Is atheism linked to autism?

[BullyforBronto]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2039690/Atheism-autism-Controversial-new-study-points-link-two.html

People with 'mild' forms of autism are more likely to be atheists, according to a controversial new study - and more likely to shun organised 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 behaviours such as 'a preference for logical beliefs' and a distrust of metaphor and figures of speech, could be responsible.

As a father of a child struggling with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), I found this item pretty interesting. Many people "on the spectrum" tend to take communication quite literally and have a blatant, logical approach to the world; thus, anecdotally, UoB's findings make sense to me.

While I haven't read the actual study yet, I'm looking forward to it.

My son doesn't have severe autism; however, I wouldn't call it mild either. He didn't utter a word until he was almost five, and communicated only via sign language and picture cards before then. Now that he is speaking, it is much more apparent how he interprets the world around him; it's akin to a sort of mathematical, cause and effect system of understanding. I really can't imagine his reaction to hearing about god and such. My guess is that he'd probably relegate the subject as irrelevant to his needs, or just not understand it and just carry on.

Also interesting, but maybe a bit separate from the topic at hand, once he began talking, we discovered that he was functionally literate. At five, he could read his simple children's books cover to cover.

What are your thoughts? Has anyone had any experience with ASD?

[Sweetdeath]

An incredibly great friend of mine is autistic.  It might have something to do with their view of reality. It makes it harder for them to comprehend these myths as reality, maybe?
I don't know.  I am not a doctor.

Either way, good for them. Like I said, my friend Megan is pretty socially awkward, but she is crazy smart, and very good at painting. She also does happen to be atheist. Cool post guy.

[Whitney]

It's so common that I probably wouldn't know what someone on the spectrum acts like if it were not for socializing at atheist events.  It's also common among atheists because atheists (at least the ones who reach that view by reason) tend to be book smart and when two parents with math oriented minds have a child that child has a higher risk of being on the spectrum.

I think that it is more proof that you have to make up stuff that is not and obvious part of the world in order to come up with religious beliefs.

[Davin]

Makes sense to me. I don't care much for social pressures or guilt either, which I think are controls that help constrain many people into staying religious.

[Sweetdeath]

Makes sense to me. I don't care much for social pressures or guilt either, which I think are controls that help constrain many people into staying religious.

This ^
I do think a lot of people are religious due to social pressure, feeling outcasted, and/or wanting acceptance.

[Tank]

I have a pdf of the full article, I'll get a link to it.

[Davin]

That would be awesome, Tank!

[Davin]

Makes sense to me. I don't care much for social pressures or guilt either, which I think are controls that help constrain many people into staying religious.

This ^
I do think a lot of people are religious due to social pressure, feeling outcasted, and/or wanting acceptance.

Aye, I don't think those feelings and wants are a bad thing though (I actually think they are beneficial), but the people taking advantage of people using those things I think are bad (even if they sincerely think they are helping).

[Tank]

Here is the paper in full http://palm.mindmodeling.org/cogsci2011/papers/0782/paper0782.pdf

[BullyforBronto]

Here is the paper in full http://palm.mindmodeling.org/cogsci2011/papers/0782/paper0782.pdf

Awesome! Thanks, Tank!

[xSilverPhinx]

Thanks for the link, Tank. That was very interesting.