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Atheism and Non-Religosity on the Rise
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Interesting statistics.
Religion is definitely declining but areas where it persists seem related to poverty. Poor people are generally less educated.
What conclusion do you draw? Is religion related to ignorance?
Interesting statistics.
Religion is definitely declining but areas where it persists seem related to poverty. Poor people are generally less educated.
What conclusion do you draw? Is religion related to ignorance?
Answers
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They are interesting statistics, Beso. Slightly surprised to see Ireland trending so high in the nations of the godless - was there an Irish emphasis to this report?
You always have to be careful interpreting opinion polls, because selection bias can be huge, but when you have an opinion poll conducted in the same fashion with the same questions over a number of years, such biases tend to be averaged out, and the trends emerge.
Those areas where you have a culture, heritage and history of a strong, almost evangelical church often coincide with those areas of the globe that struggle economically, so its not just poverty or education, but these factors definitely play a part.Study after study has demonstrated this trend - that religiousity declines with increasing education and wealth, and with female emancipation.
Education, female emancipation and cultural heritage are probably the factors that most influence a decline in religiousity, in my opinion.
One of the more interesting data points in my view is the persistence of religiosity in the USA, being distinctly more religious than its european or asian economic equivalents.
You always have to be careful interpreting opinion polls, because selection bias can be huge, but when you have an opinion poll conducted in the same fashion with the same questions over a number of years, such biases tend to be averaged out, and the trends emerge.
Those areas where you have a culture, heritage and history of a strong, almost evangelical church often coincide with those areas of the globe that struggle economically, so its not just poverty or education, but these factors definitely play a part.Study after study has demonstrated this trend - that religiousity declines with increasing education and wealth, and with female emancipation.
Education, female emancipation and cultural heritage are probably the factors that most influence a decline in religiousity, in my opinion.
One of the more interesting data points in my view is the persistence of religiosity in the USA, being distinctly more religious than its european or asian economic equivalents.
//Is religion related to ignorance? //
In backward and Third World countries, perhaps, but in the west I don’t think so. After all the discussions here, for example, where the inaccuracies of holy books and superstitious philosophies have been demonstrated beyond doubt to be in error, people - often seemingly intelligent people - nevertheless still believe. They are not ignorant – they are indoctrinated and afraid.
In backward and Third World countries, perhaps, but in the west I don’t think so. After all the discussions here, for example, where the inaccuracies of holy books and superstitious philosophies have been demonstrated beyond doubt to be in error, people - often seemingly intelligent people - nevertheless still believe. They are not ignorant – they are indoctrinated and afraid.
Where are religions strongest? The dreadfully poor of Africa, South America and the Middle East; people who are desperately seeking solace, relief and straws to clutch at. now ask where education is most lacking? I'm sure there is some sort of correlation.
LG, America is an anachronism as you correctly point out, but factor in the educational levels of the "Bible Belt" and the need to utilise these people for gubernatorial control and you mas have an answer. The backward hillbillies and the brianwashed Christian Talibanista of America have both been misused for too long.
LG, America is an anachronism as you correctly point out, but factor in the educational levels of the "Bible Belt" and the need to utilise these people for gubernatorial control and you mas have an answer. The backward hillbillies and the brianwashed Christian Talibanista of America have both been misused for too long.
@Duncer - I take your point re USA, but compare and contrast religiosity across the US as a whole and compare educational levels with some of the poorest and most educationally deprived countries and you get similar levels of religious belief - fervent too. I am still puzzled by that, because it does seem anomalous. One commentator I read (or saw) has suggested its because of the nature of the founding fathers, being, I suppose in one sense at least religious zealots, but I am not sure that is an answer.
And plowter has a point regarding the representative nature of this survey, given the small numbers versus global population. It does not invalidate it as a data point in a trend however. And I am also puzzled by the absence of the UK but the inclusion of Ireland, which does not feel right :)
And plowter has a point regarding the representative nature of this survey, given the small numbers versus global population. It does not invalidate it as a data point in a trend however. And I am also puzzled by the absence of the UK but the inclusion of Ireland, which does not feel right :)
plowter // Have you read the report?
It interviewed 51,927 people out of a world population of 6,973,738,433 (source: world bank). That's 0.0000074461 of the world population //
It is done by a company that specialises in statistics. They would be able to tell you the range of uncertainty that would be expected for that sample size.
It interviewed 51,927 people out of a world population of 6,973,738,433 (source: world bank). That's 0.0000074461 of the world population //
It is done by a company that specialises in statistics. They would be able to tell you the range of uncertainty that would be expected for that sample size.
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