Catholic Mensa SIG

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There may indeed be some anti-Catholic bias among some Mensa members, just as there is among the general population. But I believe that evangelising the “intellectual elite” and other formers of culture and of social and governmental policy is imperative, due to the influence they exert.
 
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I don’t see it as a lack of humility at all, Bear. Nor am I surprised. We’re supposed to recognize our gifts and use them to build up the body of Christ. We’re supposed to do this in the marketplace, which I think includes secular organizations like Mensa.
 
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Frankly, i can see some value in just sitting there being a Catholic Mensa member to show that the two things can coexist. Which is mostly why i spoke up.

It’s sort of like that old and possibly untrue story about Louis Pasteur on the train getting lectured by some kid who told him science had disproved Jesus Christ and asking for Pasteur’s address to send him some literature explaining the matter. Pasteur then quietly gives him his card which says "Louis Pasteur, Director of the Scientific Research Institute, Paris. " I have heard as an adult that this story was made up, but it made a big impression on me as a young person.
 
I am not judging. I’m sure those in Mensa are very nice people. It’s the premise of the organization itself that I think is problematic.
 
Thanks for posting this. I skimmed the Statement of Purpose and the History. Seems very solid. Based on the application questions, I assume there may be some academic qualification? Interesting that their annual dues are $4 less than Mensa.
 
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If you have spent a lot of time hanging around schools or professions where at least half the people you know would qualify to join Mensa, it ceases to be that big of a deal. Especially if you yourself don’t take it all that seriously. I really just wanted to find out (a) if I could get into it and (b) exactly what they did in it, which was quickly answered with “not very much”.

I know that neither one of my parents would have been able to get in and I still consider them two of the smartest people I ever knew. Their intelligence was measurable in ways other than tests and grades.
 
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Not about it being a big deal-- more about its scope. There’s 134,000 members, which is far from huge, but they’re on six continents. There are movers and shakers among them, who desperately need to be in the Catholic Church (though I’m sure some are already).

I agree about the narrow measure of intelligence being problematic–not only for membership in some organizations but for academic achievement in general. I’m somewhat of a fan of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory. “Somewhat” because it’s very difficult to fully implement it in public education. I’m fascinated by the Trivium and Quadrivium–how did such antiquated education systems produce so many brilliant thinkers, before the time of the “great” Horace Mann?
 
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I wouldn’t be able to get in, I know that for a fact. I’m too stupid. HAHA.

From the outside looking in it seems like an attempt to separate the stupid people from the smart people so conversations can flow a bit more easily. That’s JUST my perception and really I don’t think there’s anything wrong with seeking people of equal intelligence for intellectual stimulation. I’m just bitter because I’m dumb. LOL!
 
I sometimes hear this from students, which makes me sad as it can inhibit motivation and further effort and because I wonder if someone important in their life might be telling them they’re dumb, will never amount to anything, etc.
I don’t have time to share much of this with them, but you might find it encouraging:


You can scroll down to the discussion of eight (or ten) intelligences.
Every person is intelligent. Most measuring tools only measure verbal-linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences.
 
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You can be an academic at a university or simply an “independent scholar.” They hold a yearly conference which is quite good.
 
The original premise of Mensa was to provide a forum for intellectual discussion at a level which is stimulating for people with high IQs. As it has expanded it has encompassed all areas of its members’ lives and is no longer externally seen as serving this purpose by many. Instead, some view it as simply an intellectual status club. Often times it is often psychologically taxing for those with high IQs if they cannot fully engage their intellect regularly. Mensa was created to alleviate this stress.
 
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That’s interesting Brother. I didn’t know all that history, but it makes sense.

I should get more involved, myself. I live quite a ways from the local meetup groups. But so much communication is online now. That’s the nice thing about their SIGs; it’s a way to interact with like minded folks.
 
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I’m not in Mensa, but I think this is a great idea. We need to bring our faith to the public square in whatever way we are able to do. Creating a Catholic SIG in Mensa would a great way to (1) meet fellow Catholics who are interested in high-level discussions; and (2) show the wider world that, yes, Catholics can be smart, too, and that smart people can be Catholic—they are not mutually exclusive realities.

I don’t really know how to advise you in going about this, but I would encourage you to pursue it.
 
This Norwegian doctor has some interesting things to say about why she joined, at the end of the interview. I share her love of tests–still want to take the full Miller Analogies Test.
Interesting that she uses the word “venerate” in reference to the human brain…

 
Catholic mensa…the term ‘being too smart for your own good’ might apply. lol
 
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