I have an idea for a new thread...

[Tumbleweed]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShFAeNdiEiA

[Sammajoor]

Priorities..

[Sammajoor]

Priorities..

[Witkop]

Why Atheism Will Replace Religion: New Evidence

With economic security, people abandon religion

Published on July 14, 2011 by Nigel Barber, Ph.D. in The Human Beast

 

Atheists are heavily concentrated in economically developed countries, particularly the social democracies of Europe. In underdeveloped countries, there are virtually no atheists. Atheism is a peculiarly modern phenomenon. Why do modern conditions produce atheism? In a new study to be published in August, I provide compelling evidence that atheism increases along with the quality of life (1).

 

First, as to the distribution of atheism in the world, a clear pattern can be discerned. In sub-Saharan Africa there is almost no atheism (2). Belief in God declines in more developed countries and atheism is concentrated in Europe in countries such as Sweden (64% nonbelievers), Denmark (48%), France (44%) and Germany (42%). In contrast, the incidence of atheism in most sub-Saharan countries is below 1%.

 

The question of why economically developed countries turn to atheism has been batted around by anthropologists for about eighty years. Anthropologist James Fraser proposed that scientific prediction and control of nature supplants religion as a means of controlling uncertainty in our lives. This hunch is supported by data showing that the more educated countries have higher levels of non belief and there are strong correlations between atheism and intelligence.

 

Atheists are more likely to be college-educated people who live in cities and they are highly concentrated in the social democracies of Europe. Atheism thus blossoms amid affluence where most people feel economically secure. But why?

 

It seems that people turn to religion as a salve for the difficulties and uncertainties of their lives. In social democracies, there is less fear and uncertainty about the future because social welfare programs provide a safety net and better health care means that fewer people can expect to die young. People who are less vulnerable to the hostile forces of nature feel more in control of their lives and less in need of religion. Hence my finding of belief in God being higher in countries with a heavy load of infectious diseases.

 

In my new study of 137 countries (1), I also found that atheism increases for countries with a well-developed welfare state (as indexed by high taxation rates). Moreover, countries with a more equal distribution of income had more atheists. My study improved on earlier research by taking account of whether a country is mostly Moslem (where atheism is criminalized) or formerly Communist (where religion was suppressed) and accounted for three-quarters of country differences in atheism.

 

In addition to being the opium of the people (as Karl Marx contemptuously phrased it), religion may also promote fertility, particularly by promoting marriage (3). Large families are preferred in agricultural countries as a source of free labor. In developed countries, by contrast, women have exceptionally small families. I found that atheism was lower in countries where a lot of people worked on the land.

 

Even the psychological functions of religion face stiff competition today. In modern societies, when people experience psychological difficulties they turn to their doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. They want a scientific fix and prefer the real psychotropic medicines dished out by physicians to the metaphorical opiates offered by religion. No wonder that atheism increases along with third-level educational enrollment (1).

 

The reasons that churches lose ground in developed countries can be summarized in market terms. First, with better science, and with government safety nets, and smaller families, there is less fear and uncertainty in people's daily lives and hence less of a market for religion. At the same time many alternative products are being offered, such as psychotropic medicines and electronic entertainment that have fewer strings attached and that do not require slavish conformity to unscientific beliefs.

 

what a interesting read. The relationship between supersition - religion - education- wealth - welfare is a very interesting study. Obviously, religion fills a void in a persons life, and therefore the bigger the void the bigger the need for religion. Furthermore, the less educated you are the more mysteries are present in your life, and a greater need for some sort of explination, either lizzards (David Ike), UFO's (USA rednecks) or religion. This opens the debate for why religious insitiutions and universities are so similar?

 

THe question of whether religion is dead or not is also an important debate. If we agree that belief (religion) is part of the human experience and that belief allows us to explain things we don't understand (ie the void) then religion or some manifestation of religion will always be with us. If you drop the idea of a god and embrass ourselves as Superhumans (Nietzche) we can then worship ourselves and our creations, such as the Blue Bull rugby team. We can also replace religion with social interactions (happiness between people) and then attend social gatherings like the Curry Cup. We can idolize our adulterous leaders, or we can worship our musicians (Laddy Gaga).

 

However, we can take a lead from CS Lewis and Tolkien who were able to integrate their faith into their lives. As highly intelligent academics they investigated the ideas and came to their own conclusions. THe works of CS Lewis ware very interesting reading.

 

THe great fear his that religion provides an important psychological need for people, attempting to do without religion will only result in something else forefilling this need.

[small h]

[Guest agteros]

If the punting of religous views and points are frowned upon, the the punting of anti-religious view should be frowned upon as well... Goose / Gander, Pot / Kettle, etc, etc, etc , ad nausium ....

[Kranswurm]

Woman, I have spoken twice...

 

That is in poor taste

[small h]

That is in poor taste

 

+1

[Witkop]

If the punting of religous views and points are frowned upon, the the punting of anti-religious view should be frowned upon as well... Goose / Gander, Pot / Kettle, etc, etc, etc , ad nausium ....

 

I don't think it is wrong to discuss the idea that man needs to believe in something, and attempt to understand this need. What will be wrong is to tell (prescribe) people to believe this or that. Just as you can study illness without being ill, or study war without being at war, you should be able to study religion without having to believe a particular religion.

 

(Although academic distance is prefered, people often are draw to discuss and study things that they are passionate about, which only prevents them from drawing valid or accurate conclusions)

[The Guy in Pink]

Maybe you should go read some of TNT's other posts re religion.

TNT1’s posts that you refer to are NOT about religion, rather they are about opposite of religion , reason and rational thought.

[KnobbyMech]

Agree with you on this - an interesting read.

Why do those who do believe in a god/bible/religion etc feel sooooo threatened if anyone states something/comments anything in terms of being an atheist or being a "non-believer" of god/bible/religion etc? Seems as if their "faith" may not very strong, otherwise they would not feel so threatened? .........just an observation.........

 

 

Really? I do not see religeous people on this thread (or any other thread) starting religous debate or give religous imput unless "challenged" otherwise.

 

I do not wish to debate religion, but know this: Atheism is a religion too; you have to BELIEVE that there is no God.

[Sammajoor]

Quite a lot of it on this forum...

[small h]

If you're someone that gets offended by other people's opinions about religion - don't read it. Punt, klaar. Easy as that!

 

Back to awesomeness now B)

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

[Iain Olivier]

Imagine being able to ride here?!