New Data: The Genetic Effects of Conservatism & Religion
Episode script. Originally published 2026-04-23 at https://basedcamppodcast.substack.com/p/new-data-the-genetic-effects-of-conservatism
In this Based Camp episode, Malcolm and Simone Collins dive deep into robust, replicated studies on fertility, intelligence, politics, and religion. They explore why progressive (”dysgenic”) fertility patterns are clearing out high-IQ individuals faster than conservative ones, while certain religious groups — especially Latter-day Saints (Mormons) — show neutral or even eugenic selection for intelligence.
Key topics include:
- The landmark study “Will Intelligent Latter-Day Saints and Smart Conservatives Inherit the Earth?”
- New 2024 findings from the Vietnam Experience Study on how conservative religiousness reverses the typical negative intelligence-fertility link
- Why “moderately” religious people often have the highest fertility (not the fanatical ones)
- Cultural and structural reasons behind Mormon success in building high-trust, low-corruption institutions
- The Quaker origins of modern “woke” culture
- Enlightenment ideals vs. 1960s–1970s cultural shifts
- Implications for civilization, space colonization, and the future of humanity
They also discuss Techno-Puritanism, corruption in religious institutions, and why fanatical, high-agency groups are best suited for building utopias (including on Mars).
If you’re interested in pronatalism, dysgenics, cultural evolution, or long-term civilizational strategy, this episode is packed with data, graphs, and unfiltered analysis.
Watch the full conversation and let us know in the comments: Which religious or cultural group do you think has the strongest eugenic fertility patterns today?
Studies referenced:
- Kirkegaard & Dutton (2022) on LDS and conservatives
- Dutton (2024) on conservative religiousness and intelligence selection (Vietnam Experience Study)
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