When the man reputed to have the highest IQ in the world speaks, people listen. That’s exactly what happened when Dr. YoungHoon Kim – officially recognized for having a record-breaking IQ of 276 – took to social media to proclaim his Christian faith.
In the early hours of June 18, the 36-year-old South Korean scientist posted a simple yet profound message to his X (Twitter) profile: “As the world’s highest IQ record holder, I believe that Jesus Christ is God, the way and the truth and the life.”
The post instantly went viral, racking up over 22 million views within days and drawing hundreds of thousands of reactions.
In a world that often pits intelligence against belief, Kim’s unabashed declaration of faith has proven to be a remarkable and inspiring witness to countless onlookers.
Kim was astonished and humbled by the massive response to his tweet. However, rather than bask in internet fame, he quickly made it clear he has a higher purpose in mind. In a follow-up post, the genius-turned-evangelist wrote that he “will use this opportunity to lead many souls to God” as shared by Church Times.
He then punctuated that intent with a short exclamation of trust: “Amen. Christ is my logic.”
These four simple words – “Christ is my logic” – succinctly capture Kim’s conviction that faith and reason go hand in hand. In his view, the ultimate foundation of truth isn’t human intellect alone, but the divine Logos (Word) himself.
It’s a sentiment that echoes the Catholic Church’s long-held teaching that faith and reason are complementary; as St. John Paul II famously wrote:
“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth."
The man behind the message: Faith and intellect united
Who is YoungHoon Kim? Beyond the viral headlines, Kim is a renowned scientist and entrepreneur with a truly formidable mind. His IQ of 276 – nearly double the level genius is typically defined at – has been verified by multiple organizations such as the World Memory Championships and Mensa, officially naming him the world’s highest IQ record-holder.
He serves as founder and CEO of NeuroStory, a research initiative creating AI-powered brain health solutions with backing from the South Korean government. He also established the United Sigma Intelligence Association (a global network for exceptionally gifted individuals) and sits on the board of the Lifeboat Foundation, which focuses on safeguarding humanity from technological risks, according to Catholic News Agency. In short, Kim has dedicated his life to the pursuit of knowledge and innovation.
Yet for all his brainpower and accolades, Kim is equally passionate about the pursuit of truth in God. Impressively, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian theology from Yonsei University in Seoul – a credential one might not expect of a tech CEO.
In a previous post on X, Kim has even called studying theology “one of the best things I have ever done in my life,” describing it as “the ultimate discipline of all fields of study.” This blend of deep faith and intellect is precisely what gives weight to his public testimony.
Here is a man who has analyzed countless philosophies and ideologies, and still he joyfully proclaims that Jesus Christ is God. In fact, Kim explained on X that after exhaustive study, “only Christianity provides a logically sound solution to the problem of evil, suffering, and salvation.”
For him, the Christian worldview satisfies both the mind’s search for logical coherence and the heart’s search for meaning.
“The Bible doesn’t need to be updated” – A message for modern times
Dr. Kim did not stop at a single tweet. Buoyed by the positive reaction, he continued to share more of his beliefs in subsequent posts, almost as if conducting a one-man online revival. In one post, he affirmed the timeless authority of Scripture, writing:
“I believe the Bible is the perfect, eternal, and final Word of God. Therefore, the Bible doesn’t need to be updated. The world needs to catch up.”
Kim also voiced confidence that Christianity offers the clearest way to understand and experience God, emphasizing that through Jesus’ teachings “we can find the most complete and true knowledge of God, who is love and salvation.”
It’s clear that this brilliant scientist sees no conflict between cutting-edge knowledge and ancient faith -- on the contrary, he embraces Christianity as truth in its purest form.
Kim’s bold stance has resonated powerfully with many who read his posts. Positive reactions poured in from around the globe, particularly from fellow Christians heartened to see such a high-profile intellect defending the faith.
Evangelist Stuart Knechtle took to Instagram, observing that Kim’s declaration “harkens back to the greatest minds this world has ever seen, many of whom have said that Jesus is God, from Newton to Kepler, Galileo, Boyle, C.S. Lewis, [and] Dostoevsky.”
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Indeed, history is filled with brilliant scientists, writers, and thinkers whose faith in Christ went hand in hand with their genius. Kim’s witness reinforces that believing in God is not a sign of ignorance, but of wisdom and humility. As one admirer rejoiced on social media: “World’s highest IQ record holder… believes Jesus Christ is God… YES! Jesus is KING!”.
For countless people, seeing “the world’s smartest man” unabashedly praise the Lord has been a source of encouragement and hope.
Faith flourishing in South Korea: A beacon of hope
It is no coincidence that this inspiring testimony comes from South Korea -- a country where Christianity has experienced phenomenal growth over the past century. In 1900, Christians made up only about 1% of Korea’s population; today, roughly one-third of South Koreans are Christian, as shared by Christian Century. This is broken down into about 17% Protestants and 6% Catholics.
The history of the Catholic Church in South Korea is itself particularly fascinating, as the Church grew without any priests.
Seoul today is actually home to some of the world’s largest churches, and South Korea has become one of the largest missionary-sending nations.
During a 2014 visit to the country, Pope Francis praised the dynamic faith of the Korean people, noting that “faith in Christ has implanted deep roots in your land and has borne abundant fruit.”
Dr. YoungHoon Kim is a shining example of that fruitful faith. His courage to publicly confess Christ before millions reflects the vibrancy of a church that continues to flourish, even in a highly modern and educated society.
Kim’s viral profession of faith is inspiring believers and skeptics alike. It serves as a reminder that no one is ever “too intelligent” to believe -- in fact, our God-given reason can lead us toward God, not away from Him. As Kim himself put it so well, our ultimate purpose as human beings is to seek and know our Creator.
In Jesus Christ, this record-breaking genius has found “the way and the truth and the life,” and he wants the whole world to know it.
