Least Religious Countries - Page 3

|Zach| · 08-23-2007, 10:59 PM

Here is the Top 10 least religious countries in the world:

1. Sweden (up to 85% non-believer, atheist, agnostic)
2. Vietnam
3. Denmark
4. Norway
5. Japan
6. Czech Republic
7. Finland
8. France
9. South Korea
10. Estonia (up to 49% non-believer, atheist, agnostic)

The one that surprised me was Israel, ranking 19th, with up to 37% claiming to be non-believer, atheist, agnostic. Compare that with the US, ranking 44th, with 3-9% non-believers, atheists, agnostics. (I think I have met them all on the streets of New York City , too.)

The survey concluded that "high levels of organic atheism are strongly correlated with high levels of societal health, such as low homicide rates, low poverty rates, low infant mortality rates, and low illiteracy rates, as well as high levels of educational attainment, per capita income, and gender equality. Most nations characterized by high degrees of individual and societal security have the highest rates of organic atheism, and conversely, nations characterized by low degrees of individual and societal security have the lowest rates of organic atheism. In some societies, particularly Europe , atheism is growing. However, throughout much of the world – particularly nations with high birth rates – atheism is barely discernable."

http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/23/le...ous-countries/

Logical · 08-24-2007, 01:34 PM

I really don't think you can draw many conclusions from that study. I do think that governments that don't condone religious interference in their affairs are better than those that allow that sort of interference.

FloridaMan88 · 08-24-2007, 01:54 PM

Notice how virtually every one of those countries are among the leaders in highest quality of life, longest life expectancies, etc. All probably partly due to the fact they are poisoned by organized religion.

BucEyedPea · 08-24-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by |Zach|

The one that surprised me was Israel, ranking 19th, with up to 37% claiming to be non-believer, atheist, agnostic. Compare that with the US, ranking 44th, with 3-9% non-believers, atheists, agnostics. (I think I have met them all on the streets of New York City , too.)

The Israel one doesn't surprise me. In fact I saw a poll several years ago showing it to be higher...like 80%. Most of my friends are Jewish, and tell me thier holidays and rituals are really more a tradition nowadays.

I am surprised about Russia. Must be all the old people. I thought the younger generation was different. The rest don't surprise me at all.

BucEyedPea · 08-24-2007, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsfan88

Notice how virtually every one of those countries are among the leaders in highest quality of life, longest life expectancies, etc. All probably partly due to the fact they are poisoned by organized religion.

They are not. Vietnam? France? I thought Sweden has a high suicide rate. I just checked it. It did at one time but has dropped. Still it's double the US. And Russia leads the world. Must be their nihilism.

BucEyedPea · 08-24-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Kotter

You go right ahead; with the U.S.'s continuing dominance as the leading emigration destination, worldwide, I'd say ACTION speaks louder than misleading and cherry-picked stats.

Good point. But don't let Cochise see you rely on what those people feel as a valid measurement. Govt stats are more reliable.

Adept Havelock · 08-24-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Communist governments have traditionally been formally atheistic, but they've often substituted worship of the dictator for worship of the Creator. That was true especially in China when it was ruled by Mao.

Very true.

Eleazar · 08-24-2007, 03:49 PM

It's not hard to see that most of these are Euro-social-humanist (to invent a word for a vague category) cultures, or states that previously were communist.

Religion is a monkeywrench to those systems. For the ubersecular socialist culture, religion gets in the way of peoples' unquestioning devotion to the aims of the state as determined by government officials, and for the communist country, religion gets in the way of peoples' unquestioning devotion to the aims of the state as determined by government officials.

These systems want you to worship government as your God, and not something else, so it's unsurprising that they would try to stamp religion out. As evidenced by the graveyard of these states in the past, it would seem that God has a way of outliving his pallbearers.

The two are not all that far apart, a difference of degree probably more than a true distinction. Socialist just has the slider for command structure set at 60 or 70% instead of having it all the way at 100%.

