The Road Less Taken

Abstract

This chapter argues that atheists are academically successful but for a different reason. Rather than being motivated to please God by being well behaved, atheists are intrinsically motivated to pursue knowledge, think critically, and are open to new experiences. This turns out to be even more important for academic performance than being conscientious and cooperative. Disavowing a belief in God is not what causes teens to do well academically. Instead, it’s a selection effect—the kinds of people who are exceptionally curious and therefore engage in self-directed behavior tend to be the kinds of people who are willing to go against the grain and take an unpopular religious view. Some of the most academically accomplished adolescents were those who grew up with religious restraint but moved away from religion by their mid-twenties. The chapter also discusses the role of parents in transmitting beliefs about God to their children.