomplishment: Evidence for the Secular Value of Being Religious

Abstract

The author begins by arguing on the basis of biblical texts that a willing obedience to God is a valuable and preferred trait. He shows through his own empirical research that a greater degree of obedience–-even to secular authority, and quite contrary to popular secular opinion–-is associated with higher level cognitive functioning at both an individual and societal level. Next, research is discussed which confirms the plausible, religiously supported connection between obedience and religiosity. Finally, additional research examining the independent effects of religiosity shows that it, too, is a strong predictor of cognitive attainments at both individual and societal levels. Implications of these findings are discussed in both secular and religious contexts.