Herzig · 08-24-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KCChiefsfan88

Notice how virtually every one of those countries are among the leaders in highest quality of life, longest life expectancies, etc. All probably partly due to the fact they are poisoned by organized religion.

huh???

Stewie · 08-24-2007, 03:59 PM

I can vouch for the Swedish non-believers. All my grandparents were born there and religion just wasn't a big part of their lives (nor is it mine). I think it stems from the old pagan ways that Christianity wasn't able to overcome. I mean, Scandinavia busted everyone's asses when they marauded as Vikings, so what was to be gained by this "new religion"?

BIG_DADDY · 08-24-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultra Peanut

MAY THE GOOD LORD SMITE THEM ALL

Now if these places have a large percentage of ball snippers they will be perfect for you. You can be a freak without feeling like your going to hell.

**Skip Towne** · 08-24-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herzig

huh???

He's the village idiot.

08-23-2007, 10:59 PM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5186768	Least Religious Countries Here is the Top 10 least religious countries in the world: 1. Sweden (up to 85% non-believer, atheist, agnostic) 2. Vietnam 3. Denmark 4. Norway 5. Japan 6. Czech Republic 7. Finland 8. France 9. South Korea 10. Estonia (up to 49% non-believer, atheist, agnostic) The one that surprised me was Israel, ranking 19th, with up to 37% claiming to be non-believer, atheist, agnostic. Compare that with the US, ranking 44th, with 3-9% non-believers, atheists, agnostics. (I think I have met them all on the streets of New York City , too.) The survey concluded that "high levels of organic atheism are strongly correlated with high levels of societal health, such as low homicide rates, low poverty rates, low infant mortality rates, and low illiteracy rates, as well as high levels of educational attainment, per capita income, and gender equality. Most nations characterized by high degrees of individual and societal security have the highest rates of organic atheism, and conversely, nations characterized by low degrees of individual and societal security have the lowest rates of organic atheism. In some societies, particularly Europe , atheism is growing. However, throughout much of the world – particularly nations with high birth rates – atheism is barely discernable." http://www.gadling.com/2007/08/23/le...ous-countries/
Posts: 53,487

08-24-2007, 01:34 PM	#31
Logical Screw U if U can't take a joke Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10004900	I really don't think you can draw many conclusions from that study. I do think that governments that don't condone religious interference in their affairs are better than those that allow that sort of interference.
Posts: 31,579

08-24-2007, 01:54 PM	#32
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $2832906	Notice how virtually every one of those countries are among the leaders in highest quality of life, longest life expectancies, etc. All probably partly due to the fact they are poisoned by organized religion.
Posts: 38,828

08-24-2007, 03:49 PM	#37
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	It's not hard to see that most of these are Euro-social-humanist (to invent a word for a vague category) cultures, or states that previously were communist. Religion is a monkeywrench to those systems. For the ubersecular socialist culture, religion gets in the way of peoples' unquestioning devotion to the aims of the state as determined by government officials, and for the communist country, religion gets in the way of peoples' unquestioning devotion to the aims of the state as determined by government officials. These systems want you to worship government as your God, and not something else, so it's unsurprising that they would try to stamp religion out. As evidenced by the graveyard of these states in the past, it would seem that God has a way of outliving his pallbearers. The two are not all that far apart, a difference of degree probably more than a true distinction. Socialist just has the slider for command structure set at 60 or 70% instead of having it all the way at 100%.
Posts: 80,659

08-24-2007, 03:59 PM	#39
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1579901	I can vouch for the Swedish non-believers. All my grandparents were born there and religion just wasn't a big part of their lives (nor is it mine). I think it stems from the old pagan ways that Christianity wasn't able to overcome. I mean, Scandinavia busted everyone's asses when they marauded as Vikings, so what was to be gained by this "new religion"?
Posts: 13,631