Least Religious Countries

[|Zach|]

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/least-religious-countries/

[Mecca]

I'd like to move to Sweden..

[Mr. Kotter]

I'd like to move to Sweden..

Please....do so. Soon.

;)

[Mecca]

LOL.......well hey I'm not religious at all.

I find it pretty funny that it basically says, the smart people don't believe in God and stupid people do.

[Mr Luzcious]

I don't think the US number is accurate... at all..

[Mr. Kotter]

LOL.......well hey I'm not religious at all.

I find it pretty funny that it basically says, the smart people don't believe in God and stupid people do.


Vietnam, the Czech Republic, and France...among the "smart"? Heh.... :spock:

ROFL

You've just proven your own hyperbole....wrong. :)

[Mecca]

Vietnam, the Czech Republic, and France...among the "smart"? Heh.... :spock:

ROFL

You've just proven your own hyperbole....wrong. :)

It was more or less this.....

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.

Which basically says people who live in bad areas, see bad shit, deal with crime or aren't educated are the ones who are more likely to believe.

[Mr. Kotter]

It was more or less this.....

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.

Which basically says people who live in bad areas, see bad shit, deal with crime or aren't educated are the ones who are more likely to believe.

The point remains:...you aspire for Vietnamese/Czech/French territory?

Given the statistical burdens of Indian reservations and minority urban areas in the U.S. .... and you wish to COMPARE those stats to cherry-picked stats from others?

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.

Once again, JMHO. :)

[Archie F. Swin]

gosh I hope all those scandinavians have SPF 1,000

[ClevelandBronco]

Speaking as an American and as a practicing Christian (I'm hoping to get really good at it some day, so I keep practicing), why didn't you post this in DC?

You must have had a jAZ moment.

IMO, some of the best minds I've ever known don't know God. On the other hand, some do.

Since our nation enjoys a secular governmental structure based upon Judeo-Christian ideals, I'm not sure what went wrong with us.

Maybe it's guys like me. Maybe it's guys like you.

Hard to say.

[Kaylore]

I lived in Korea for two years and there are more Churches than I've ever seen in my life. There is literally a church on every corner so this "study" is basically garbage. At night you can see hundreds of neon red crosses all over any city in South Korea.

[Bugeater]

Speaking as an American and as a practicing Christian (I'm hoping to get really good at it some day, so I keep practicing), why didn't you post this in DC?

You must have had a jAZ moment.

IMO, some of the best minds I've ever known don't know God. On the other hand, some do.

Since our nation enjoys a secular governmental structure based upon Judeo-Christian ideals, I'm not sure what went wrong with us.

Maybe it's guys like me. Maybe it's guys like you.

Hard to say.
I believe part of the problem is each generation wants their kids to have it easier than they did, and consequently each generation is a little softer than the previous one. It's also known as "The Pussification of America".

[RealSNR]

I'm surprised to not see Russia on that list. Stalinism must have burned out (finally).

[Psyko Tek]

where's china
aren't communists atheist?

[ClevelandBronco]

I'm surprised to not see Russia on that list. Stalinism must have burned out (finally).

Yes, thank God. Many Russian people have been loathe to abandon their faith even when they were faced by a totalitarian government that tried for decades to snuff it out.

[ClevelandBronco]

where's china
aren't communists atheist?

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.

[mylittlepony]

I must admit that coming from Sweden I am pretty lost in any religious discussion. Its completly non existent in everyday life over here. The only times I've actually been in churches was in christmas mass for school. In religious studies we got to chose one religion to do a project on and that was about it. I got assigned to confusianism so everything else is sort of a blur to me. Most I know about religion is just what I've picked up when abroad and on the internet. I think as a religious person in Sweden you can maintain your faith without people thinking about it more then twice. If you start to preach or try to convert people against them specifically asking you I think alot of people would frown. Also because we dont have any real statebound religion it sets up kind of situations that might sound wierd to americans. Sweden is notoriously pro palestine, yet Jews as a Swedish religious group are very well liked.


Also I can only see one thing that jumps at me from that list is that its all the biggest suicide countries aswell. The scandinavians have been battling Japan for the top spot for quite some time now.

[jidar]

the US ranks low because our educational system sucks.

[ChiefsCountry]

Speaking as an American and as a practicing Christian (I'm hoping to get really good at it some day, so I keep practicing), why didn't you post this in DC?

You must have had a jAZ moment.

IMO, some of the best minds I've ever known don't know God. On the other hand, some do.

Since our nation enjoys a secular governmental structure based upon Judeo-Christian ideals, I'm not sure what went wrong with us.

Maybe it's guys like me. Maybe it's guys like you.

Hard to say.

Dang I am agreeing with a Donkey fan. :)

[KCChiefsMan]

I believe, but I hate 90% of church people and I don't see myself going to church ever again. My parents got into church when I was in my teens, so they never had a chance to truly brain wash me like they do to kids

[Simplex3]

It was more or less this.....

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.

Which basically says people who live in bad areas, see bad shit, deal with crime or aren't educated are the ones who are more likely to believe.
Correlation and causation are two entirely different things. Smart people understand the difference.

[Simplex3]

where's china
aren't communists atheist?
One of the generally accepted steps to any type of dominant state govt. is to remove religion. It's viewed as competition for the loyalty of the masses.

[tiptap]

And such argument would technically be confusing correlation with causation. It may be true for say China but not true for Japan or Sweden.

[DenverChief]

The point remains:...you aspire for Vietnamese/Czech/French territory?




What about Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Japan?

[DenverChief]

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.


China has state approved religions and only a couple...one is Catholicism that are tightly controlled and then others that are banned completely -- Falun-Gong , Bon

[Simplex3]

China has state approved religions and only a couple...one is Catholicism that are tightly controlled and then others that are banned completely -- Falun-Gong , Bon
They also just recently told everyone you can't be reincarnated without prior govt. approval.

[HonestChieffan]

1, 3 4, and 7 have free health care and Tax rates in the mid 70's.

think about it

[Ultra Peanut]

MAY THE GOOD LORD SMITE THEM ALL

[Mr. Kotter]

What about Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Japan?

They got nothing on us, as far as I'm concerned--especially if you stay away from key blighted neighborhoods of large urban areas. :shrug:

[Simplex3]

Sweden apparently has it all over England:

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=24850

[Logical]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

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[Eleazar]

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]

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.
:spock:
huh???

[Stewie]

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]

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]

:spock:
huh???
He's the village idiot.